
Studio Journal
Exploring Abstraction
Studio Journal: Musings on Art, Life, and Becoming
Reflections, Ideas, and Insights from Inside the Artist’s Studio
Studio Journal is where I reflect on the quieter questions of being an artist. These writings are part idea book, part personal philosophy—exploring what it means to create, to observe, and to move through the art world with intention. From musings on creative discipline and daily rituals, to thoughts on beauty, meaning, and the unseen structures that shape our lives, each post invites you into my studio as a space of inquiry and becoming. Here, art is not just something I make—it is how I think, listen, and live.
What Is a Contemporary Abstract Artist? An Existential Inquiry
What does it truly mean to be a contemporary abstract artist? Beyond labels and techniques lies an inquiry into feeling, perception, and the very essence of human seeing.
The Meandering Within: Reflecting on My 2020 Paintings
In 2020, my paintings became a space for meandering — between form, feeling, and the quiet tensions of abstraction.
Abstract Wall Art: A Modern Collector’s Guide
A poetic guide to collecting abstract wall art. From scale and style to placement and presence, discover how to choose pieces that speak — and listen.
The Studio as Sanctuary and Struggle
Inside Ritu Raj’s studio space, where the canvas becomes both sanctuary and struggle, holding gestures of tension, reflection, and creative resistance
Surface, Silence, and the Space Between
Painting taught me that silence is not empty — it’s alive. In the spaces between gestures, between colors that almost touch, meaning lingers, asking us to stay a little longer.
Corporate Abstract Art: Enhancing Office Spaces with Contemporary Art
From lobbies to boardrooms, corporate abstract art sets the tone for innovation, culture, and care — bringing beauty and meaning into everyday business.
Why I Paint by Hand in an Over-AI’d World
Explore why Ritu Raj rejects AI-generated perfection for the raw, tactile creativity of painting by hand with twine, celebrating friction, flaws, and true artistic presence.
How Does Ritu Raj Create His Signature Thread Paintings?
Discover how Phoenix-based contemporary abstract artist Ritu Raj creates his signature twine paintings, using thread dipped in oil paint to build organic, fluid compositions that blend intention and surrender.
Painting as a Form of Listening
Painting is a conversation, not a performance. When I let the canvas speak first, the work reveals what I couldn’t have planned or forced.
Artists Using Thread Painting in Abstract Art
Thread painting in abstract art goes beyond embroidery. Phoenix-based contemporary abstract artist Ritu Raj uses twine dipped in oil paint as his brush, creating organic, fluid compositions that blend precision with spontaneity. Discover how this innovative approach redefines abstraction with texture, movement, and meaning.
What I’ve Learned About Stillness and Motion in Art (and Life)
Art mirrors life — and Ritu Raj explores how stillness and motion shape both. From monochrome introspection to fluid, gestural color, his work is a meditation on change.
The Freedom of Expression: Creating Abstract Art Beyond Influence
Growing up in New Delhi, I didn’t just learn about art — I lived among it. My father, K.B. Goel, and artists like M.F. Husain and Raghu Rai shaped my understanding of abstraction as a way of life, not just a style.
From Algorithm to Brushstroke: How a Polymath Approaches the Canvas
How does a polymath approach the canvas? For Ritu Raj, abstraction becomes a living inquiry — blending scientific precision with artistic intuition, where algorithm and brushstroke meet.
Childhood Influences – Growing Up Around Art, Ideas, and Abstraction
Growing up in New Delhi, I didn’t just learn about art — I lived among it. My father, K.B. Goel, and artists like M.F. Husain and Raghu Rai shaped my understanding of abstraction as a way of life, not just a style.
Why I Paint: A Personal Manifesto on Abstraction, Time, and Meaning
I don’t paint what I see—I paint what I feel beneath the surface. Abstraction allows me to explore time, emotion, and presence without the need for explanation. In this post, I reflect on why I paint, how I think about meaning, and what abstraction continues to teach me about being human.
From Executive to Artist: How I Rebuilt My Creative Life After 30 Years in Business
After 30 years as a founder and executive, I didn’t plan to become a modern abstract artist—I followed an impulse. What began as a quiet return to creativity became a complete transformation. In this piece, I share how painting opened a new kind of clarity—beyond systems and strategy—through texture, intuition, and presence. This is the story of how I rebuilt my creative life, not by walking away from my past, but by reimagining what it could become.
Why Collecting Contemporary Abstract Art Matters in 2025
In 2025, collecting contemporary abstract art is more than decor — it’s a personal commitment to reflection, presence, and living with art that evolves with you.
Why Abstract Art Is Both the Simplest and the Most Demanding
Abstract art demands invention, not reproduction. Between Duchamp’s rupture, Richter’s ambiguity, and my own search for silence, I explore abstraction as a way to live and create.
5 Things to Know Before Commissioning Abstract Art from Me
Thinking about commissioning an abstract painting? Here are 5 things to know about my creative process and how we can co-create something truly personal.
Famous Geometric Abstract Art: Iconic Works and Modern Inspirations
From Mondrian’s perfect lines to today’s digital geometries, famous geometric abstract art continues to shape our visual and emotional landscapes.