I have been working hard on abstract painting, and have found out a few interesting things:

• It really is difficult, and more practice yields better paintings, but they take a long time, and occasionally completely flop.  
• Painting abstracts is tremendous fun. It feels very open and creative. Each painting is a question rather than an answer. 
• Openness, curiousity and a willingness to fail are required for this.  The favorite one I have done so far is Cloudscape, 30 x 30 inches, oil on canvas.