Female Abstract Artist

The Shift: From Pouring to Modern Art

I have always loved the process of pouring. There is something magical about watching paint move across a surface as a liquid, uncontrolled yet directed. But as I’ve moved into this current phase of creating modern art as a contemporary abstract artist in California, I’ve realized that using a standard brush is simply not ideal for me. The brush feels too “heavy.” I want a finish that is smooth and atmospheric, bridging the gap between the fluid freedom of a pour and the controlled precision of contemporary fine art.

The Archive: Why Some Abstract Art Needs a “Second Act”

In the world of modern abstract art in Laguna Beach, we all have pieces tucked away that didn’t quite land. Reworking old art is an act of bravery. By revisiting these canvases, I am reclaiming my own history and seeing my own evolution as an artist who offers original abstract art for sale.

Power Tool Therapy: Taking Out the Power Sander

Before the “play” can begin, the surface must be carefully prepared. Today, that meant taking out my small power sander. While being a contemporary abstract artist in California, I’m deeply grateful to be working outside at my parents’ home—my second studio—where I have the freedom to make noise and let the dust fly.

A girl loves power tools! There is a specific satisfaction in holding a tool that does the hard work for you. After a morning of managing my mom’s care, the power sander allows that stress to vibrate out of my muscles and into the canvas. I’m clearing the deck so I can start fresh on these new modern abstract art pieces.

The Ritual of the Mist: Preparing the Airbrush

I’ve realized that the process of how an airbrush technique works is just as important as the final spray. You don’t just pick up the tool and go; it requires disciplined preparation. First, the surface must be flawlessly smooth—any bump left behind by the power sander will be magnified by the mist.

Then comes the “reduction.” You have to thin the paint to the exact consistency of milk. If it’s too thick, the powerful compressor will struggle; if it’s too thin, it runs. It’s a delicate chemistry. I spend time testing the flow, adjusting the air pressure, and ensuring the needle is clean. This preparation is a meditation in itself. By the time I am actually pointing the airbrush at the Gesso background—guiding that mist to dance across the surface rather than just hitting it—the “thinking” is done, and the “feeling” begins.

From Darkness to Light: Embracing Serenity

My biggest change today as a contemporary abstract artist in California is the palette. My previous series was dominated by Payne’s Gray. Lately, that darkness has felt too heavy. Today, I am focused on going back to a Gesso background.

Serenity is my friend. Returning to the brightness of a gessoed background feels like opening a window in a dark room. To truly find that light, I added several layers to actually cover up the old remnants of the painting. It wasn’t about hiding the past, but about meticulously clearing the space so the new work could finally breathe. By airbrushing these lighter layers over a fresh gessoed background, I’m creating a glow that wasn’t there before—a radiance that only comes when you’ve done the work to let the light back in.

The Physics of Play: The Heartbeat of the Compressor

To get that smooth spray that looks like a morning mist over Laguna, you need a powerful compressor. There is something so satisfying about its steady hum. It provides the pressure needed to atomize the paint, turning it into a seamless veil of color.

I’m also incredibly grateful to have an amazing assistant, Jesse, helping me with this process today. We all need help, I believe. Having a team is truly the best way to produce the best artworks. When the compressor is steady, and I’m working alongside Jesse, the airbrush becomes an extension of my own breath. With the California sun warming the canvas and speeding up the drying time, the process feels like a continuous dance.

 The Caregiver’s Reset: Why Art Matters

As I work, my mom is resting inside. Knowing she is tucked away allows me to create this ‘creative bubble.’ Being a caregiver is a beautiful yet exhausting journey, and it is where I am finding my greatest lessons. The studio is where I recharge my battery so I can be the support system she needs. I’ve realized I’m not just making modern abstract art in Laguna Beach; I’m making the energy I need to be a better daughter, contemporary abstract artist in California, and human being. This journey is teaching me a new level of patience and a way of connecting with her that brings me great joy. Every layer I spray is a reflection of that connection.

The Courage to Sand it Down

In the end, art and life aren’t that different. Sometimes you have to have the courage to pick up a power sander and level the texture down to the bones. Only then can you find the smooth, serene finish you’ve been looking for as a contemporary abstract artist in California or in any other role.

“As the sun warms the studio, I see the first veil of mist catching the light over my fresh gessoed background. It’s a physical reminder that we don’t have to stay stuck in the shadows of our old ‘remnants.’ I’m glad I had the courage to let go of the darkness of the past. I’m glad I listened to my intuition rather than just waiting to figure it out. Sometimes the best move isn’t the logical one—it’s the one that brings you back to your own sense of serenity.”

What about you? Is there something in your life or your art that you’ve been trying to “brush over,” when what it really needs is a fresh start and a little help from a team?

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How does an airbrush technique work for abstract art?
    • In abstract art, the airbrush is used to create “atmospheric veils” of color that a traditional brush can’t achieve. It works by using a powerful compressor to atomize liquid paint into a fine mist. For a contemporary abstract artist in California, this allows for a glow that mimics the coastal light, but it requires a perfectly smooth surface and paint thinned to a precise, milk-like consistency to flow through the needle without clogging.
  2. What are the benefits of reworking old canvases?
    • Reworking old canvases is an act of “artistic reclamation.” It allows an artist to use the textures and “ghosts” of the past as a structural foundation for something new. By sanding down the old remnants, you aren’t erasing your history; you are leveling it so that a new, more serene story can be told. It is a physical reminder that no effort is ever wasted—it just might need a “Second Act.”
  3. Why use a power sander on fine art?
    • A power sander is used to achieve a “gallery-smooth” finish that is essential for airbrushing. Because the airbrush mist is so fine, it magnifies every bump or ridge left by heavy brushwork or old pours. Using a sander allows the artist to strip the canvas back to its “bones,” ensuring the new gesso background is flawlessly flat and ready to catch the light.
  4. What is the best Gesso for a smooth airbrush background?
    • The best gesso for this process is highly pigmented but fine-grained. It acts as the “reset button” for the canvas. When applied correctly—often in multiple thin layers—it creates a brilliant, reflective surface that allows modern abstract art to “breathe” and provides the necessary brightness to make light colors appear to glow from within.
  5. How do you balance being a caregiver with being a professional artist?
    • Balancing caregiving with art requires creating a “creative bubble”—a dedicated time and space where the artist can recharge. The studio becomes a sanctuary where the stresses of caregiving can “vibrate out.” By focusing on the process, such as the steady hum of a compressor or the rhythm of sanding, the artist finds the patience and energy needed to return to their role as a daughter and support system.
  6. Where can I see modern abstract art in Laguna Beach?
    • You can view the latest collections of one-of-a-kind works at the Clara Berta Gallery. The gallery specializes in original abstract art for sale, focusing on pieces that capture the serenity and atmospheric light of the California coast. Visiting the gallery allows collectors to see the “vibration of the real” that only comes from original, multi-layered fine art.

Sanding Toward Serenity: Modern Abstract Art in Laguna Beach

February 17, 2026 No Comments

We often think of the artist’s studio as a place of romantic chaos—a whirlwind of splattered paint and frantic energy. But for me, the creative process doesn’t begin with the first mark on a canvas. It begins with something much more grounded and vital. It begins with The Ritual of Clearing.

For me, surroundings are everything. As a contemporary abstract artist in California, I have learned over the years that if my space is not clean and functioning, my mind cannot be either. I am simply not the kind of artist who can thrive in clutter. This stems from a deep-rooted love for a minimalist lifestyle. To me, minimalism isn’t about emptiness; it’s about intentionality. It’s about ensuring that every object in my space, and every thought in my head, has a reason for being there. A cluttered room creates a cluttered frequency, and in the world of one-of-a-kind fine art, clarity is the most important tool I own.

The Great Clearing: The USC Pivot

My path to this minimalist clarity was not a straight line. For fifteen years, I worked as a secretary, managing the order and flow of others’ lives. Eventually, I had enough. My late husband, Dr. Henry Rappaport, a world-renowned pathologist, encouraged me to finish my bachelor’s degree in psychology. I loved that season; it was a time of creative writing and learning about the depths of the human condition.

However, the pressure to keep achieving led me to USC to pursue a master’s in gerontology. It was there that I hit a wall. In the world of statistics and data, I felt like a mere number. I realized I was trying to fit a vibrant, abstract soul into a linear, statistical box. I had what I now recognize as a necessary meltdown.

That meltdown was my first true “Ritual of Clearing.” It was the moment I learned to say no to something that was no longer working for me. I had to let go of the expectations I had for who I thought I should be to find my true voice. Part of that evolution was finding my own identity as a contemporary abstract artist in California. While I loved carrying my late husband’s name, becoming “Clara Berta” was essential to my growth. I needed to stand on my own two feet and sign my work with a name that represented my own discovered truth. My husband, with immense compassion and support, understood this. He saw the artist in me even when I couldn’t, and his permission to be creative again was the greatest gift I ever received.

The Integrity of the Wall

This innate need for a clear, functioning foundation is why I couldn’t ignore the leaks in my studio when the rain started coming in “big time.” Just as I had to say “No” to a master’s degree that was suffocating my spirit, I had to say “No” to a compromised studio wall.

I didn’t just wipe the surface of those walls. My nature—partly inherited from my mother’s own need for order and partly forged through years of professional discipline—demanded that I go to the root. I cut out the entire section of the wall that was wet, pulling out the “soft stuff”—the damp, heavy insulation that was holding onto the decay.

It was grueling, messy work, but it was a minimalist’s necessity. You cannot have a clean, focused mind if you know there is mold thriving behind the drywall. I brought in a dehumidifier to aggressively pull the moisture from the air, and the difference was immediate. The air shifted from heavy to light. By removing the dampness, I was restoring the purity of my art studio. Once the air was clear, the “heaviness” in my own mind lifted. I had reclaimed my inspiration, I needed to create.

Legacy: The Peter Max Influence

As a collector myself, I understand the weight of an original. I still remember the day I acquired my Peter Max—a gift from my late husband. We met the artist in person and watched him sign the back of the work. That moment was magical; it transformed a piece of art into a lifelong memory.

Today, that piece hangs in my home studio. When the sun reflects through the room at different times of the day, the colors change. They are vibrant, magical, and alive. This painting is a time capsule of my husband’s love and the artist’s spirit. It is the gold standard I hold for my own work. When I paint, I am chasing that same “vibration of the real.” I want to create the “vibrant” work that survives decades, becoming a vessel for someone else’s memories.

The Philosophy of the “Only One”

This commitment to a cleared space and a singular identity is exactly why I choose not to sell prints. To mass-produce an image is to create “stuff” for the sake of “stuff.” It contradicts my minimalist values. A print is a reproduction; it cannot capture the history of the ritual that happened beneath it. It cannot communicate the physical work of repairing a wall or the emotional work of finding one’s own name. That’s why I only offer original abstract art for sale.

My work is about connection. And that connection is strongest when the work is singular. By creating only one-of-a-kind pieces, I am honoring the “cleared” space in which they were made. Each original is a milestone in my artistic evolution—a journey away from being a “number” in a statistics class and into being Clara Berta, the artist.

The Organized Artist: New Standards

There is a persistent myth that abstract art is “accidental.” But the truth is, the most profound abstraction requires a high level of mental and environmental discipline. My need for order is what allows me to trust my process as a contemporary abstract artist in California. Because I know my studio is clean, my walls are dry, and my tools are organized, I am free to take risks on the canvas.

I don’t have to worry about the “background noise” of a failing space or a cluttered mind. The minimalist discipline I’ve practiced my whole life provides the safety net. It allows me to go into the chaos of a painting because I know I have a solid, functioning foundation to return to. My paintings are the result of an organized mind finding the freedom to play in a cleared space.

Conclusion: The Beauty of the Reset

The Ritual of Clearing is a reminder that we always have the power to start over. Whether it’s leaving a career, reclaiming your name, or cutting out a damaged wall, the act of clearing is an act of hope. It is a statement that the future is worth the work of preparing for it.

I’m getting ready to add a new wall piece to the spot where the leaks used to be. It will hang on a dry, structurally sound wall in a room with clear air. This is the power of the original. This is the beauty of a minimalist space, allowing the heart of Clara Berta to speak without interruption as a contemporary abstract artist in California..

Frequently Asked Questions

1.     Why is minimalism important to an abstract artist?

Minimalism is about more than just a clean room; it’s about protecting the “frequency” of the creative mind. By removing physical clutter and unnecessary “stuff,” a contemporary abstract artist can focus entirely on intentionality and the pure vibration of the paint.

2.     Why should I buy original abstract art instead of a print?

An original piece is a singular milestone in an artist’s evolution that carries the literal energy of its creation. While prints are mere reproductions, original abstract art for sale represents a unique, one-of-a-kind history—including the physical and emotional rituals that occurred in the studio.

3.     Does the artist’s environment affect the quality of fine art?

Absolutely. A structurally sound and organized environment acts as a “safety net.” When an artist knows their tools are ready and their foundation is secure (like a dry, repaired wall), they’re free to take bold, emotional risks that yield high-quality fine art.

4.     How does a background in psychology influence Clara Berta’s art?

Her studies at USC and her experience in psychology allow her to understand the “depths of the human condition.” This background helps her translate complex emotions—like the need for a “reset” or the search for serenity—into the visual language of color and texture.

5.     What should a collector look for in one-of-a-kind fine art?

Collectors should look for the “vibration of the real”—the depth of layers, the texture of the brushwork, and the clarity of the artist’s voice. A piece born from a disciplined, cleared space often has a radiant quality that reproductions cannot imitate.

6.     Where can I find original abstract art for sale in Laguna Beach?

You can view the latest one-of-a-kind works directly at the Clara Berta Gallery. By focusing exclusively on originals, the gallery ensures that every collector acquires a unique piece of contemporary abstract art from California.

Beyond the Brush: A Contemporary Abstract Artist in California on the Power of a Clear Space

February 17, 2026 No Comments