Buzz
Have you ever gazed at an abstract painting and heard someone remark, "I could do that!"? While abstract art may seem easy to create, it often poses greater challenges than traditional or classical art. Abstract art defies rules and conventions, relying on the artist to break boundaries and define what art truly is. Start by gathering the necessary materials. Then, decide whether you want to create abstract works with random geometric shapes (in the style of Paul Yanko or Thornton Willis), minimalist pieces with bold, large forms (like Piet Mondrian or Paul Klee), or focus more on the process of creation (as Jackson Pollock or Mark Rothko did).
Steps
Preparing to Paint
Purchase a canvas. You can find pre-stretched canvases in various sizes at craft stores. These are often ready to use, but there’s no rule saying you must use a primed and stretched canvas. In fact, many abstract artists prefer unprimed and unstretched canvases.
- If you prefer a colored background, buy a jar of Gesso to prime the canvas and give it a tint. Primer typically dries very quickly.
Select your paints. Decide whether to use acrylics or oil paints. Acrylics are odorless, dry quickly, and are easy to work with, allowing you to paint over mistakes. Oil paints, on the other hand, are less commonly used due to their strong odor, slow drying time, and inability to be painted over once applied.
Choose brushes and other tools. Pick any brushes that work with the type of paint you’ve chosen. You might also need a palette knife to add texture to your artwork. While some artists use easels, many abstract painters prefer to lay their canvas on the floor for a more intimate connection with their work.
- If you’re unsure about color combinations, try using a color wheel. This tool will show you which colors complement each other.
Dress appropriately. Depending on how messy your creative process might get, wear old clothes or a painting apron. Choose attire that you don’t mind getting dirty, so you can focus entirely on your abstract painting.
- You may want to lay down newspapers to avoid spills or drips, especially if you plan to splatter paint or work on the floor.
Learn color theory
The color wheel. Essentially, a color wheel is a circular tool displaying a spectrum of colors. It’s incredibly useful for understanding how colors relate to each other—which ones harmonize, clash, and so on.
- You can purchase a color wheel at local art supply stores, craft shops, or wherever painting materials are sold.
Understand primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. The color wheel is divided into three main sections: primary colors (red, blue, yellow). Secondary colors are created by mixing primary colors (green, orange, purple). Tertiary colors are formed by blending primary and secondary colors (yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, and yellow-green).
- To get comfortable with color mixing, try creating your own color wheel.
Learn about warm and cool colors. Warm colors, such as red, yellow, and orange, tend to create movement and expand space. Cool colors like blue, green, and purple add depth and evoke calmness, making them more subdued.
Work with color harmony.- White, black, and gray are considered neutral colors.
Paint random geometric shapes
Create a textured background. One of the simplest methods is to apply high-quality Gesso, a thick primer similar to glue, onto the canvas. Brush it on like paint or use a palette knife for thicker applications. This step allows you to control the texture to match your desired style.
- Alternatively, you can leave the canvas smooth and blank. Remember, there’s no rule requiring a background. Many artists paint directly on the untreated canvas.
Apply tape at intersecting points on the drawing board. Use artist-grade tape to create straight lines, forming geometric shapes like triangles, squares, and rectangles. The goal is to produce abstract imagery rather than realistic representations. The tape ensures your shapes have sharp, clean edges and well-defined outlines.
Mix your colors. Select the paint colors you wish to use for your artwork. Blend them on a palette. While you can mix colors directly on the canvas, this method may make it harder to control the final outcome.
Paint within the white spaces divided by the tape. Don’t worry if you accidentally paint over the tape. Also, don’t feel pressured to fill the entire canvas or every geometric shape completely.
Remove the tape. Once your painting is complete, carefully peel off the tape. If you prefer crisp, clean edges, remove the tape while the paint is still wet. If you wait until the paint dries, the paint may peel off with the tape, resulting in uneven edges.
Optionally, fill in the white spaces left after removing the tape. After taking off the tape, you’ll notice blank areas where the tape once covered. You can leave these as they are or fill them in to complete the lines.
Creating minimalist geometric abstract art
Prepare the base texture. One of the simplest methods is to apply high-quality Gesso to the canvas, a thick primer similar to glue. Spread the Gesso like paint, or use a palette knife for a thicker application. This step allows you to control the texture to match your desired artistic style.
Use a ruler and pencil to sketch lines. Draw unevenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines. You can add as many lines as you like, but fewer lines will result in larger geometric sections.
Outline the shapes. Use black paint to create bold outlines. Vary the thickness of the lines for visual interest. Your artwork will now resemble a grid with black borders.
Color only a few shapes. Use primary colors (red, yellow, blue) to fill in select geometric shapes. While you could color every shape, this might make the painting look too busy. Instead, focus on a few areas to make them stand out.
Leave some white spaces. These blank areas will make your colored sections stand out more prominently.
Abstract art in the Gestural style
Place the canvas on the floor. Many abstract artists do this to feel closer to their work. Additionally, when creating gestural or action paintings, having the canvas on the floor allows for easier application of paint in various ways.
Don’t hesitate. With gestural abstract art, there’s no need to aim for a clear, defined image. Instead, focus on the process of painting. Experiment with different brushstroke techniques that you enjoy.
Mix colors directly on the canvas. Since this style emphasizes the painting process, there’s no need to use a palette. Instead, blend colors directly on the canvas as you work.
Feel free to pour paint onto the canvas. Pouring paint is a way to make your artwork unique and unpredictable. Use as much paint as you like to achieve your desired effect.
Splatter or drip paint onto the canvas as you wish. Use any tool you prefer, dip it into the paint, and then flick or drip it onto the artwork. You can create splatter effects or let the paint flow naturally by holding the tool steady over the canvas.
Try painting with your eyes closed. Many abstract artists agree that abstract art shouldn’t depict reality. A great way to avoid accidentally creating recognizable shapes is to close your eyes and let your hand guide the brush.
Stop when you feel the piece is complete. Avoid going back to refine or edit. Abstract artists focus less on the final product and more on the process, stopping when the painting feels ready. Learn to recognize when your work is finished and resist the urge to overwork it.
Tips
- Begin your painting by focusing on an object or scene. Instead of visualizing a specific image, immerse yourself in the essence and form of the subject. Let your imagination and emotions guide the creation of your artwork. Remember, you’re interpreting, not replicating.
- Explore the principles of composition and consider creating abstract art based on these ideas rather than a concrete subject. This approach might lead to a compelling abstract piece! You’ll likely be pleased with the results.
- Abstract art is rooted in the idea that it doesn’t need to mirror reality, so let go of expectations. Simply dive in and enjoy the process of abstract painting!
- You’re not limited to painting real-world objects—feel free to create anything that comes to mind.
- Abstract art is about enjoyment and is accessible to everyone.
- Paint until the piece feels complete to you. Sometimes, continuing further might make you wish you had stopped earlier.
- Use your non-dominant hand to add intriguing, unexpected details.
