Abstract Oil Paintings: Thousands of Brushstrokes
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How I Create Abstract Oil Paintings
Many people ask how I create my Abstract Oil Painting and why they can take months to complete. For me, every brushstroke matters. I slowly build each painting with layers of oil color, lines, shapes and thousands of individual marks.
Building Layers of Oil Color
I work with both transparent and opaque oil paint. Some layers allow earlier brushstrokes to show through, while others cover parts of the surface with stronger areas of color. Together, these layers create depth and movement across the canvas.
In addition, I use oil painting mediums to change the flow and transparency of the paint. These help me apply thin layers of color while keeping earlier marks visible underneath.
As I paint, the relationships between colors and shapes change. For example, a line may disappear beneath a new layer, while another mark becomes more noticeable beside a different color.
Every Brushstroke Is Like a Fingerprint
Over the years, I have collected nearly 50 types and styles of artist brushes. Each creates a different line, shape or texture. As a result, I often switch brushes to make the particular mark I want.
I think of every brushstroke as a fingerprint. Each is different, and each becomes part of the painting’s history.
Some marks remain clearly visible. Others become partly hidden beneath later layers. Together, these thousands of brushstrokes shape the finished composition.
Why My Abstract Oil Paintings Take Months
I begin without a preliminary sketch. Instead, I work directly on the canvas and allow the painting to change as I go.
A new color may lead me to reshape an area or carry a line in another direction. Sometimes, I return to the same section many times as the painting develops.
This process can continue for months. Gradually, the layers, colors and brushstrokes come together as one complete work.
A Closer Look at the Details
At first, you see the painting as a whole. However, moving closer reveals the smaller marks and layers that helped create it.
For me, these details matter as much as the complete composition..
Look closely to explore:
- Individual brushstrokes and small marks.
- Thin layers that reveal earlier colors.
- Lines and shapes partly hidden beneath the surface.
- Changes in color, texture and movement.
For me, those details are as much a part of the painting as the complete composition. Every brushstroke becomes part of its history.
Learn about oil paint:
MoMA’s explanation of oil paint
original abstract oil paintings:
oil painting materials I use:
https://laurierubell.com/blogs/laurie-rubell-artist-blogs/oil-painting-materials-i-use