Abstract Expressionist More Art

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In artist Gail Ragains' figurative piece, a woman takes a breather on the beach. She reclines comfortably on a green chair, in a mix of gestural marks within a thought-out composition. The muted color combination allows the warm and cool shades to play off each other.

About the Artist
Artist Gail Ragains paints abstract figurative works defined by strong color combinations and intuitive mark-making. "I approach each creative process as an open-ended improvisation," says Gail. "It is an evolving journey without preconceived plans for a predictable outcome. I react to the materials at hand, stripping away the non-essentials to give a loose interpretation of form, movement, and human expression." Inspired by the physical gestures and emotions of people, the human figure dominates Gail's art. As a young person, Gail was active in dance, ice skating, and gymnastics and competed in triathlons in her 20s. While pursuing a career as a massage therapist for 25 years, Gail simultaneously attended art classes through community colleges, the local Art League, and workshops with artists she admires. Having lived in California her entire life, Gail is influenced by the California colors—golden hills, clear blue skies, swimsuits, and swimming pools. Today, her studio is in her backyard just a few steps away from the home she shares with her husband. “In this workspace, I have everything I need. Good light, music, fresh air, and my studio mate, Sadie, the cutest 14 lb. mixed-breed rescue pup.”

Words that describe this painting: figure, figurative, people, Richard Diebenkorn, gestural, expressive, colorful, beach, sand, paper, acrylicpaint, portrait, expressionism, people, acrylic painting, beige

Beach Chair...

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This painting was inspired by Klimt's mural art, especially by his mosaics. The piece is on a gallery wrapped canvas with finished edges. It comes ready to ha...

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Artist Ryan Pickart layers art historical references in this sensual nude. The painting tells the Greek myth of Alcmene and Galant...

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"She seemed to be perfectly content in her thoughts," shares artist Sharon Sieben. A vibrant nude sits in an expressive pose with knees pulled up to her chest...

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Artist Kip Decker paints an expressionist seascape showing sailboats with colorful masts by the harbor. The sails flutter along the wind as the race is about ...

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Artist James Hartman displays an enchanting view of Mt. Diablo in the Bay Area. A path opens between a grove of trees leading into the tall mountains. James represents the different natural elements of the composition in a vibrant color palette. Painted en plein air, James says of the medium, "I like using oils for their buttery consistency."

About the Artist
When James Hartman was in art school, he became fascinated with the Society of Six...

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A glowing spring sunset along Highway 1 in Big Sur. "I was inspired by the bounty of California coastal wildflowers," says Kajal Zaveri. "They are a treat for...

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A blaze of color warms sunset clouds. "It was early autumn and the leaves turned into yellow, orange, and pink, but some were still very green," explains arti...

Artist Comments
In artist Gail Ragains' figurative piece, a woman takes a breather on the beach. She reclines comfortably on a green chair, in a mix of gestural marks within a thought-out composition. The muted color combination allows the warm and cool shades to play off each other.

About the Artist
Artist Gail Ragains paints abstract figurative works defined by strong color combinations and intuitive mark-making. "I approach each creative process as an open-ended improvisation," says Gail. "It is an evolving journey without preconceived plans for a predictable outcome. I react to the materials at hand, stripping away the non-essentials to give a loose interpretation of form, movement, and human expression." Inspired by the physical gestures and emotions of people, the human figure dominates Gail's art. As a young person, Gail was active in dance, ice skating, and gymnastics and competed in triathlons in her 20s. While pursuing a career as a massage therapist for 25 years, Gail simultaneously attended art classes through community colleges, the local Art League, and workshops with artists she admires. Having lived in California her entire life, Gail is influenced by the California colors—golden hills, clear blue skies, swimsuits, and swimming pools. Today, her studio is in her backyard just a few steps away from the home she shares with her husband. “In this workspace, I have everything I need. Good light, music, fresh air, and my studio mate, Sadie, the cutest 14 lb. mixed-breed rescue pup.”

Words that describe this painting: figure, figurative, people, Richard Diebenkorn, gestural, expressive, colorful, beach, sand, paper, acrylicpaint, portrait, expressionism, people, acrylic painting, beige

Beach Chair...

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This is a lively and uplifting view! This painting is on Arches oil paper.

About the Artist
Ronda Waiksnis captures abstracted, atmospheric movemen...

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"This dramatic image of a winged figure creates a brightly colored yet soft composition that fills the room with warmth," shares artist Gary Leonard. Inspired by the beauty of wings, Gary says it was a challenge to render them in a soft flowing manner with the model. "The warm color palette creates an inviting and peaceful feeling," he adds.

About the Artist
Through composition, color, texture and more, Gary Leonard celebrates beauty. His works start with the subject, but then he lets the work evolve into a more complex composition. Oftentimes, he enjoys merging figures with abstract images and varying textures. He hopes that his works will leave the viewer with a sense of warmth and peace. When he's not making art, he enjoys listening to music and learning how to play the piano.

Words that describe this painting: figure, fantasy, peaceful, wings, figurative, ethereal, face, flying, angel, expressionism, fantasy, people, representational, oil painting, yellow

The Phoenix...

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A cove near Teresa's home at sunset. The light hits the rocks at just the right angle and glows. Thick, lyrical brushstrokes in a rainbow of colors creates liveliness in the scene.

About the Artist
Teresa Smith captures the soul of the Canadian landscape in her contemplative oil paintings. Teresa gathers impressions of the land around her remote island home on horseback rides accompanied by her Irish wolfhound. Her works capture the light coming through the trees, a richness of color, and the interconnectedness of nature. Her subjects emerge through lyrical brushwork, sometimes with light streaming as if through a stained glass window. Her major influences are Georgia O’Keeffe, Emily Carr, and the Canadian Group of Seven, the latter of whom pioneered a distinctive style defined by a direct connection with nature. In addition to painting, Teresa is a master gardener, and she grows food year-round in her garden and volunteers in the community to educate and diagnose plant problems. She works from her studio on the top floor of a barn overlooking the pond and trees, where deer walk by and ducks swim. According to Teresa, "much of today’s art is based on concept. That is, the artist has an idea, then uses their art to educate and inform. I do contemplative painting, which is different. For me, it is allowing the painting to unfold in a contemplative or meditative way."

Words that describe this painting: sunset, landscape, impressionistic, coast...

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A flowing, expressionist portrait of woman lost in dance and embracing the promise of a new day. "I created this painting as 2020 drew to a close and 2021 daw...

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A traditional farmstead basks in the bright winter day in artist Robert Hofherr's expressionist piece. He emphasizes painterly strokes and bold hues, drawing ...

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Artist Autumn Rose presents a luscious, pastel bouquet inspired by sunflowers and anemones. Rich layers of acrylic create a tactile surface, while bold black ...

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This is a lively and uplifting view! This painting is on Arches oil paper.

About the Artist
Ronda Waiksnis captures abstracted, atmospheric movemen...

Artist Comments
"She seemed to be perfectly content in her thoughts," shares artist Sharon Sieben. A vibrant nude sits in an expressive pose with knees pulled up to her chest...

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Artist Judy Mackey created this expressive semi-abstract garden view while thinking about the new flowers springing up from the ground and the daylight-saving...

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Palomino Tree came more or less in a dream of a horse high up in a tree. This painting is on a gallery wrapped canvas with finished edges. It comes ready to hang.

About the Artist
Glenn Quist...

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Artist Rebecca Klementovich shares a colorful outlook on the beautiful Monhegan Island—one of her favorite places to paint off the coast of Maine. "Monhegan...

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"This painting shows the mist in the morning where the Pines wake up," says artist Rebecca Klementovich. "This gestural way of painting pines is heavily influ...

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An expressionist portrait of relationships as a dance. Dominant blue palette with hints of red, purple and pink that offers both cal...

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A glowing fall landscape under a soft blue sky. In the foreground, the lines of a freshly plowed field lead to the colorful stand of trees on the horizon. George is known for his dramatic landscapes and panoramic ocean vistas. He enjoys painting brief, electric moments in nature. George draws on his surroundings in Michigan but ultimately paints entirely from his imagination.

About the Artist
George Peebles is an award-winning artist specializing in contemporary landscape oils. His paintings are characterized by their pleasing combination of brilliant hues and rich skies. He describes his art as a reflection of the place inside each of us where we connect to nature. Painted from memory, each stroke is an inward expression of his emotions. George views his work as a lifelong process that leads him to new concepts and ideas best expressed on his canvas.

Words that describe this painting: fall, autumn, landscape, trees, field, sky, clouds, nature, expressionism, landscape, representational, oil painting, orange

Brilliant Colors...

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"These amazing giants are my favorite from the Sonoran desert," expresses artist Sharon Sieben. "I feel fortunate to have them in my neighborhood." Bold and s...

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Naoko says this painting is meant to evoke the feeling of going through a narrow path, and a little pond surrounded by trees appears. The closest two trees cr...

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A vibrant encaustic on wood painted with oil over a collage of antique ephemera. Artist James Hartman portrays a colorful stil...

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Artist Judy Mackey created this expressive semi-abstract garden view while thinking about the new flowers springing up from the ground and the daylight-saving...

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Artist Naoko Tadotsu displays ethereal expressionism with an image of a blazing tree. The sun sets behind it, giving its silhouette a dark translucent glow. The light reflecting from the river's surface filters through the leaves and twinkles like glass shards. The fiery orange hues against the blue and green accents give the composition warmth and brilliance.

About the Artist
Brilliant prismatic trees radiate in artist Naoko Tadotsu’s expressionist compositions. “I am always in awe of nature, color, and light,” says Naoko. These three facets establish her vibrant works in fluid strokes of vivid hues. Roots of her influence trace back to growing up in Osaka, where these elements were abundant. Naoko migrated to New York where she was immersed and fell in love with the world of art. What was once unexpressed inspiration inevitably translated onto the canvas. Her work often crosses into abstraction, capturing her feelings towards nature and painting it as its own entity. “The trees, like people, show different faces,” adds Naoko. In the same way, her pieces elicit different perspectives from every viewer. All Naoko needs is a portable easel...

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Artist George Peebles embodies solemnity in a calm and pensive seascape. He envisions the composition reflecting on a dream by the water. Deep ocean waves rhythmically drift along the tantalizing vista. George displays the brief electric moment in nature entirely from his imagination.

About the Artist
Award-winning artist, George Peebles specializes in contemporary panoramic scenes. Breathtaking combinations of brilliant hues and gradients of rich skies map out his paintings. “My art is a reflection of the place inside each of us where we connect to nature,” says George. Based in Michigan, he draws inspiration from electric moments within his environment. Each stroke is an inward expression of his emotions as he paints from memory. George, being colorblind views his work as a lifelong process that leads him to new concepts and ideas best expressed on his canvas. When he’s out of the studio, George works as a chef at their local hospital. His work is represented in eighteen healthcare facilities.

Words that describe this painting: water, sky, clouds, dreamy, moody, dramatic, waves, water, seascape, expressionism, abstract, oilpaint, calm, tranquil, still, peaceful, expressionism, seascape, oil painting

Lost in a Dream...

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"Isolation sometimes bodes well for artists," says Mary Pratt with a smile. "Since I am a people person, being trapped in my house has allowed me to paint wit...

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Artist Janet Dyer pictures an expressionist sun setting behind lakeside mountains. She captures the warm orange glow of the last moments of its descent. "Softly the evening came with the sunset," quotes Janet. In her trademark style of minimalist strokes, she envisions Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's iconic poetry.

About the Artist
Janet Dyer doesn’t like to spend too much time talking about her art, as she’d rather be creating it. She doesn’t have an artist statement, the traditional statement of purpose crafted by visual artists to explain their method. On becoming an artist, Janet simply states, “I picked up some crayons and pencils and brushes and kept using them.” She believes the process of creating art is equal in importance to the final product. The artist enjoys relinquishing control of her paintings to find delightful surprises in her so-called “mistakes.” Janet's expressively gestural yet bucolic landscapes are a testament to the success of her method.

Words that describe this painting: nature, spring, forsythia, yellow, river, water, trees, reflection, abstract, acrylicpaint, sunset, expressionism, expressionism, nature, acrylic painting, green

Sunset on the River...