How To Make an Abstract Painting
There are many blog posts about how to create an abstract painting. Many even assume abstract painting simply involves haphazard splashes of random colour without much thought.
However, creating a compelling abstract composition that deeply moves viewers requires tremendous skill even from seasoned abstract artists.
Bringing emotionally evocative abstract artwork to life demands a fusion of technical facility, intuition and a vulnerability to transcribe intricate inner worlds into the visual realm.
Abstract masters accordingly devote years disciplining their abilities to distil potent aesthetic experiences within pigment and brushstroke. The apparent spontaneity that defines acclaimed abstract art arises only after enduring struggles aligning expressive intent with eloquent execution.
So while abstract methods may seem effortless or arbitrary at first glance, this complex artistic form in truth relies on mature sensibilities few entirely grasp.
The artist must undergo their own rigorous journey to translate complex feelings into arresting abstract canvases that widely resonate.
Before explaining the tools and techniques involved in how to make an abstract painting, it’s important to understand that abstract art is more about the process than the end product. The visual impact comes from your unique inner vision.
After years of actively creating abstract paintings, I’ve gathered insights into the mindset, methods and techniques involved in how to make an abstract painting that resonates.
The process starts with self-reflection and experimentation.
You need to tune into your unique inspiration and perspective. Learning core skills like colour-mixing and brushwork comes later.
The key is having something meaningful to say through the lyrical language of abstract visual art.
This blog post will focus on how to make an abstract painting by guiding you through an immersive, meditative creative process to translate your deepest feelings into arresting works of art.
The Mindset of Making an Abstract Painting
Before learning techniques for how to make an abstract painting, you need to try to adopt the proper creative mindset. Abstract art is more than just random paints on canvas – it is about conveying emotion through visual language.
As you explore how to make an abstract painting, remember that the techniques come second to your inner vision.
Connect With Your Emotions
Start by consciously focusing your thoughts, feelings and sensations in the present moment through strategies like mindfulness meditation.
Joan Mitchell used to clear her mind with long nature walks before beginning a new abstract painting.
I have my own ritual that deeply grounds me in my emotions when I create abstract art – I always paint while listening to evocative instrumental music through headphones.
Without my personal painting playlist streaming, the creative process somehow feels blocked and cerebral instead of intuitive.
Over years of developing my artistic practice, I’ve conditioned my mind to shift into a reflective state when these ambient melodies begin flowing. The music forms an envelope around my thoughts – guiding them inward to crystallise forgotten memories and heightened sensations that later influence the art.
Eliminating external noises also allows me to tune into subtle inspiration. I capture impressions, colours and flooding emotions in a journal as I listen.
These raw materials extracted from my inner landscape accumulate and are later translated onto the canvas.
The music stays on as I mix sombre cobalt pigments, splash vivid crimson through my fingers and glide a brush meditatively across textured negative space.
Have a look at my blogs Abstract Art and Music and The Joy of Painting with Music for additional information.
Find your version of a creative ritual that unlocks subconscious depths so you can access that same visceral space while learning how to make an abstract painting.
Understand Colour Psychology
Colour is the emotional vocabulary of abstract art. An essential step in decoding how to make an abstract painting is recognising how colour conveys feelings both universally and personally.
Generally, certain hues relate to shared cultural associations – green signalling renewal and growth, blue evoking tranquillity or sadness. However, your special bond with beloved shades arises from subjective life experiences.
Investigate the deeper psychology of your favourite hues through journaling or meditation.
Why does vermilion red always capture your attention across sunsets, spices and clothing?
How has muted grey come to epitomise reliable simplicity for you?
Use these discoveries of profound colour meanings to thoughtfully curate a distinct palette for each abstract painting you envision. Translate your special colour language onto canvas by mixing custom shades that specifically articulate a concept or moment close to you.
For example, modulate tints and tones of sage green to portray the evolution of your creativity over time. Or veil areas in ethereal violet as a homage to the velvety plums you picked with a grandparent each summer.
Allow colour itself to help unlock how to make an abstract painting that authentically conveys your inner experiences.
Pay attention to your sensory attraction and emotional reactions triggered by swatches. Then build a personalised vocabulary by blending paints that mirror or expand those embedded associations.
With practice, you can wield hue, value and chroma in infinite permutations to poetically communicate any theme close to your heart.
More about colours – What Does Your Favourite Colour Say About You.
Interesting reading:
Dr. Taylor Hartman’s, Hartman Personality Profile also known as “The People Code”, divides personalities into four colours: Red (motivated by power), Blue (motivated by intimacy), White (motivated by peace) and Yellow (motivated by fun).
Concentrate on Process, Not Product
As you explore how to make an abstract painting, the final painting itself matters far less than the creative journey.
Helen Frankenthaler believed the physical actions involved in making art were more meaningful than the end result.
Play with techniques like letting the paint drip freely over the canvas. Move in an unplanned, serendipitous way rather than judging as you uncover how to make an abstract painting speak to you.
If things feel forced, pause and return to that emotional source until intuition takes over again. The art arises when you clear space for it.
The Process of Making an Abstract Painting
Once you’ve established the right creative headspace, you can explore practical techniques for how to make an abstract painting.
Remember that specific methods matter less than finding your own version of each step in the process. Follow what feels authentic each time you unveil a new abstract painting.
Assemble Your Materials
Gather the paints, brushes, canvases and other supplies that allow you to feel comfortable creating. Avoid overbuying materials when starting out with how to make an abstract painting.
Acrylic paint is affordable and forgiving for beginners learning abstract painting techniques. Have a range of brush sizes on hand as well as palette knives for mixing paint.
Set up your workspace in an inspiring location with good light and ventilation to dive into abstract painting.
Balance Composition
Unlike realistic landscapes or portraits, the layout for abstract paintings has no concrete guide. However, you’ll want to balance elements across the canvas to create a pleasing flow for viewers.
Make loose sketches thinking about where light, medium and dark colours fall across your painting. Maintain areas of negative space instead of over-packing the composition. Layer shades in a way that pulls the eye around each abstract painting holistically.
The following blogs can be very helpful to learn more about the composition, the principles and the elements of abstract.
Mix Your Colour Palette
Squeeze out acrylic paints onto your palette organised by the hue family. Using a palette knife, blend primary colours to produce secondary and tertiary tones that convey your desired mood.
Keep notes on successful colour combinations for future abstract paintings as you develop sensibilities for mixing paint. Allow your memory and emotions to inform which colour harmonies set the right tone.
Don’t over-mix paint to dullness – value contrast creates visual interest when learning how to make an abstract painting.
A Note on Colour Theory
Understanding colour theory provides critical foundations for any emerging abstract painter seeking to convey concepts and emotions through sophisticated colour manipulation.
Skilfully blending colour combinations to achieve gorgeous, thoughtful results relies on comprehensively grasping these underlying principles.
I have written a dedicated post explaining vital colour theory for painting on this site, which covers:
- The colour wheel and interplay of primary, secondary, and tertiary mixtures
- Shade, tint and tone variations
- Temperature contrasts between warm and cool
- Contextuel impacts on colour perception
- Advancement into complex colour harmonies and discordant tones
Be sure to reference this complimentary guide on the essentials of colour theory as you build that knowledge area.
Have a look at this blog post to learn more about colour theory – Colour Theory Introduction For Beginner Artists.
Having a concrete understanding of interacting with colour allows you to then organically improvise and play more freely with pigments.
You will intuit how to summon precisely the aesthetic effects in your abstract compositions that align with desired themes and sentiments. Use both intellectual foundations and personal experimentation with colour to unlock your full expressive potential in abstract painting.
Finishing Touches
You’re close to finalising your abstract painting! But don’t rush these last essential steps for elevating your artwork.
Spend time observing your canvas and listening to your intuition before declaring an abstract painting complete. These finishing touches for how to make an abstract painting refine your piece to maximum impact.
Title Your Artwork
Now that you’ve progressed through how to make an abstract painting, sit with your imagery and identify words that summarise the emotion and meaning embodied in the painting.
Is your piece bright and chaotic like “Carnival” or subdued and resonating like “Contemplation”?
Titling your abstract paintings helps capture your state of mind for the viewer while clarifying your own intent looking back later.
Sign Your Name
This mark of authorship makes an abstract painting feel complete while inserting your personal presence and pride.
For inspiration, study how famous abstract artists integrated signatures into overall compositions without distraction. Find a style that fits – from delicate script to bold lettering.
I sign the bottom right corner with my initials and date, as well as on the back of the painting with my full name when finishing the painting.
Apply Protective Coats
Preserve your stellar creations while learning how to make an abstract painting!
Once acrylic paint fully cures, brush on an isolation and protective coat of varnish.
Conclusion: How to Make an Abstract Painting
Completing your first piece exploring how to make an abstract painting deserves congratulations!
But an abstract artist’s growth never truly halts. As you progress painting and tuning into your emotions, continue refining techniques for taking abstract paintings to new heights.
Creating a meaningful abstract painting intrinsically links to honestly painting your feelings onto the canvas. More so than precise realistic rendering, abstract art succeeds when it broadcasts raw emotional essence through the paint’s dynamic language of texture and colour.
The masterful abstract artist mines inner depths, channelling sensations wordlessly into uninhibited brushwork.
Layers accrue as fragments of soul, mapping a psychic terrain.
In the wake of such courageous inner exploration, the abstract composition assumes significance larger than itself, speaking to the human condition.
Display and Critique
Proudly exhibit your dazzling abstract paintings to gain valuable feedback from others. Local coffee shops, community art centres and outdoor festivals often allow abstract artists to showcase their work.
Prepare an artist statement summarising your abstract painting style and aim. Talking through your creative process also clarifies future directions for honing how to make an abstract painting.
Don’t be discouraged by constructive criticism – different impressions expand perspectives.
Continue Exploring Techniques
While finishing a painting provides closure, the journey for expanding abstract painting skills stays open-ended.
Revisit the basics. Become more fluid with palette knife handling or mark-making using varied brush strokes. Stay playful trying innovative approaches as you build your artistic identity around how to make an abstract painting.
The adventure of distilling emotion into abstract paintings relies on an insatiable creative appetite. As your technical painting skills progress, remember your feelings and personal vision to give life to the art.
Sustain that spiritual awareness gained from the first steps of decoding how to make an abstract painting evolve into impactful works that widely resonate.
What wondrous abstract frontiers will you explore next?
I hope this beginner’s guide gives you a meaningful starting point for embracing the enriching journey of abstract painting. Making art is deeply personal, so adapt these suggestions to what feels authentically aligned with bringing your inner world onto canvas.
I invite you to ask questions, share your abstract pieces and become part of an uplifting community supporting creativity. Wherever you currently stand in developing an abstract painting practice, know that your expression holds value.
Allow your distinctive interpretations on canvas to develop organically by returning to the emotional origins art emerges from. Trust in the process – the paint carries a message wanting to materialise uniquely through you.
Our discussions can help illuminate the next directions to even more fully unlock that beautiful potential.
Let’s exchange ideas and inspiration to surround all aspiring abstract artists with empowerment on their creative paths ahead!
Successful because it managed to evoke emotions.
And that is the magical beauty of art.
Perhaps this may answer why in the art world there is no such thing as “good” or “bad” art. I would replace that with “I like it” or “I don’t”.
But whether it is music, painting, sculpture or whatever else we create, most of us aim to please the rest of us, i.e. the need for approval by other people – a natural human need.
And the final step to truly begin to create a meaningful abstract painting is all about “letting go”. Let your feelings, not your brain, take over the actual process of the painting journey from the very beginning to the end.
And that’s how to make an abstract painting. Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments section below.
Have fun painting abstracts.
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