Rob McCullough Fine Arts, Hamlet, NC
I started with abstract paintings, not realizing it was one of the most challenging genres to learn. It was not just difficult to understand how to paint abstractly, it was also hard to visualize and convey what I wanted to express. But at the time, I did not know it was supposed to be hard.
I was drawn to abstract art over other styles because of its mystique—the hidden messages an artist embeds within their work. I love it when people stare at my paintings and say, “I see a…” because, at that moment, I accomplished one goal, I made the viewer pause, think, and open their minds to something new. I never correct them, even if I named the piece Cat and they see a mountain.
My process is intuitive and spontaneous. I do not name a painting until I feel it is complete. I build layers upon layers of thin paint, allowing each one to guide me until the image in my mind’s eye emerges. I paint both on a table and an easel, but no matter what, I always step back—literally. I place the piece on an easel, walk to the far side of my studio, turn and look. That very first glance is an emotional moment—when your heart and mind align, and you know you are doing what you are meant to do.
The truth is, an abstract painting is never truly finished, you just have to learn when to stop. And that only comes with experience and practice. So… I paint, paint, paint, and paint some more.