How many times have you looked at an abstract painting and heard someone say, “Ah, I can paint like this too!”? While abstract painting may seem easy to some, it can also be more challenging than classical or traditional painting. This is because abstract art goes against the rules and customs of art. As the artist, you are free to go against the rules, express yourself, and determine what constitutes art. First, get ready to paint. Then decide whether you want to create a random geometric abstract painting (like the Paul Yanko or Thornton Willis style), a minimalist geometric abstract painting with bold shapes (like the Piet Mondrian or Paul Klee style), or if you want to focus more on the painting process. itself (like Jackson Pollock or Mark Rothko style).
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Method 1 of 5: Painting Preparation
Step 1. Select the canvas
You can buy ready-made canvas in any size at a craft store. These canvases are usually wearable immediately; however, there's no rule that says you have to use a "ready-to-use" canvas. In fact, abstract artists often use canvases that are not "ready to use" and have not been layered.
If you want a colorful background, buy a bottle of Gesso to coat the canvas with a touch of color. This layer will dry quickly
Step 2. Choose your paint
Decide whether you want to use acrylic paint or oil paint. Acrylic paints are odorless and easier to work with because they dry quickly and can be covered with paint if you make a mistake. However, oil paints are usually not used because they smell, take longer to dry, and you can't coat them if you make a mistake.
Step 3. Collect brushes and other tools
Choose whatever brush you want to use with the paint you've chosen. You can also use a palette knife to paint, for a textured look. While some artists like to use wood supports, many abstract artists prefer to just lay their canvas on the floor so they can be closer to their painting.
If you're not sure what colors work well together, consider using a chart or color wheel. This can help show what colors match each other
Step 4. Put on your painting clothes
Depending on how messy the painting you're going to be, it's better to change into an old t-shirt or coat to paint. Without worrying about the paint staining your clothes, you can focus more on the painting or the abstract art process.
You'll also want to lay out a few sheets of newspaper to prevent drips or spills of paint, especially if you plan to paint with a flick of the brush or lay the canvas on the floor
Method 2 of 5: Studying Color Theory
Step 1. Take a color wheel
In short, the color wheel is a circular tool that displays a wide variety of colors. This wheel is very useful for showing the relationship of the colors, i.e. which ones seem to match when they are paired, which ones seem to collide, and so on.
Purchase a color wheel at your nearest art supply store, craft store, or paint and painting supply store
Step 2. Learn primary, secondary, and tertiary colors
Basically, the color wheel is divided into three parts, namely the three primary colors (red, blue, yellow). Secondary colors are created by mixing primary colors (resulting in green, orange, purple). Tertiary colors are made by mixing primary and secondary colors (resulting in yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-violet, blue-green & yellow-green).
To get acquainted with color creation, try creating your own color wheel
Step 3. Learn about warm and cool colors
Warm colors, such as shades of red, yellow, orange tend to create a sensation of active motion in the room. Cool colors, such as shades of blue, green, purple, reduce or indicate passive motion. These cool colors are calming colors.
White, black, and gray are considered neutral colors
Step 4. Take advantage of color harmony
There are several formulas for choosing colors that can appear to match one another. Try:
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Analog colors: Choose two or three colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. One of the colors may stand out, but all three will look great when paired together.
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Complementary colors: Choose two colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. These colors can really stand out.
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Triadic colors: Choose three colors that are equidistant from the color wheel. If you draw a line to connect the colors you choose, you will get a triangle shape. These colors will really stand out.
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Method 3 of 5: Creating a Random Geometric Abstract Painting
Step 1. Create a textured background
One of the easiest ways to do this is to coat the canvas with a special Gesso for painting, which is a thick, jelly-like coating liquid. Coat as you would paint, or apply evenly with a palette knife, if thick enough. This will help you to control the shape of the texture.
You can also leave the canvas smooth and blank. Again, there are no rules for creating abstract paintings that require you to create a textured background. Many artists paint directly on a blank canvas
Step 2. Glue the tape to form straight lines at the intersection points on the canvas
Use special blue painted tape and stick some lines, making geometric shapes, such as triangles, squares, and rectangles. The end goal is to create shapes that don't represent reality. Stripes of tape will help you paint, and the tape you apply ensures you create neat, straight lines and shapes.
Use a ruler and pencil to draw lines instead of tape. If you don't want to be bothered with the distance that can occur when removing the tape, try using a ruler and pencil to mark the canvas. Again, place your ruler along several points to create geometric shapes
Step 3. Mix your paint colors
Decide what colors you will use to finish your painting. Mix on a painting palette. You can also blend colors directly on the canvas, but this will make it difficult for you to control how the final result looks.
Step 4. Paint a blank space between the lines of masking tape
Don't worry if you accidentally paint the tape. Also, don't feel that you have to fill the entire canvas, or its entire shape with color.
Some abstract painters will outline each shape before starting to paint. Others simply paint them with color as they work
Step 5. Remove the tape
When you have decided that the painting is complete, remove the tape. If you like clean, neat edges, remove the adhesive while the paint is still wet. If you remove the adhesive from the dried paint, you can pull the paint off as well, resulting in a rough edge.
Step 6. Fill in the blanks from the former tape (optional)
When you've removed the tape, you'll see white streaks from where the tape was on the canvas. You can leave it alone, or you can also fill these white stripes with paint.
Method 4 of 5: Creating a Minimalist Geometric Abstract Painting
Step 1. Create a textured background
One of the easiest ways to do this is to coat the canvas with a special Gesso for painting, which is a thick, jelly-like coating liquid. Coat as you would paint, or apply evenly with a palette knife, if thick enough. This will help you to control the shape of the texture.
You can also use cardboard or poster paper. If you do this, you don't need to prepare or coat the surface
Step 2. Use a ruler and pencil to make the lines
You will need to create several horizontal lines with different distances between them, as well as the vertical lines. Make as many as you want, but keep in mind that the fewer the lines, the larger the squares and rectangles.
Step 3. Paint the lines
Use black paint to create bold lines. You can make certain lines thicker and others thinner. Your painting should now look like a table with black lines.
Step 4. Paint only a few squares and rectangles
Use primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and fill some shapes with color. Of course you can fill all shapes with color, but this will make your painting look too full and crowded. Therefore, choose only a few shapes to fill with color. These shapes will appear more prominent.
Step 5. Just leave the white space
The white space will make the primary colored squares more visible.
Method 5 of 5: Creating a Motion Abstract Painting
Step 1. Lay your canvas on the floor
Many abstract artists say that this helps them to get closer to the painting. Also, if you are creating an abstract painting with a motion or action motif, it will be easier to paint it in a variety of ways.
Don't feel that you can't move the canvas as you paint. In fact, you can create unique designs by starting on the floor and then moving them upright while the paint is still wet
Step 2. Clear your mind
In motion abstract painting, you are not trying to create a shape. However, focus on the painting process. Try different ways of painting and decide which one you like.
Step 3. Blend your paint directly on the canvas
Since this method prioritizes the painting process, you don't need to bother making a specific mix of colors before you start. However, decide on the color as you paint.
Step 4. Pour the paint onto the canvas
Pouring paint onto canvas is one simple way to create a unique and unplanned image. Pour as much or as little as you want.
You can also set different distances from where you're pouring paint on the canvas. Pouring from a height will create splashes, while pouring closer will provide more control and precision
Step 5. Sprinkle or drop paint on the canvas, this is (optional)
Use whatever tool you like and dip it in the paint. Then, flick the tool to make a splash of paint or hang it over the canvas so the paint drips off.
You can use a brush, straw, spray bottle, or an old toothbrush to splatter or drip paint
Step 6. Try to close your eyes and paint
Abstract painters agree that abstract painting should not represent reality. One of the best ways to keep you from creating recognizable image shapes is to paint with your eyes closed.
Let the brushes and paint move across the canvas without worrying about the image you're creating. This type of painting prioritizes the experience over the final result
Step 7. Stop when you feel your painting is finished
Don't come back to fix or add it. Abstract painters don't think about the end result; they stop when they think they're done. Don't take too long to paint, but learn to finish when you feel you're done.
Tips
- Begin your painting by thinking of an object, or scene. Don't think about the actual depiction, just think about or remember the shape of the object. Your imagination, and your feelings will create what you paint on the canvas. Remember, you are translating, not drawing.
- Learn the principles of composition and try to paint abstractly based on them rather than on a specific subject. This can be a great abstract painting! You will be happy with the end result.
- Abstract painting is based on the idea that it doesn't have to look like the real thing so don't expect anything! Just enjoy the experience to have fun!
- You don't need to draw like the original, this drawing can be of any shape!
- Abstract painting is a fun activity and can be done by everyone.
