Abstract Is Not Easy

Ask any abstract artist, Sharon, and they will agree....it took me years to jump off the subject based ledge....

It will probably take me years as well. My mom used to paint abstract years ago and she always told me to not be so defined with my lines. I couldn't do it then, and can't seem to now. I think I'm just going to find my own style using the Wacom and go from there.

Lol. I can not do it . I've tried, & failed miserably.
Can not grasp the concept of composition and form of a non - distinct object.

& how I wish I could.

TOTALLY AGREE...

OOps..

It depends. Sometime's abstract can be vary easy, Sometime's it can be a real pain. It all depends on what is trying to be accomplished. But this can be said with any art. It can be easy, It can be a pain. Also it depends on the definition of abstract. It is a huge huge huge variation of types of abstract and in a grander sense almost anything can be figured as abstract besides true realism. The funny thing is a lot of more realistic work starts as a rather abstract looking works. Sometime's when I am going for a more realistic or surrealistic work people will assume when they see the work in it's beginnings that it is a abstract. I us to work in the public more back when I was at school, I lived in the dorm and painted outside on the benches. Sometimes when I would be starting work people would think it's a abstract. Sometimes it was a abstract.

One key concept for both of you....deconstruct.

Reduce your subject to its essence in order to interpret it.

That's a beautiful piece, Marlene! It has a nice flow and I love the colors. I'll have to practice deconstructing.

I should probably just take my glasses off to do it.

I think it is one of those things ; You either got it - or you don't . & you surely got the "it" Marlene.

just put your pencil in cruz control and try to keep up!

Thank you Sharon and Janine.
Birds were my last subject to deconstruct before I completely left subject matter behind as an abstract expressionist. i was scared to let go, but it was where I was meant to go.
Just remember, you are still an abstractioist if you are getting to the essence of a subject. ;)

Blaine, I wish it were as easy as putting the pen on cruise control lol. I'm too much of a perfectionist and I will pick apart my drawings to the point of not liking them at all. Maybe I need to take off my glasses and have a few glasses of wine :)

You can make vary controlled abstracts. Vary complicated one's. Even if your going for the unrecognizable thing are there some abstracts that would take a good many months to do.A abstract dose not need to be simplistic.

Sharon,

We are talking digital, so image bomb....seriously, I am somewhat uncomfortable with this image. Since it is
not oils or acrylics, it is digital abstraction, but not fully fledged. The focus gets lost, the subjects get submerged,
the lines offer an exactness that painting of abstracts do not often offer. I am uncomfortable in a good way with this piece.
The results challenge me.

Don Lee

"Aso it depends on the definition of abstract. It is a huge huge huge variation of types of abstract and in a grander sense almost anything can be figured as abstract besides true realism."

I couldn't say it better than what Don says above.

I realize this is about digital but maybe my approach to Abstract painting will still have some applicability.

And to that point I add my view about the difference between my "abstract" and "realistic" paintings because I paint and love doing both types. IMO the difference is really only in how I look at the journey or more specificly, how I arrive at the "destination" of each type of painting.

In my realistic paintings I'm mostly painting from a subject which is in front of me, be it a plein air landscape or a studio still life set up or one of my sketches/photographs. In a sense then, I have my destination already determined by these subjects. Only the journey to how I portray them is left.

With my abstract paintings I basically start out with the destination unknown. In other words I usually have no predetermined idea as to what the painting will end up looking like. I begin with a blank, usually toned, canvas or panel and start the journey by pushing paint around. As the painting progresses I eventually let it tell me when I've arrived at my destination and then I know my journey is complete. The painting is finished.

You might want to just try "pushing paint around" and see where it leads you. Most importantly forget the destination and just have FUN. Hope that helps.


Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa,blogspot.com/

Abstract is hard work and it's also effortless. It's defining abstract thats hard.

@David, I like your image. The subjects in the foreground stand out, although they are somewhat obscured. The intersecting lines on the top left bring attention to the wagon and animal in the background.

@Bill, I've put the cat on hold because I was struggling too much with it. I've moved on to flowers and am able to be a little more free with my brush strokes. I'm going to take your advice and just start with a blank slate and see what I end up with.

@David, "hard work and effortless" at the same time? I'm a bit confused with that. Or were you referring to Bill's comment about a planned abstract vs a free abstract?

it depends on the abstract. my painted abstracts were easy - i simply didn't think about it. i just tossed stuff on and experimented with it. while it upsets some to hear that, i've not only sold them, i've had book reports done on them.


my actual abstracts look more like this


or like this one


or like this one. an experimental that i've used in other images.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

In the sense that all art is abstract and yet none of these are abstracts.

@Mike, I love all three of those. Sure wish I had your imagination. I'm going Christmas shopping in your store this year. My FIL is into trains and instruments so I know he'd like to have a few of your images.

@David, I really like the first image. It reminds me of Antelope Canyon.

I like what @Janine said about taking off glasses. I take mine off so that I can see tonal values better without being disturbed by lines, this may actually help if I try abstract again! @Mike abstract the wonders of... on my Christmas list for bro inlaw..nice work!

I'm using abstract images to depict a concept or emotion. My abstract pieces are much more personal in that they come from my head.


I know what you mean about picking apart your own work. This website has helped me get over that. There have been a few pieces (my artwork) that I thought were "meh" at best that have received really nice comments. I would suggest posting your work here--see what others have to say. You're being too critical. Your portfolio is beautiful. I especially like this piece:

@Sharon

"I'm going to take your advice and just start with a blank slate and see what I end up with."

Go for it Sharon! And then go for it again and again and again. And learn something each time.

Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

Kathy Symonds
"I like what @Janine said about taking off glasses. I take mine off so that I can see tonal values better"


That reminded me of something I've heard a number of artists say they do. Turn the piece upside down and forget about the subject. Just concentrate on tones, composition, color relationships, etc.

Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/

re:glasses
I hardly ever wear them except for driving and t.v...I need them full time.
Everything I see is abstract

I seriously have no idea what I'm doing, but I really enjoy experimenting with digital abstracts. I just let loose and play...kind of feels like jumping off a cliff but in a good way.







For this one I started out with a photograph...

I just go with the flow...



- Richard Reeve
ReevePhotos.com

why wait till christmas? spring is here right now, time to create new colors and spark off the new warmth. but why stop at spring? summer is also a great buying time. fall too.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Peggy,
I'd venture to say that you may not be aware of what you are doing, but subconsciously, there are things at work that allow you to create such lovely images. ;)

I finished the flower I was working on all night and today. I think I'm finally getting the hang of the cintiq, but so many panel button functions to remember. Let me know what you think. I feel it needs a background but just couldn't find the right combination, and I need to be more free with my brush strokes. Having a hard time breaking that habit. Heading to bed so I'll respond to previous posts tomorrow. Enjoy your night!

Sharon;

I can understand where you are coming from.

Painting and sculpting with an unrecognizable visual content or intent may be what abstract art actually is. Sure is easy to do this by working blindfolded with paint but not at all satisfying. Real abstract artists are capable of drafting and making representational works as well. It is never a case where you must abandon your ability to work representationally because the basic principles of art;
line, form, space, value and color relationships still apply weather abstract or representational.

The decision to work in visual forms other than recognizable and representational forms is no big deal. It's an exercise in imagination is ll it is.

Sculptors are on top of the meaning of abstraction. It's because there is a commitment of time and materials not to mention labor. They use objects and elements of our senses as mediums for expression. Almost all modern sculpture is in abstraction or conceptional. Music is all abstract when you think of it. Words are gone and tones take over. The tones drum up the emotions mere words fail to produce. Poetry is words and when mixed with music is song.

I agree that doing abstract well is very difficult.

I'm doing a years study on abstract expressionism and non representational and was told I sometimes get it and other times don't. It was explained to me that when I'm not getting it how I want it that my inner critique is working overtime - I've found this to be true. The pieces that have shown the greatest promise in my opinion and that of my instructor are the works where I painted from pure feeling, but keeping color theory etc still in place.

If I start planning - the death bell rings on that work.

Non representational I'm really struggling with. But it's fun to work with others doing the same thing.

Maybe you could take some classes? It was hard to find a teacher that concentrated on all forms of abstract.

Thank you, Marlene, that's very kind of you. That means a lot to me, especially coming from you.

Its hard for me to draw real objects its more like work for me

I quite enjoy turning reality into abstraction. Here are some original photos and what was done with them:

I just saw this commercial on TV tonight. I was in the local diner, and this time the sound was down.
So all I saw was this crazy crazy abstract at first. It took a few moments to know what the ad was
for, and by then the abstracts had kept on coming.

Enjoy....

https://youtu.be/eS4-symKdZM

Addition: the second video after this one timed out is on how to BBQ a beer can chicken. Excellent recipes involved.

Interesting outcomes.

The word abstractum means "drag away from" as this image illustrates.
But an abstract painting could also be an interpretation of feelings in colors and forms, for example.

If you are laboring you are not creating.

Abstraction is fun and free from the absolutism of realism. Automatic creativity is mind expanding.

XXX

Abstracts done poorly are easy!
Actually, that's a great response when someone tells you that their kid could have done it....

Computers, web sites, scanners, typing, not know anything about anything is hard.

I believe I see the world abstract at times I see images and art in places some people might not. I see patterns and textures almost everywhere.
My brain sometimes runs a million miles per minute I paint or draw or get on the computer to try to get some of the images out .
I have always loved art moving images colors.
I love pictures and art that you look at them and I may see one thing and someone else may see something completely different. I guess that's how I think sometimes in abstract and I often confuse people. I will slow down a little and try to speak more clearly .
drawing and painting I can just be myself and let go.
I may have a hard time looking people in the eyes but I can stare at there artwork .

I painted one abstract, got lots of positive comments on it but never painted another. Frankly I got zero sense of fulfillment from it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting down abstracts, those of you that love them have your reasons, they just aren't my thing.

every one likes something different . I like art like I like music I'm all over the place with what I like to see and hear.

I do not regard myself as an abstract artist Marlene, but it took me years to get the edge.

I am an abstractionist, but it took years to get to a place where creating a nonobjective form became 'natural' for me. Like Marlene, I need glasses all the time, but only wear them when driving and watching TV and that probably helps me as an artist.

...

Paint from your mind, or think of the emotions the cat brings to the family...joy, annoyance, unconditional love... paint freely, make a mess, don't even try to do it well, finish up by intentionally splattering the paint on your canvas and scribbly lines. You can do all of this on computer or on a real canvas with paint. I finish all my paintings by adding a touch of black and a touch of white...most importantly put on some good music. You'll get the hang of it and probably be the best abstract painter that ever lived.

You are correct about one thing, getting the hang of abstract is very different from the work you do, and it's not as easy as people assume especially when it doesn't turn out!

Good luck to you and have some fun!

I'm finding that my color palette seems to be the most difficult now. I've played around in ArtRage 4 and have become familiar with most of the brushes and other tools, but choosing cohesive colors is frustrating. It has a color sampler I can set up which is helpful. Also, I have so many ideas cluttering my brain that I don't even know where to start lol. I'll be working on one project while thinking of another. I have several digital paintings started and none finished yet. I think my ADD is hitting me full force lately!