The Shift: From Pouring to Modern Art
Rubenstein Chan Gallery Exhibiting: Circle of Life, mixed media on canvas, 55×92
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.”
Michael Murphy Gallery Exhibiting: Celebration, Mixed media on canvas 72×115
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
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Studio. The studio specializes in original abstract art for sale, focusing on pieces that capture the serenity and atmospheric light of the California coast. Visiting the studio allows collectors to see the “vibration of the real” that only comes from original, multi-layered fine art.