Abstract paintings

The painting on the left is called Topsy Turvy. It was originally painted in acrylic on canvas and then I re-painted over the acrylic with oil. I took care to only follow the colours found underneath. Actually there is a lot more to this painting, since I painted over it and then wiped free areas, which I then painted over.

I find abstract painting is quite difficult. It feels more intellecutal and seems to require a lot more thinking than figurative work. I have a teacher of figurative painting who tells me these paintings are only colour excercises. OK, yes. In a certain sense they are only colour excercises.
The red one below is called Red Sea and the blue Red to Blue. Both these paintings began at the opposite end of the spectrum. Actually the blue one comes across as totally unsubtle and looks more like plankton in the Gulf Stream. However, in real life the eye sees much less of the painting, which as the name suggests, began as red and moved ever so slowly to blue. These two are colour exercises in the purest sense. I started with the idea of changing to the colours opposite in the spectrum by placing thin glazes. At the time I was also interested in capturing water. One exhibition I had attracted the attention of a 96 year old painter. After he had quietly perused my works he came across to me. "None of these were painted from life," he said. I had to admit that this was true. I do use photos a lot. I don't actually copy them, but I do use them.
He advised painting water from life. I have done this and must admit that the result, even as an abstracted painting, is far superior to what I have posted here. I have sold it and it is now hanging on a wall in France.