How to Paint Abstract Art

"body">classical for reflective moods, rock for strong,
Do you want to create abstract art, but feel thatdriving emotions, and so forth. Sometimes a
you don't know where to begin? Here are someparticular mood develops as I listen to and
ideas to get you started:empathize with the lyrics of a song.
Begin traditionally by copying from life andMusic's rhythm and tempo can also have an
gradually move into abstraction. When I wasinfluence on the quality and speed with which you
young, I drew and painted portraits, still lifes, andapply a paintbrush or palette knife to the canvas.
landscapes. Sometimes I copied from aHow you apply the paint will be reflected in the
photograph or a reproduction of someone else'sresult, leaving a trace of the musical rhythm you
art. The goal at that time was to represent whatwere listening to as you made it.
I saw as closely as possible. It wasn't until my lateTry this experiment: think of yourself as an
teens that I began to "abstract" or move awayinstrument or tool of the music in your head.
from reality. I still began with a subject, but I didRelax and let the music select colors, control the
not feel bound to represent it, only to use it as amovement of your hands, and create the
starting-off point for my own purposes.content.
All art is abstract in the sense that it is not theAside from music, emotion itself can drive the
object itself. Many who call themselves "abstractpainting process. Non-representational art is the
artists" are indeed painting a subject, but freelybest way to directly express emotion because it
stylizing that subject. If you want to paintisn't constrained by attempting to be "true" to a
"abstract" but have trouble figuring out how toparticular subject matter. If you wake up mad at
approach the canvas, try taking a subject youthe world, you can paint a jagged swath of red
have painted before and abstracting it.across the canvas, directly expressing your anger.
If you are painting from life, for example, tryColor, line, form--everything in your painter's
squinting your eyes until all you can see are thearsenal is available to say exactly how you are
blurry outlines of your subject. Forget the details.feeling.
Take your brush or pencil and sketch in the broadOne day when I was in a particularly dark mood, I
shapes and contours. Or take a very small sectionkept feeling "bloody secret" as I painted. Yet I
of your subject and blow it up to cover thewanted this feeling to be both exposed and
whole canvas.hidden at the same time. The result was a
Now stand back and see how your compositionpainting I titled, "Tied in a Bow." I painted the
unfolds, how the shapes take form and becomebloody secret in thick red paint in the center of
interesting in and of themselves, withoutthe canvas, but I tied it in a bow and framed it
reference to your subject. Keep playing with yourprettily in pink. Thus, the blood was there, but it
composition, adding and subtracting shapes,was my secret.
modifying color, strengthening lines. Follow whatIf you are feeling a strong emotion of any kind,
draws you in, scrap what doesn't. Work fast, andtry expressing it directly through color, line and
then stop and study what you have.form on the canvas. But remember that
Another way to begin to paint abstract art is towhatever method you use to begin an abstract
use your emotions to get you started. Listeningpainting, you'll need to pay attention to
to music is one way I enhance my emotionscomposition, interest, energy, and focus in order
when I paint. Sometimes I choose music toto complete it successfully.
reflect my current mood: new age, jazz or