Abstract Thinking

I've been asked to paint parrots, fiddles, Cairn terriers and many, many cats. Then I was asked to paint an "abstract" mug. It turned out to be one of the toughest things I've ever had to do. I found it pretty frustrating and trashed my first effort. Then I decided to approach it like I do everything else. Research! This mug is a combination of influences and inspirations. The Kenneth Noland circles show I saw (many moons ago) at the Guggenheim in New York; the great Canadian abstract painter Claude Tousignant; and a friend who is one of the best I know at doing patterns, Carol and her fused glass platters.