Zuzana Randlova  As I go for my walk in nature every day, I open my senses and my civilized body is magically re-organized to creatively embody a powerful passion and sense of connection to everything. As I take in all that is around me , I not only delight in the outward appearance but receive the deeper inward significance of my surroundings. The inner meets the outer and become my source for a response. Here I imaginally explore the qualities of trees, plants, sky, ocean, rock, etc.; input of sensory encounters stimulates the output of associations, feelings, and images. When experien ..read more

Suzanne Jacquot has been an abstract painter for over 20 years. Her urge to create is strong and has led her in various directions before settling on acrylic painting. She received her BA in design, her MFA in ceramics and photography and and an AT (Art Therapy) credential. For many years, Suzanne ran her own successful graphic design business in the San Francisco Bay Area and was the associate dean of students at CCA in San Francisco before becoming a full time professional painter/teacher. In 1998, Suzanne moved to Sonoma County to live a quieter life of painting and teaching and in 2018, s ..read more

STAYING PRESENT means being conscious of what is happening within and around you so that you can participate fully in life. It can be thought of as a powerful mental context that gives you self knowledge and allows you to be responsible for your life and make deliberate choices about how to respond rather than simply reacting to events in a preprogrammed way. This is true in making abstract art as well. In abstract expressionism or non-objective abstract art, staying present is essential to making authentic, powerful art that speaks to the viewers . Your unique creative expression is in every ..read more

The basis of painting an object, landscape, feelings, moods, etc., is the mark. A mark is made with the hand or a tool and each gives a unique expression. It is through marks I build a painting. Knowing what marks I love to make and how they relate to one another is my true work of an artist. So, I find it important to practice often. The more I have experienced, the more my paintings flow. I warm up before I start to work on my paintings by making marks in my mixed media workbook and over the years the many workbooks have offered me insights and inspirations. Setting aside time each week to ..read more

Suzanne’s studio in Sebastopol, CA. “All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself.” — Chuck Close I am very fortunate to have a wonderfully light filled large dedicated art studio (above) right outside my front door. Showing up every day to create is Studio Practice. Let’s take a closer look at what my Studio Practice is all about. Basically, my Studio Practice is my individual ideas, subject matter, conceptual possibilities, influences and inspiration and the style of my work dependent on the period of time in which I am working. It is important to me to inc ..read more

Madeline Denaro Are you curious about abstract art in order to purchase a piece for your home, do you have a desire to learn abstract art, or are you bewildered by it altogether? Here are a few ways to increase your appreciation and understanding of how to view and enjoy abstract art. Abstract Art is viewed differently than referential art. Often there is no obvious subject. Try these steps when viewing: Stand quietly in front of an abstract art image. Relax your analytic thought processes as much as possible. Allow the image to affect you and be ready to “step in” a new experience, ie, the ..read more

Have you guessed it? From the beginning of the history of painting, the one thing that is true: all paintings are made up of marks. As humans, we start making marks as soon as we can hold a pencil or a paint brush. Generally, between the ages of 2 and 3, the marks children make in this way start to have meaning. They use them as a way to share their thoughts and feelings, giving new insights into their lives that they didn't have before. Wow! Our mark making talents are developed right along with our ability to speak and make sentences to give meaning to our world. That is exciting news! Mark ..read more

If you love abstract art, where do you go to learn about it? Where do you go to see abstract artists at work? Where do you go to see what abstract artists are thinking? Where do you go to buy abstract art? If you want to learn about abstract art, how do you find a class, videos on technique? Where do you go to find a mentor? Where do you find like minded artists? Where can you get regular inspiration and ideas? Where do you learn about presenting yourself and pricing and selling your work? ARTLab Playgound Membership is online abstract artist community in its second year and growing. It is a w ..read more

A title adds value to your artwork. A buyer wants to feel that he/she is about to purchase your best work ever. They are going to have a hard time believing this if the work is called “Untitled 397.” It can be a deal stopper or a turn off to a potential customer. Titles do matter to the art buyer! I have found that a good title: Can provide insight into my inspiration or intention for the work Can help the artwork tell a story Can emphasize what I want the viewer to focus upon Can enhance the energy or mood of the painting Can add a poetic or metaphoric tone to the painting Can lea ..read more

Art Critiques can be scarey. I believe this quote by H.G. Mewis explains the experience of the vulnerability and discomfort that is felt by artists as they put their art out into the world. As artists work to improve they need to understand how theirr work is perceived by the viewer. They need more varied perspectives and they want to know their art’s implication and relation to the larger world. Regular art critiques by knowledgeable and trusted peers is an important part of development for artists. Art critiques help artists to: Establish their visual voice. Find their Niche. Work ou ..read more