Thinking in opposites

In abstract art, the artist moves with complete freedom and has to create a point of reference to help navigate the undefined space.

What shapes my creative process is thinking in terms of opposites. In doing so, it helps me to yield to my natural need for balance and harmony. A mark I’ve left on the canvas is followed by a contrasting mark to balance out the existing ones.

When I reach a point where I’m stuck, I can consciously analyze which marks are present, what effect they have on the composition, and what the painting still lacks to be complete.

In one of my painting classes, the assignment was to create a list of opposites: warm – cold; light – dark; hard – soft, etc.

This approach not only leads to a balanced result but also expands one’s own repertoire of painting techniques.