Why i use colour the way i do?

One thing that often comes up when people see my work is the use of colour.

As an abstract artist, I’m naturally drawn to bold, bright tones – blues, yellows, reds – colours that don’t sit quietly (a little like me). They push forward, clash slightly, and demand attention. It’s not something I overthink too much, but it’s definitely intentional. If I’m honest, it’s probably a reflection of how I feel internally.

There’s always a lot going on – ideas, energy, movement – and colour has become the most direct way for me to express that. Rather than trying to control it or mute it, I let it come through. It’s less about choosing colours that “work” and more about choosing colours that feel right in the moment.

That’s where my abstract art really starts to take shape.

I’ll often begin with a strong colour – something bright or slightly unexpected – and build around it. From there, it becomes about balance. How colours interact, where they sit, how they break up structure or bring it together. Sometimes they clash, sometimes they settle, but there’s always a sense of movement.

In a lot of ways, colour does the talking before anything else. It sets the tone of the piece. It creates the first reaction. It draws you in before you even start to notice the shapes, textures, or finer details.

When I’m creating original art, I’m not trying to follow a fixed palette or make something overly polished. I’m more interested in that moment where colour feels alive – where it almost feels like it’s pushing out of the canvas rather than sitting on it. That’s probably why my work leans towards intensity.

I’m not drawn to quiet, minimal palettes. I like colour that feels active, layered, and slightly unpredictable. Colour that holds energy.

Over time, I’ve realised that this approach isn’t just a stylistic choice – it’s part of how I translate what’s going on internally into something visible.

Each piece becomes a kind of release. A way of letting that energy come through in a way that feels honest.

That’s what I’m always chasing in my work as an abstract artist – not perfection, but expression.

And for me, colour is where that begins.ing less about the plan… and more about what happens when things don’t go to plan.

And if you want to see more of the work (and the chaos behind it) check out my Instagram account: @art_by_nimakanji