Can Beginners Paint Abstract Art?
I have taught abstract art painting workshops at both Sony in 2018 and Facebook in 2019. Those who attended my workshops wanted to be able to tap into their creative process on their own uninterrupted time - and some just wanted a piece of amazing abstract wall art that they made themselves.
Gestural abstract expressionism (painting based on feeling) is something most beginners can approach without feeling a lot of pressure (at least in my experience). Nine times out of ten, I do encounter a student who freezes up from the lack of structure. This is where coaching is really helpful, as asking a few questions can quickly pinpoint where the concerns are - e.g., handling the brush or paint, picking a topic or mixing colors just so.
In my Facebook workshop, I instructed learners to start by picking a photograph. Most learners were able to jump right in, knowing how to mix paints already. One of my participants was so intrigued by the dynamic energy of the image of a dancer, she started painting by creating swooping and fluid brush strokes that followed the shape of the dancer’s body and movements. Instead of focusing on all the literal details that realistic painting entails, she focused on capturing movement and energy.
In my opinion, it’s a great genre to dive into as a beginner for the following reasons.
What’s So Great About Abstract Art?
Abstract art is a genre that helps me process complex topics by distilling them into fundamental truths. For instance, when you pay attention to the elements and organisms that make up a forest, you cannot help but think of the entire ecosystem - from the light that filters through the canopy of the trees to the organisms that thrive on the forest floor.
As an artist, I make the creative decision to choose what element (or in design terms, component) I want to capture. This is how a complex concept like nature can be broken down into its elements: lines, colors, shapes, and patterns.
In this sense, abstraction can provide a deep engagement with a topic, rather than surface-level attention that figurative or landscape drawing requires for beginners. While I have nothing against realistic painting; in fact, portraiture and landscape painting can teach important fundamentals like lighting, shading, texture, composition, etc - abstract art is perhaps, simply put, a fun and easy way to start making art.
Abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead use shapes, colors...and gestural marks to achieve its effect.
- Tate Museum, UK
Break It Down For Me
How can you approach painting abstract art yourself? Here are three elements to consider:
An example of geometric abstraction
Shape
Abstract art simplifies shapes. Shapes can be either geometric or biomorphic. The former are precise and regular, usually representing human or urban inventions. This could be buildings or even machines.
The latter reflects nature and its organic form, such as leaves or flowers that are rounded and irregular.
An example of biomorphic abstraction using primarily green and yellow colors
Color
We’re all familiar with primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. From these three, you can mix them to create secondary colors. It is with the combination of primary and secondary colors that you can put together complementary colors to intensify the brightness of both colors.
From these processes of mixing colors and combining different shades, you can convey a mood, meaning, or even a sensation. It can stand independently from line or form in abstract art.
An example of gestural abstraction - patterns created by the organic processes of art-making (splashing, dripping, pouring, etc)
Gesture
Gestur[al] describes the application of paint onto canvas or paper. It could be the sweeping strokes of a brush, the striking form of splashes and splatters, or the slow dripping and pouring of paint. Each action creates a different texture on the painting’s surface. Even more so when you use special knives, sponges, or even bodies.
Are you interested in one of these elements more than the other? Some abstract artists, like color field artist Helen Frankenthaler, focus solely on colors. Others, like Joan Mitchell, painted vibrant and gestural works. Or Victoria Jaramillo, whose giant shapes conjure up notions of space.
As you practice painting abstract art, you may find yourself gravitating more towards one than the others - or combining them altogether in dynamic, but harmonious, compositions.