When I paint, I’m often searching for a feeling rather than a form. My work has evolved over time, but the thread that runs through it is emotion—sometimes subtle, sometimes overwhelming, but always honest. I’ve learned that when I connect deeply with what I’m feeling, that emotion often finds its way into the painting and, somehow, others sense it too.
Here are a few things I’ve discovered that help bring emotional depth to abstract art:
1. Start with a feeling, not a plan
Before I begin a painting, I often pause in front of the blank canvas and ask myself what’s stirring inside me that day. Am I at peace? Restless? Hopeful? This small moment of reflection can set the tone for everything that follows. When I was painting A World Away, for instance, I wasn’t trying to depict a landscape—I was trying to express a feeling of distance and longing. The colors and shapes became a reflection of that state of mind.
A World Away from my SUMMER SAFARI collection.
2. Use color as emotion
Color speaks volumes. It’s often my starting point when words fail. During the creation of my LINGER series, I found myself drawn to muted pinks, soft blues, and grounding earth tones—colors that felt quiet, tender, and reflective of a changing chapter in my life. Letting color carry the emotion, rather than trying to force it, can lead to more authentic expression.
Peach Fuzz Pop from my LINGER collection.
3. Let intuition lead the way
Abstract painting invites you to listen to that quiet inner voice. I try not to plan too much; instead, I follow what feels right in the moment—the pull of a brushstroke, a drip of paint, or the urge to layer texture. Those instinctive moments often hold the most truth.
The Seasons from my HOME collection.
4. Embrace imperfection
Some of my favorite paintings are the ones that didn’t go as planned. A smudge, a splash, a line that wanders—these things make a painting feel alive. I’ve learned to leave traces of the process visible because they carry the same vulnerability that emotion does.
Larger than Life 17 from the LARGER THAN LIFE collection.
5. Layer meaning over time
Emotion isn’t static—it shifts as we do. Sometimes, I revisit older paintings and add new layers, physically and emotionally. Each addition tells another part of the story. The process feels like writing a letter to my past self, in color.
The Musicality is a painting that I painted over recently to create something fresh and new.
6. Create space for viewers to feel
I rarely explain what my paintings “mean.” I prefer that people find their own connection. I’ve noticed that viewers often sense the emotion behind a work even if I never name it—and that, to me, is where art becomes most powerful.
In the end, creating emotional impact in abstract art is about honesty. It’s about allowing what’s inside to move freely across the canvas, without judgment or fear. The more truth you put into your work, the more deeply it can resonate—with you, and with others.
2 comments
Love this, thanks for sharing so openly Claire. I do paint intuitively but I’ve never really asked myself in advance how I feel and happily brought that with me consciously into my work. It sounds vulnerable but also healing and freeing. Beautiful, thank you!
Love this article! I was just wondering today how you start a painting – if you ever have an idea of what you want to paint or if it’s purely intuitive, which I believe it mostly is. Painting from what we feel in the moment is quite helpful! Love it! Thanks so much!