What makes abstract art great

With abstract works, artists can express their emotions through experimental techniques rather than expressing themselves through portraying particular objects or scenes. Sometimes, abstract expressionism is showed as the best example of abstract art. However, abstract art covers other art movements as well: neo-Dada, conceptual art, neo-expressionism , installation, performance, video and pop art — all these important art movements have ties with Abstract Art.

Even for art experts, it can be difficult sometimes. But, we can now all agree with this: Good Art is about intent.

Good art is made with the purpose of conveying some sort of message and concept. More so, there are definitely some more aspects to look at when you want to differentiate good from bad art. Nowadays, abstract paintings are about the portrayal of ideas that represent some sort of socio-political utopia. This shift started in the late s when the visual and interpretative aspect of an artwork shifted inwards towards the existential self.

The first form of abstraction was less politically explicit than those of the Constructivists. If we look with attention, the most well-perceived artworks in the world, have an extensive context behind them.

Emotions, whether positive or negative, are expressed in the canvas. If the artwork was made randomly without meaning, then it lacks personality. Abstraction requires a narrative that allows the artist to express themselves on another level. Emotion, sensations and memories are necessary in order to create something with meaning. When you watch a movie or read a book, there is a coherent wire that connects the storyline together.

With abstract expressionism and other art forms, the same happens. And the same goes for a unique artwork. The flow of an artwork altogether must feel consistent, cohesive and strong. Abstract art requires layers. Actually, lots of layers. Usually, there is an underpainting that will transform until the end due to the layers creating different textures. Professional artists of this style know how to mix and match colours properly.

Colour pallets are highly studied before the creation of any masterpiece. The more an artist produces, practices and studies, the best they get at using new techniques. Inappropriate paint strokes will tell you if the artist is an amateur. Experienced artists are confident and make every mark and stroke intentionally. You can be looking at a great copy of a Pollock or Franz Kline artwork that is great as a copy, but bad regarding all the aspects mentioned above on the importance of an authentic context, purpose, skills and techniques.

Bad abstract art can also be spotted by how the colours, texture, and complexity un match together. The way that a brush marks itself in a canvas is also important and requires skill and a good eye to understand. When I started working in this industry, I used to write press releases for art exhibitions and art galleries. Most of the time, not many people would actually read the press release. Do have a look and tell me what you feel. You are a very talented artist Renu. We love your palette knife painting!

Not sure about some of this.. How is that art??? How is that talent? The only worth in that painting I guess would be the money spent on the oils. But other than that…. Well written and very interesting article. I do a lot of jurying of artists of all types, including abstract work.

And you are correct — it is easy to tell who knows what they are doing, and usually even who went to art school. Abstract art can be sublime, or it can be a wreck. Those artists who have a great concept and skill and have gone deeply in a chosen direction will create a body of work that reflects it. Other artists who are not producing the best abstracts may be closer to the beginning of their careers, and they can always improve. So I like to give credit to those artists with less than stellar work, because they are willing to get out there and share it!

Enjoyed reading this, and very helpful. The level of experience with line, shape-form-mass, pattern, scale-proportion-space, analysis-dissection, lightness-darkness and colour, and texture…all these formal elements of the language of painting… will be evident in a confident and assertive abstract painting, and do in the end serve to conduct an underlying emotional impact which will make a painting stand out.

I like to compare abstract painting to jazz music…they both have their own unique language…in the case of painting…color, shape, line, texture, space are designed to express an emotion or experience.

The key is the skill involved by the artist. For some reason it seems easier to recognize good music than painting perhaps because we listen to music all the time. Skill is the key to any kind of artistic expression, which can only be gained by lots and lots of time and energy. There are no shortcuts to good art. Abstract art is not as easy as non artists seem think. It is not just random globs of paint, there are definate art principles involved, color theory, proportion, contrasts, etc.

Even if a piece is not planned, a true artist is using the principles of art to achieve an artistic composition. I learn as I go and have some training too and put that into practice.

Playing with what pleases my eye, trying new things. Great poetry may be difficult for the reader to understand but it is a far cry from putting random words on paper. There must be more to any art than pure randomness. Question, does anyone think that a painter must first be able to be a good literalist painter before moving to expressionism then to abstraction? This is a very subjective question…. With that said, there are masterful abstract painters with amazing abilities of design and may not be comfortable doing a formal portrait in realism.

I am a rather decent realist literalist artist. I also wonder if most literalists move toward expressionism then on toward abstraction, which both seem to garner greater respect in the formal art world?

Through my own experience as an abstract artist have i realised the absolute intention that goes into abstract. I paint from an emotional perspective for sure and research my technique and over time have developed a process.

Most of the work goes into my visual diary working on colour, texture, layering and method but i work fast when irs time to apply all of that to canvas. Although far from professional i completely agree there is a difference. Insta: Jeffreysmithartist. The first time I saw a Rothko painting it took my breath away. The very thought of an amature replicating one of his paintings is out of the question despite the fact most people see nothing more than color blocks.

He was a troubled man and in a beautiful way his paintings reflect that. That said I believe a better understanding of abstract art can come from knowing something about the artist. I love creating Abstract art, or semi abstract in some cases. My gallery curators at times just wanted pure abstract, but I added my own spin with figurative shapes and body parts like an eye or lips… guess you can say I am a bit of a rebel!

But thankfully people still enjoy and bought my art. I am still learning, always something new to learn. But launching my own course soon. Keep on creating! I find myself at odds with much that is said here. And who says that there should be consistency across a given work? Color…how is one to know if a clash of colors is done on purpose or by accident?

And what does it matter? The important thing is the final result. What might convey one emotion to one may convey another emotion to another. Complexity…undoubtedly as an artist paints over time he acquires new skills. Being complex is not necessarily a requisite for good abstraction.

I hold that amateurs can also create bold, confident strokes. With the increase of abstract paintings that are almost identical in size, color and texture, collectors are unsure what they should even be looking for in a new abstract art.

Just keep in mind that finding pieces of quality might take some effort. Focus on these things when navigating your way through buying abstract paintings. You will have to decide what an abstract painting means to you and the feelings it evokes. Spend some time looking at abstract paintings to see if you can find intention or meaning in the piece.

What is the painting trying to comment on? Are there any new techniques being deployed? An intentional work of abstract art will have something to say. It will have a point of view. And most importantly, this point of view will resonate with you on a profound level. The onslaught of zombie formalism has taken away meaning in exchange for churning out pleasing decorative pieces using widely accepted and borrowed techniques from their predecessors. Quite frankly, it's hard to tell sometimes what is a look-a-like and what will be considered an important work of art down the road.

The more you look at abstract art and familiarize yourself with both the past and current artists in the space, the more you will be able to recognize intention.

Abstract painters will use some sort of axis to bring symmetry to the composition of their work. Rather than trying to figure out what the painting looks like, just allow yourself to be taken in by the painting. See what emotions, sensations or memories emerge. Let your eyes relax and travel around the piece without expectation.

Examine the colors, forms, materials, surface, and how they interact with each other. Take your time. Let the painting "speak" to you. Notice how the various elements like shape, color and form affect you. An intricately detailed, vibrant painting will affect you differently than a calm, cool Malevich.

Take a look at the two artworks below. What are the differences in how they make you feel? Au printemps Thaneeya McArdle. It is best to see abstract art in person to truly get the full effect. This will help you immeasurably with understanding abstract art. You can't get the full impact of a piece of art from a small photo in a book or pixelated image online.