Occasionally, artists fall into a “realism rut.” This is when we become used to creating realistic paintings and drawings and forget how to add an abstract spin to our work. In this article, we’re going to teach you how to get back in the groove of abstract artwork, so whether you are a realistic painter who is looking to expand your horizons, a beginner in abstract painting, or an artist simply stuck in “the rut,” read on.
When You’re Starting Out, Don’t Be Afraid To Get Abstract After Getting Realistic
It will likely take a while to figure out what styles of abstract painting work best for you, so you might as well start an easy transition into the abstract world. The best way to do this is to add abstract elements on top of a more realistic drawing. This way, you can still have the satisfaction of creating more visually accurate artwork, but also practice feeling the satisfaction of caring less about accuracy.
Color Is Your Friend
A lot of artists who paint realistically, rarely add bold colors to their work out of fear that it will ruin their painting. However, color is great for creating emotion in your pieces, so if you’re looking to step outside your comfort zone, it’s important to use color to your advantage. Don’t forget to make sure your placement of colors stand out by using different application methods and tools.
Be Experimental (Especially with Portraits) And Use Other Artists As Your Guide
This is your chance to get a little impulsive and reckless when painting! Adding color is a great way to begin abstract painting, but there are other ways, too. For example, you can turn a realistic portrait more abstract or conceptual simply with sea sponges, textiles, or layered mono printing.
Abstract drawings and realistic drawings are not always mutually exclusive; creating portraits is a great way to get more experimental because you can begin painting realistically and slowly start making your brush strokes thicker and less realistic. You don’t need to be creating Picasso portraits overnight, but by slightly altering the typical ways in which you paint and draw, you can begin creating your own masterpieces. Remember that it’s okay to study other artists like Debra Hurd, Davide Cambria, and Pablo Picasso, too, and their methods; Picasso himself once remarked, “Good artists copy; great artists steal.”
Loosen Your Control
In Julia Konya’s Abstract Art Tutorial For Beginners video, Konya uses a lighter, quicker hand when abstract painting and is a lot less preoccupied with how the painting might look in its final form. This nonchalance is key to abstract painting, and though gaining it will take practice, eventually, it will become second nature.
Abstract Art Is More Conceptual, So Get Your Ideas Flowing
Abstract art is well known for being emotional, ideological, a mixture of both, or everything in between — so as you step foot into the abstract world for the first time, you may want to prepare ideas that can be embedded within your painting or drawings.
By: Amaya Oswald