Amy Howell

Many artists have heard it at least once: “My five-year-old could do that.” Maybe they could. But what many people don’t realize is that when recognizable subjects disappear, the fundamentals of art become even more important. Shape, line, value, color, texture, movement, rhythm, balance, and composition all have to work together. One line can throw an entire painting off balance. One color can shift the emotional weight of the whole piece. Abstract art is not random. It may appear...

Occasionally, I come across a painting I can’t relate to anymore. Sometimes I can barely look at it. I feel almost embarrassed, as if it belongs to another version of myself — one I no longer understand. Other times, I can still see something in it. Not the painting it is, but the painting it could become. A new direction appears, and I follow it, not always knowing where it will take me. Sometimes I paint over it completely and start fresh. And then there are those canvases that seem almost...

One of the questions I hear most often from artists — and one I’ve asked myself many times — is: What is the best way to sell my art consistently? Like many working artists, I’ve explored multiple avenues. I’ve participated in art shows, exhibited in galleries, responded to calls for artists, and accepted commissions that came through each of those experiences. Every opportunity has brought value, exposure, and growth. But one challenge remains familiar to many creatives: consistency....