What am I reaching out for in Art.

I can quite easily paint the likeness of a picture. However, that is not what I am after. I wan't to abstract shapes into value reproductions and color abstractions. I am more interested in developing the forms, and its process. This is before details. I am interested in that abstract forms which see without interpretation and render. To experiment endlesssly here and try out. To see whether it takes me to the same result as when I render the likenss of a picture or not.