Why I Love Painting Both Portraits and Abstracts

Expressive portraits and abstracts by Nitika Alé

When I first began painting, it was all about people. Faces, expressions, quiet stories behind the eyes. Portraits were where my journey started—and if you scroll back far enough on my Instagram, you’ll find my early work filled with them.

From Portraits to Loose Expression

Mixed-media portrait

As time passed, I began experimenting with looser brushwork and more expressive lines. That shift brought a new kind of energy into my portraits—more feeling than precision, more atmosphere than likeness.

That’s when my curiosity toward abstract painting began.

I found myself wondering about the space around the subject—the mood of a background, the rhythm of shapes, the emotional impact of color without needing to "explain" anything.

Discovering Abstracts

Loose expressive floral abstract piece

Painting abstracts gave me a whole new freedom. I started listening to the canvas in a different way—trusting intuition over accuracy. It was less about capturing a subject, and more about capturing a feeling.

That freedom taught me how to loosen up and trust the flow of paint, and slowly, my style evolved.

Where My Work is Now

Today, my art feels like a blend of both worlds.

I create dreamy portraits and primarily abstract florals—at times they exist independently, and at others, they combine. Each piece embodies softness, spontaneity, and an emphasis on mood and movement.

One style grounds me. The other frees me.

Mixed-media petite portrait

From Canvas to Classroom

This love for both forms has also flowed into teaching.

My abstract floral class is now live on My Modern Met Academy, and it’s been such a joy to share that part of my process with others.

A portrait class is in the works too—something I'm really excited about. It will focus on creating gentle, expressive portraits that feel dreamlike and honest.

Final Thoughts

For anyone wondering whether they have to choose one artistic path—portrait or abstract, realism or expression—I hope this serves as a reminder:You don’t have to choose. Let your art evolve with you. Let it reflect every version of yourself.

Thanks for reading.If you’ve explored both portraits and abstracts too, I’d love to hear your experience in the comments.