Abstract art is a term used to describe art that does not depict anything recognizable, concrete or literal. It has no story, no meaning and no message. Abstract painting evolved from Impressionism, Surrealism and Cubism. It is an ever-changing art form. Styles in abstract art often overlap each other, influencing artists to create new styles in order to make the paintings stand out. There are many different types of abstract art that are popular today such as: geometric abstraction, hard-edge painting, lyrical abstraction and op art.
Tutorials that teach you how to identify different styles of abstract painting are abundant online. Some websites will even let you take a quiz to test your knowledge on the subject. Here are some helpful tips on how to tell the difference between different types of abstract art:
Abstract art is a style of visual art that does not represent recognizable objects. Its purpose is to create an effect or mood, often with the use of geometric shapes and colors. Many abstract artists were inspired by modern inventions in science and technology, as well as new artistic styles and concepts from eastern cultures.
Telling the difference between abstract art styles can be difficult. Abstract art can be divided into two main categories: abstract expressionism, which originated in New York City in the 1940s, and geometric abstraction, which was popularized in the 1920s and 1930s by Wassily Kandinsky. Both types of abstract art are often divided into subcategories based on the artist’s style or use of color or shape.
Abstract art is an incredibly popular and dynamic genre. Abstraction is appealing to both painters and the viewer, as it is a style that can be interpreted in infinite ways.
The two most common types of abstract paintings are geometric abstraction and expressionist abstraction. Although there are many different types of abstraction, these two categories make up most of what you will see when looking at modern artwork.
TIP: When trying to tell apart between geometric and expressionist abstract painting, first decide if it’s hard-edged or soft-edged. This will help you determine if it’s expressionist abstraction by default (because it’s hard-edged).
If the hard edges appear sharp and angular, the piece is more likely to be geometric abstraction (with the exception of some cubism). If the hard edges appear soft and smooth (like with some impressionism), then it is more likely an expressionist piece.
Abstract art can be thought of as any art that is not representational. While it may seem easy to identify abstract art at first glance, there are actually many different abstract styles.
Abstraction has been a consistent theme throughout the history of art. The 15th century marked the emergence of Early Netherlandish painting, with painters such as Robert Campin, Rogier Van der Weyden and Jan Van Eyck, producing work in a more painterly manner, with greater representation of depth and texture.
In the early 20th century, artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Kazimir Malevich produced new theories about abstract painting that were supported by some critics in spite of their radical nature. Many elements commonly associated with modern abstraction, such as gestalt perception, appeared in these artists’ work.
These movements had a profound impact on the development of modern abstract art.
Abstract art is a style of painting that uses shapes, colors and textures to form a composition that does not attempt to depict any literal subject. The term abstract art was first used in the early 20th century after Wassily Kandinsky created a theory of abstract art.
Tetradic Color Theory
There are four main types of color theory: monochromatic, complementary, analogous and triadic. Each color scheme has its own characteristics and can evoke specific feelings.
Monochromatic Color Scheme
The monochromatic color scheme uses tints and shades of the same color. It is considered the simplest way to create harmony in your artwork. The colors are carefully chosen to be exactly opposite on the color wheel. This creates a sense of calm and peacefulness that is often sought after by artists working in this genre.
Color harmony is created when there is complete contrast between two or more colors; this contrast creates a sense of balance within the artwork. To create overall color harmony, choose one dominant color to unify the piece and then use it as a key feature throughout all aspects of your work including: line, shape, form and texture.
When using complementary colors together you can either choose one color as the dominant hue or use them equally for both
Abstract art is a term used to describe a form of art that does not depict objects in a realistic manner. In this way, abstract art can be seen as the opposite of figurative art. For example, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is an example of figurative art, because it depicts the likeness of the sitting woman Lisa Gherardini, whereas a piece of abstract art such as Mark Rothko’s Untitled (1940) would not depict anything that we can recognize as a figure or object.
To tell one form of abstract art from another, it is not enough to look at the shapes. The shapes are just the visible part of the iceberg. You have to look for the hidden structure beneath.
In abstract art, the hidden structures are always there. Abstract artists try to make their work feel inevitable, as if it were not the artist’s creation but a gift from nature or from God. The more successful they are in making it seem inevitable, the greater its impact on us.
The artist’s job is to supply a narrative for the picture. It could be an image from daily life: a baseball player on second base or a housewife hanging laundry on a clothesline. Or it could be something more fantastic: five ships battling in a stormy sea or a flock of birds whose wings spell out words in an unknown language.
Interesting abstract art is never just random shapes and forms; there is always some process that creates them, and that process has meaning, even if you can’t see it at first glance.
