These three abstract expressionism artworks are a series of 17″x21″ drawings created with charcoal, chalk, and pastels. The inspiration is primarily emotional and nihilistic; meditations on the imprint of life in an abstract expressionist style.

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This is an abstract drawing of a tornado. The 19″x25″ artwork was drawn with charcoal and pastels.

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This is a series of abstract drawings entitled “Isolated Flowers”. Each individual drawing is 4″x6″ and the entire series is approximately 13″x18″. The mediums used to create the artwork include pens, markers, watercolors, acrylics, and oil pastels.

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This is a 9″x12″ abstract artwork entitled “Brain”. The abstract art was completed in 2011 with a variety of mixed media, including paint pens, oil pastels, pens, watercolors, gouache, and acrylics. Multiple layers of paint were applied to the canvas paper in order to create patterns of color, shape, and value. The abstract painting was [...]

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These are two self-portraits of/by artist Michael D. Edens. The 9″x12″ artworks were drawn and painted in 2011 with a variety of mediums. The first self-portrait, entitled “Self-Portrait”, was drawn with pens, oil pastels, paint pens, watercolors, and gouache. The second self-portrait, entitled “Uneasy Self-Portrait”, was drawn with colored pencils, oil pastels, and watercolors.

Unique layering and coloring techniques were used in each self-portrait in order to create interesting visual styles. For example, watercolors are painted over naturally repelling oil pastels to create an uneasy imbalance of organically flowing swirls and pooling colors amidst irrepressible lines.

Related Artwork
This is a previous 9″x12″ self-portrait created as part of the Rainbow Color Portraits – Series 1.

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This is an abstract drawing and painting of a face. The 9″x12″ abstract art was created in 2011 with a variety of mediums, including paint pens, colored pencils, crayons, watercolors, acrylics, oil pastels, markers, pens, and gouache. Expressive application of vibrant colors, meandering lines, and layered white space mix to create a determined facial expression forming on the paper.

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This is expressive abstract art I created with pastels in 2004. The colorful drawing is 9″ x 12″. The artwork is a tightly wound, but energetic, array of color and slight variations in texture. The artwork is entitled “Joy” and is comprised of unique abstract geometric shapes.

Please contact me, Michael D. Edens, if you would like to purchase a high quality print of this artwork.

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The following drawings of the sun (stars) were created in response to Art Challenge #7: Sun Art, over at The Artist Challenge. The first sun drawing is also part of the CBS News Sunday Morning Television Show Art Library.

Each sun drawing is 11″ x 14″, and drawn on paper with a variety of pens, watercolors, paint pens, colored pencils, oil pastels, markers, and acrylic paint.

The first image of the sun represents the power and energy of the source of light and color, and life, in our world. The drawing is also abstract and impressionistic. The other two sun/star drawings focus on the tumultuous bubbling reaction within a star that produces the warm colors and heat amidst the black depths of space.

The accompanying video shows the drawing and painting process for the colorful abstract sun in a time lapse format.

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The Artist Challenge is well underway, with new artists joining every day! The project was started by artist Vikki North and I by challenging each other to create artwork based on a particular theme. This is my submission for Art Challenge #5 – Unrequited Love.

The first artwork is my submission, “Face of Unrequited Love 01″. The abstract face drawing/painting is approximately 11″x14″, drawn and painted with pens, markers, colored pencils, and watercolors on paper. The accompanying video shows the drawing and painting process in a time lapse format. The face was initially sketched with pen and markers. Washes of water and watercolor softened the portrait, followed by thick markers, and more watercolor washes, details, and highlights.

The second portrait drawing is entitled “Face of Unrequited Love 02″. This abstract face drawing/painting is approximately 9″x12″, drawn and painted with pens, markers, colored pencils, and watercolors on paper. There is an accompanying video that shows the drawing and painting process in a time lapse format. It shows a similar sketching and painting process from start to finish.

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This an abstract painting created with acrylic and watercolor paint. The artwork is approximately 16.5″ x 11″ on heavy foam core. Sweeping movements were used to wisp the paint onto the surface, and instead of using the brush, the brush handle was used to push and pull the paint around. The painting is primarily black and white, but hints of yellow, blue, and orange permeate the entire abstract artwork.

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