Finding The Abstract Deep Within

Pen and ink contemporary fine art by Doug Ashby.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the type of work I create, its meaning, and perhaps most importantly, what motivates me to keep creating. It’s becoming clearer that much of my work revolves around abstracting nature. By “nature,” I mean almost anything living or shaped by natural forces, which encompasses nearly everything. However, I’m particularly drawn to isolating parts of living objects and recognizing the abstract qualities within them. For example, I may focus on how a section of tree branches interacts with the sky, then isolate those shapes to create a representation. Or I might use ripples in water to frame certain qualities within the overall picture.

Patterns are everywhere, and it’s often in the juxtaposition of these elements that I discover my compositions. These seemingly disparate entities often reveal themselves to me during long walks. I try to be a keen observer, mentally recording, and sometimes physically documenting, what I see. The artwork above was born from this process. While it can be seen as a direct representation of an iris flower, I strive to create a tension between the seen and unseen, between positive and negative space, as well as a contrast between organic and geometric shapes. I’ve come to realize that it’s this abstraction that truly captures my focus.

So, I ask myself, what draws me to these abstractions? Why do I look beyond the whole to isolate intriguing elements? Perhaps, through this lens, I’m inviting the viewer to see an underlying thread—something pervasive that binds everything together. The surface, in almost all respects, is only a small part of the story. When one looks deeper, there’s a complex, almost random abstraction that contains an even richer narrative. Maybe it’s these smaller parts that come together to tell a more complete story. Perhaps I’m challenging myself to see both the mundane and extraordinary moments, not as separate, but as part of a more unified narrative. This interplay shapes who we are and defines our place within the world. Or maybe, I’m just overthinking it.

Let’s ground this idea a bit. The iris flower has been a part of my artistic journey since I began working in pen and ink. Nearly 20 years ago, I remember looking at a neighbor’s garden filled with irises. I was captivated by their circadian rhythms—how they opened and closed throughout their life cycle, changing dramatically from day to night. I once created a series depicting these movements. With this current artwork, I wanted to explore the fully open phase of the iris and how its organic petals interact with their surroundings. I aimed to capture the tension between the flower and its environment, as well as potential harmony. Since I often see irises in personal gardens, I included geometric elements to introduce a human presence, adding contrast. Here, the question of our place within nature arises, and it’s within this abstraction that I hope to challenge perceptions of nature itself.

Serendipity works in funny ways. As I was developing this thematic idea, a colleague approached me with a critique. He said he had never seen anything like my work and asked for advice on taking his own in a new direction. When I asked for clarification, he explained that it had to do with how I use stippling and pen to create abstraction, transforming the way he perceives the imagery. Although pride can sometimes be a double-edged sword, his words were gratifying. They reaffirmed my belief that the work I’m doing holds value, encouraging me to keep going. This convergence of moments helped me clarify my theme, my narrative, and my story just a little more, showing me that there’s still more depth to explore. Interestingly, my advice to him was to view his concert photography as a small part of a larger, more abstract whole—almost the reverse of what I do, yet somehow similar.

Winter is a time of rest for much of the natural world, but there are still exciting elements all around. My neighbor’s raspberry bushes stand like tall, immovable sentinels outside my window, guarding the dormant life that will soon return to give us fruit. After writing this, I think I’ll go outside and take a closer look, to see what they reveal at this moment in time and draw inspiration from them as a small part within a larger system.

As an artist committed to a lifelong journey of creation, I recognize that this moment in time will grow and transform. But I believe that the small, isolated abstract qualities around me will continue to influence my work. It’s a never-ending smorgasbord of inspiration. You don’t have to travel far to see it—it’s about opening your eyes and your heart to the beauty surrounding us and recording it in your own unique way.

As always, I hope you enjoy the art and the thoughts behind it. Please leave a comment with your own reflections, and let’s start a conversation. I’d love to see where it might take my future work.

Thanks,

Doug