TL;DR: Abstract art vs realism isn’t a contest. Realism shows the world in a recognizable way, often through people, places, objects, and detail. Abstract art moves away from clear subjects and speaks through color, shape, texture, movement, and space. One gives you something familiar to recognize. The other gives you room to feel, question, and interpret. Both can move you. I get asked this often. Someone will stand in front of one of my abstract acrylic paintings and say, “

TL;DR: What is contemporary abstract art? It’s abstract art being made now, often by living artists using color, shape, texture, movement, and materials in fresh ways. It doesn’t follow one fixed style. It may feel bold, quiet, layered, expressive, or minimal. For your home, it can create a mood, bring personality to a room, and give you something meaningful to live with every day. There’s a moment I see often. Someone looks at an abstract painting, pauses, and asks, “But wha

Besides, the street in front of Graceland is torn up with construction and is a pain to get to anyway. So, here are some art suggestions! Spouse and I take turns choosing our anniversary trip destination. This year was spouse’s turn; he chose Memphis. AND, he’s actually responsible for probably the highlight of the trip! We went to the Memphis Metal Museum. It was absolutely amazing to see what people can do with heat and metal. Part of our visit included watching demonstrati

It’s Back to School season; college students will move to their dorm rooms or apartments in the next couple of weeks. There’s no need to put up the same old posters of movies or whatever else! Have an original piece of art created by an actual human artist in the room; it will absolutely be a conversation starter. Please check out my paintings currently available here or take advantage of a Patron opportunity that cannot be beat. Thank you!

Wondering how abstract art expresses emotion without a clear subject? It happens through color, texture, movement, scale, and composition. You don’t need an art degree to connect with it. You only need to notice your first reaction and let your own memories shape the meaning. You’re standing in front of a painting, wondering how abstract art expresses emotion when there’s no face or landscape to see. There's just color, shape, and texture, yet something still lands before you

If you want to learn how to interpret abstract art, start by trusting your first reaction. You don't need an art degree to appreciate a piece. Look closely at color, texture, movement, scale, and contrast, then notice what the work brings up in you. It's not a puzzle to solve. It's an experience to have. Stand in front of an abstract painting. The colors pull you in. Something about it makes you pause. And then that little voice shows up. It whispers, "What am I supposed to b

To choose abstract art, you should trust your immediate emotional response to a piece first, then look at your room's scale, balance colors intentionally, and decide whether you want the work to blend in or create a bold contrast. Here's the tension most people don't talk about when choosing abstract art. You're standing right in front of a piece that makes you feel something deep. Instead of trusting that feeling, you start worrying that it doesn't match your sofa. I've seen

Abstract art isn't a puzzle you need to solve. If you're asking, "Why do people like abstract art?" start with feeling. People connect with these paintings because color, movement, texture, and open space can stir memories before words catch up. I want the work to give you room to find your own meaning, even if that meaning changes over time. I’ve watched people freeze in front of my paintings. They notice something, then stop themselves because they’re not sure they’re react

A lot of LIFE has happened to me since my return to East Hampton in October, but I wanted to make sure to offer a few words and images from those few days including more beach time, my first protest, and a hint about my wonderful tour guide at the Pollock-Krasner House. After my first visit, I vowed to include more beach time in my return, and I did that AND THEN some. The weather was great, the views were phenomenal, and the shell haul wasn’t bad, either! My return to East H

There’s a particular frustration that hits when you stand in front of raw material like clay or wire. If you want to learn how to sculpt abstract art, you must face the reality of having no physical object to copy. You have no face to reference and no animal skeleton to guide you. You just have an idea or a raw feeling. Somehow, that feeling will become a three-dimensional form that holds its own physical and emotional weight. This is where most people abandon their creative

You lean in close to a painting, certain that if you brushed your hand across the canvas, you’d feel the sharp ridges of cracked stone. If you’re asking what implied texture in art is, it’s exactly this beautiful visual deception. Your eyes promise a rough, weathered landscape, but your fingertips would only meet flat, smooth paint. That moment of physical disconnect is one of the most fascinating illusions in visual art. Understanding this clever trick completely changes how

Have you ever looked at a painting and thought you needed an instruction manual? You keep searching for the focal point, not sure you’re getting the piece, and wonder: What does "abstract" mean in art? The thing about abstract art is that there is no manual, and that’s not a flaw in the artwork. It’s an open invitation. When people ask for a definition, they often expect a hidden code. Abstraction is not a puzzle to solve. It’s a conversation that happens in a language most

There is a moment in every creative attempt where doubt shows up. If you want to know how to make abstract art, you have to realize that this inner voice never fully disappears. You’re standing in front of a canvas, paint in hand, and the questions start. You wonder if the piece will look ridiculous and if you’ll ruin the materials. That inner critic keeps a lot of people from ever starting. Here’s what I’ve learned after years of working with fluid acrylics. Stop letting dou

The blank canvas isn’t the hard part. If you want to learn how to paint abstract art, the hardest part is what happens in your head before you even pick up a brush. how-to-paint-abstract-art-when-you-don-t-know-where-to-start You’ve probably watched videos of artists confidently swooping color across a surface, making it look completely effortless. Then you stare at your own canvas, and suddenly every possible choice feels wrong. You might wonder if you’re using too much red,

If you find yourself asking, "What is the role of texture in art?" the answer lies in that immediate urge to reach out and touch the canvas. Your eye moves across the surface, and something holds you there longer than you expected. The color and the subject matter are beautiful, but the way the paint rises and falls is what truly captures your attention. You watch how light catches the ridges and how shadows pool in the valleys. That impulse is not random. It’s texture doing

To understand what abstract art is in a historical context, you have to look past the absence of physical subjects and feel the tension the artwork creates in your chest. You’ve probably stood in front of an odd painting, wondering what you’re supposed to feel. That uncertainty is exactly what the first non-representational painters wanted to provoke. They weren’t trying to confuse you. They wanted to free you from the idea that art had to look like a physical object to carry

Have you ever stood in front of a painting that doesn't depict anything recognizable and felt something profound anyway? That wordless emotional exchange—that's what the meaning of abstract expressionism is. There’s no landscape, no portrait, no still life; it’s just raw emotion. The tension most people encounter is how to understand an art movement that deliberately resists explanation. How do you know if what you feel in front of an abstract painting is accurate? The hones

It is with great pride that I announce that Rew Van Wyck is a new patron of Krista Swisher's Paintings! Read about her appreciation for my art and see the painting I created for her, in just the right proportions - 11" x 14" - as a commission for committing to three months of patronage on my Patrons page. May I present: "Rew’s Sky!”

I'm proud to announce that Allen Chase has become a Patron of Krista Swisher's Paintings! As a Patron, Allen is eligible to commission an 11" x 14" painting from me. We consulted on theme, and this is the painting that was born of our discussion. Check out what Allen had to say about the experience of commissioning a painting and what the painting itself means to him on my Patrons page.

Please check my Causes I Support page soon to learn how you can help me help great organizations like Sandy Hook Promise, the ACLU, the Trevor Project, and more. I’m slowly finalizing paintings for each charity.