Mirrors and Windows Abstract Art: Reflection and Perception in Acrylic Painting

How to Look at This Series

Before we begin, here’s a simple way to explore my new abstract painting series, ‘Mirrors and Windows’:

1. Take your time: Don’t rush. Let your eyes wander slowly over the canvas and notice where they pause.
2. Notice your feelings first: Before trying to “understand” the paintings, pay attention to your first emotional response. Do you feel calm, curious, unsettled, inspired?
3. Look for the inward and outward pull: In each painting, ask yourself: Does this feel like a “mirror” (drawing me inward to reflect) or a “window” (opening me to the outside world)? Sometimes it will feel like both.
4. Observe the details: Step closer and notice textures, scratches and layers of colour. These often hold clues to the story or feeling behind the work.
5. Step back again: See how the whole composition works from a distance. The mood can shift completely when you stand further away.
6. Trust your way of seeing: There’s no “right” interpretation. Your reaction is just as valid as anyone else’s.

Introduction: Looking Out, Looking In

When we look at the world, are we looking outwards … or inwards?

I think we often do both. Every glimpse of the outside reflects something inside us and our inner thoughts are shaped by what’s around us. This idea became the heart of my new abstract acrylic series, ‘Mirrors and Windows’.

The three paintings in this series explore that constant movement between turning inward and reaching outward, the quiet pull of looking within and the call to look beyond.

I decided to write this blog to share the story behind the title, my creative process and a few personal moments that inspired the idea. I’ll also include full images and close-ups so you can see the textures and details.

Tips for viewers: When you look at abstract art, ask yourself what in it feels personal and what feels open to the outside world.

The Spark: A Personal Moment of Reflection

One rainy afternoon, yes, summer in the UK often comes with rain, I was in my studio by the window. The light was dim and grey, and I noticed my faint reflection in the glass.

Outside, the street was wet and blurred by the rain. Inside, I saw my own face, quiet and thoughtful. It struck me that I was seeing two worlds at once, the one outside and the one inside my mind.

It reminded me how often we live in that “in-between” space, part of us reaching out, part of us folding in. Moments like this often spark my abstract art. I like that abstract expressionism allows me total freedom – no rules, no restrictions.

This was the moment that planted the seed for ‘Mirrors and Windows’.

Mirrors – Turning Inward

The “mirror” pieces in the series are about self-reflection, looking honestly at what’s within. That can be tough, especially when we face parts of ourselves we’d rather not see.

For these works, I used mostly muted colours, scratched into the surface and layered transparent areas to suggest the way memories and feelings overlap.

Like a mirror, the paintings might show beauty, but also blurred or incomplete images when the inner light feels dim.

It takes courage to face your own truth. It’s one thing to see your strengths, but harder to face fears and flaws. These “mirror” paintings invite the viewer to hold that gaze, to look closely and maybe discover self-fulfilment in doing so.

🔍 Try this while looking at the ‘Mirrors and Windows’ paintings:

• Notice the muted tones, do they feel calming or heavy?
• Look at the scratched textures up close. Do they remind you of a memory or emotion?
• Step back, does the piece feel like a mirror from a distance?

Windows – Reaching Out Beyond the Canvas

While “mirrors” draw us inward, “windows” open us to the outside – to possibility, connection and change.

In these works, I used geometric shapes and pushed outward, lighter colours and lines that move towards the canvas edges. I also allowed more transparency to create a sense of space and openness.

Windows can mean opportunity, but they can also hold a sense of longing – the world is there, yet slightly out of reach. Through a window, you see the world and the world sees you. It’s an exchange.

🔍 Try this while looking at the “Mirrors and Windows” paintings:

• Follow the lines, where do they lead you?
• Notice the lighter, more transparent areas – do they feel like air, sky or distance?
• Step back, does the painting feel like an invitation or something to observe from afar?

A Personal Note

I know this might sound like deep talk for what could look like simple abstract paintings. But for me, every piece carries intention, emotion and purpose.

My abstract painting is never just random brushstrokes or colours. Each piece is a journey, sometimes a mirror, sometimes a window – always an act of exploring.

For viewers: In galleries, take extra time with one or two abstracts. The longer you look, the more they reveal.

Making the Series, Mirrors and Windows

I often work in both oils and acrylics, but I chose acrylics for this series simply because they dry faster. My last oil series is still tacky months later and I don’t have the space to store large wet works for up to a year.

I started with layered backgrounds, knowing the mood I wanted. Then I built the middle and foreground the same way, letting each layer tell me what should come next.

Purple became the main colour, carried over from my earlier series Purple Between Blue and Red in oils. I worked with brushes, palette knives and my hands – each leaving its own texture. The palette knife scratches suggest both mirrors and windows, keeping the work alive.

Seeing Yourself in Mirrors and Windows

When you look at the series, ask yourself:

• Am I more drawn to the inward pull of the “mirrors” or the outward reach of the “windows?
• Do I prefer the balance of light and dark or the open, breathing spaces?

There’s no right or wrong. Your answer may change over time, that’s what makes art personal.

Takeaway: Your response to art reflects where you are in that moment.

Reflecting Inward and Reaching Out: Creative Exercise for You

Art isn’t just about looking. It can also be to explore your own thoughts and feelings. Here are some gentle exercises inspired by Mirrors and Windows that you can try, whether or not you consider yourself an artist.

1. The Mirror Moment: Inward Reflection

Find a quiet spot and take a few minutes to sit comfortably. Look into a mirror, it can be a physical mirror or even a reflective surface like a window or water. Take a deep breath and notice what you see beyond your physical appearance. Ask yourself:

• What thoughts or feelings come up when I look at myself?
• Is there something I’ve been avoiding or neglecting inside?
• What positive qualities do I recognise in myself?

Write down or simply hold these reflections. This quiet moment is about facing your inner world with kindness, like the “mirror” paintings invite you to do.

2. The Window View: Outward Connection

Next, find a window, a doorway or step outside. Look beyond the frame and notice what you see in the world around you. Consider:

• What possibilities or opportunities do I see ahead?
• What feelings arise when I think about reaching outward or connecting with others?
• Is there something new I’d like to explore or invite into my life?

You might journal your thoughts or create a simple sketch or collage inspired by what you observe. Like the “Mirrors and Windows” paintings, this is about openness and stepping beyond your familiar edges.

3. Layering Your Experience: Abstract Journaling

Inspired by the layering technique in the paintings, try creating a layered journal entry. Write or draw in layers, returning to your page multiple times. Each layer can add a new emotion, insight or image – overlapping like memories and feelings in an abstract work.

This helps you see your experience as complex and dynamic, much like the texture and transparencies in the series. There’s no right or wrong, just follow what comes naturally.

4. Balance Practice: Switching Perspectives

Try alternating between inward and outward focus throughout your day or week. Spend time reflecting quietly alone, then make a conscious effort to reach out – by calling a friend, exploring a new place or trying a new activity. Notice how the balance shifts your mood and energy.

This exercise echoes the balance between mirrors and windows and reminds us that both are vital for a full, creative life.

Free Downloadable Worksheet

I’ve prepared a free worksheet to support your own journey of reflection and exploration. Download the Mirrors and Windows Creative Reflection Worksheet and transform these simple exercises into a personal retreat – one that you can enjoy, revisit and make entirely your own.

Closing: The Balance Between Reflection and Perception

Life often asks us to balance the honesty of the mirror with the openness of the window. (Not an easy job.)

‘Mirrors and Windows’ series holds both in colour, texture and feeling. I hope that when you see the series, you’ll not only understand my story but also find your own reflection in it.

A Final Reflection

Not long ago, I told a friend I rarely used straight lines or geometric shapes. This series proved me wrong; it’s full of them. I tried my best to avoid them, but the idea insisted on those forms.

It reminded me that sometimes the concept is stronger than our personal preferences. That’s true in art and in life.