The Captivating Power of Abstract Art

The captivating power of abstract art is an amazing experience if you allow it. It doesn’t need a lot from you, just an open mind and give it a little time.

Abstract art is very misunderstood because we are taught that art must be beautiful. But, ironically, nobody tells us the true meaning of beauty.

Over the past few centuries, we began to question the true meaning of beauty. Is it what we actually see, or is it what we actually feel? A question that has been puzzling people, including artists and scientists, to define the true meaning of art.

We change, our concepts change, or societies and cultures change. “Nothing is permanent except change”. We are constantly changing and our needs and life experiences are changing.

We need more than food and shelter. We need to understand our lives on this planet. I think art is one of the main tools that could help us to understand ourselves.

Let’s find out a little more about the captivating power of abstract art. As always, I try to make my blog posts as easy to read as possible. I have divided this blog post into:

• The captivating power of abstract art
  • The power of colour
  • The power of shapes and forms
  • The power of self-expression
  • The power of imagination and artistic inspiration
• Visual stimulation and creative expression through abstract art
• How does abstract art influence society?
• Benefits of creating and appreciating abstract art
• Summary
• Frequent questions people ask me

The captivating power of abstract art

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you are looking at a piece of abstract art? What are your thoughts and feelings? How would you interpret it? Would you, perhaps, respond by saying something like “a 5-year-old could have done that”?

We all react differently to art, irrespective of the degree of our knowledge of art. Our reaction becomes even more challenging when we look at abstract art, particularly abstract non-representational art.

As an abstract expressionist artist, I come across these questions and a lot more almost daily. Questions prompted by abstract artists, traditional and representational artists, beginner artists and non-artists.

Many people dismiss abstract art as actual art. One of the reasons is that abstract art makes no sense to them. And that, in itself, is a response to the artwork.

Art is about two things – action and reaction, expression and response. It’s a communication language. Let’s remind ourselves that there are 3 elements to any communication: the sender, the receiver and the message.

There are a lot of people who believe that art should be beautiful, which is not really the case. Because beauty is subjective. When your response to art is that you don’t like art or that particular piece of artwork – that is still a response to the expression of the artwork.

That is a little simple example of the power of abstract art or any other type of art.

The power of colour

Whether you realise it or not, colour can and does affect your mood directly or indirectly, consciously or subconsciously. Artists, designers and people interested in art are generally aware of it.

Colour has such a profound impact on our emotions, moods and even performance. I don’t have any doubts about that. As a matter of fact, my entire art creation is driven by the power of colour and its meanings and associations. I look at colours as the vocabulary of visual art.

Such an impact has been proven scientifically, as far as I’m aware. However, every culture has its own colour meanings and associations. They can vary considerably from one culture to another.

In addition to culture, personal experience plays an even stronger influence, particularly your early childhood. The colours of the clothes you wore, the colours of your toys, your books, the colours you used to draw and sketch with.

Yes, personal experience and colour association start early in our lives. Through personal and cultural experiences, we, individually link certain meanings to colours.

I will quickly explain some of the colour meanings and associations as perceived in many Western cultures:

Neutral colours:

Black: Power, mystery, authority, strength, sophistication, death, evil.

White: Purity, innocence, cleanliness, peace, neutrality, space, simplicity.

Grey: Neutral, boring, gloomy, detached, conservative, old age.

Brown: Stability, reliability, warmth, earthiness, simplicity, nature.

Warm colours:

Red: Passion, energy, love, desire, anger, danger.

Yellow: Optimism, happiness, joy, clarity, brightness, creativity.

Orange: Warmth, enthusiasm, stimulation, cheerfulness, optimism.

Cool colours:

Blue: Trust, loyalty, wisdom, intelligence, confidence, peace. Blue is the most popular colour in the world.

Purple: Royalty, spirituality, mystery, creativity, luxury.

Green: Wealth, prosperity, freshness, fertility, growth, luck.

Colour association vs. different cultures

In summary, colour is used in art and design to evoke an emotional response. In the design world, particularly consumer behaviour, designers aim to create a positive user experience. While in art, the emotional response of viewers may not be categorised as either a positive or negative experience.

Here is an excellent video explaining colours and how they affect consumers – Marketing Colour Psychology

Most of us have our own favourite colours. I certainly do. 

I have briefly written about colour meaning and association in other articles: 7 Tips to Successfully Choose Your Abstract Wall Art and What Does Your Favourite Colour Say About You.

Maybe, it’s a good subject for another blog post. Let me know if you would be interested to know about colour meanings and associations in the comments section below.

The power of shapes and forms

Shapes, forms and colours are some of the main elements of visual art. There are three main types of shapes and forms – organic, geometric and abstract.

Geometric shapes and forms are usually man-made, e.g. squares and rectangles, triangles and circles. While organic shapes and forms are not defined by a specific structure, mostly found in nature. Nature doesn’t create straight lines, perfect squares or circles.

Let’s explore some of the most familiar shapes and forms and their associations.

Squares and Rectangles: These shapes and forms are structured by straight lines and right angles. They are usually associated with professionalism, strength, practicality, efficiency, security and reliability.

Triangles: These types of shapes or forms may have several meanings and associations. For example, seriousness, authority, power, masculine, dynamic, energetic, aggression and risk. Triangular shapes and forms may also suggest spirituality as in many ancient cultures. Stable because of their wide base. Extreme because of their pointed tips.

Circles and Ovals: Some of the main associations include smooth, mystery, feminine, friendly, eternity and universe. Circles are also associated with life-cycle. Circles can also suggest inclusiveness.

Organic: The best way I could associate organic shapes and forms is with uniqueness and originality. There are no two flowers the same, no two trees are the same and no two leaves are the same. I’m sure you get the idea.

Abstraction: These are usually distorted or simplified shapes and forms of real objects, hence, abstract art.  Abstract shape and form are mainly linked to either their original geometric or organic associations or a combination of both.

The power of self-expression

Self-expression is the way you make your feelings, ideas, thoughts, etc. known by any method, e.g. singing, writing, dancing, speaking, drawing, sketching and painting.

Self-expression is a huge and very deep subject. It is far more than just communicating our emotions and thoughts and connecting with ourselves and other people.

It directly links to several other psychological factors, such as being free and confident to say what you truly feel and believe. It has such a huge impact on our well-being, mental health and connection and relationship with other people.

Some people are astonished when I explain the power of abstract art about the tremendous positive impact on individual well-being, mental health, relationships, building or improving self-confidence, self-discovery and above all else – freedom of expression.

This is not exclusive to abstract art only. So many other activities allow us all these opportunities and much more. All types of art, all types of sports, all types of writing, etc. The list goes on and on.

More so, with non-representational abstract art. The art that doesn’t represent true objects. Many non-representational abstract artists create artwork intuitively.

(By the way, creating art intuitively is different from intuitive art, well at least in my opinion. I have written a separate article about 6 Amazing Facts about Intuitive Art).

Just as a small example. The first challenge of creating non-representational abstract art is that there is no reference to use. So you have to solve that problem. Facing a challenge and solving a problem help to build that confidence and trust in ourselves.

I know quite well the amazing power of abstract art in self-confidence and self-expression. The way I see abstract art is simply the actual act itself of confident self-expression.

This is a great article about the importance of self-expression: What is self-expression and why is it so important?

The power of imagination and artistic inspiration

“The power of imagination makes us infinite” – John Muir.

Does imagination inspire art or does art inspire imagination? What do you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

I think they both work together and inspire one another. Art needs imagination and imagination needs art.

Imagination and artistic inspiration have developed tremendously from the ancient Cave Paintings to the extraordinary intricate artwork of today.  Art begins with the urge to express our thoughts. We use imagination to inspire art and art to inspire more imagination.

This is creativity in the making.

Creativity needs an open mind free from daily distractions to be able to create new imagination. Without imagination, it would be hard to inspire ourselves or others.

I heard many people, including some artists, talk about artist’s block and that we must wait for inspiration to magically happen. However, I think continuing to create art can inspire to create imagination.

So many artists also talk a lot about finding their own unique styles. I think unique style is based on unique imagination. No two people have the same imagination. Your imagination is as unique as you are. It, then, becomes how to express that unique imagination.

This is a great video about How to find your art style fast in 3 easy steps by Kelsey Rodriguez.

Visual stimulation and creative expression through abstract art

The other day I was speaking to somebody who saw one of my abstract oil paintings. He described what he was feeling. Something else he said was that “abstract art was like painting poetry”.  That is a beautiful interpretation.

I have always linked creating abstract art to music, not all music. But to what I call my “painting music”. It’s a personal playlist that I play every time I paint. So I have always thought that abstract art is like “music without lyrics”.

To me, abstract art holds tremendous beauty and deep imagination, both for the artist and the viewer.

I think abstract art can be an effective way for releasing our creative potential as visual stimulation and creative expression grow more significant in our daily lives.

The visual stimulation created by abstract art is not restricted to familiar objects. This gives viewers an entirely new and open perspective to assign their own interpretations.

How does abstract art influence society?

This a question I asked myself so many times and am still not sure if I have a fully comprehensive answer.

Abstract art is like any other form of art. It attempts to communicate an expression. An expression of a feeling, an idea, a thought, a belief or even just an imagination.

Over the past several decades, there have been so many art movements that tried to bring a change in society. The changes were deemed necessary based on certain events that needed a certain response.

Without going too deep into history, I will mention some of the main historical events in modern history that influenced art in our societies:

• The First World War (1914-1918),
• The Great Depression of 1920-1921 in the US, UK and many other countries,
• The Second World War (1939-1945).

Here is a summary of some of the main art movements:

1. Impressionism (1860s-1880s)

Impressionism altered how people perceived art by emphasising the use of colour, light and movement to portray the impression sensation of a scene. This art movement gave people a fresh perspective on the world and made them more sensitive to the beauty of ordinary life and nature.

2. Dadaism (1915-1920s)

Dadaism transformed artistic expression by infusing the art world with an absurdity and chaotic sensibility. The movement promoted the disruption of traditional and established art genres and the freeing of creativity through the use of absurd language, abstract shapes and surreal imagery.

3. Cubism (1906-1914)

Cubism aimed to challenge conventional ways of viewing and representing the world by disassembling objects into their geometric elements. This trend signalled a departure from figurative art and revolutionised how people engage with and understand visual art.

4. Surrealism (1920s-1950s)

Surrealism created new avenues for artistic expression to explore the unconscious mind. This art movement provided a new perspective on the world and encouraged people to examine their deepest feelings and thoughts.

5. Pop Art (1950s-1970s)

By incorporating elements of popular culture into the realm of fine art, this type of art movement aimed to challenge the traditional art world.

Pop Art inspired a new way of looking at the world through its use of recognisable imagery, vibrant colours and a critical viewpoint on consumer culture.

6. Minimalism (1960s-1970s)

By reducing art to its most basic components, minimalism questioned the conventional concept of beauty. This art movement encouraged viewers to pay attention to the basic elements of the artwork to emphasise the ideas of minimalism and simplicity.

7. Feminist Art (1960s-present)

The goal of Feminist Art was to challenge the traditional perception of art as a male-dominated field. This movement opened up new avenues for artistic expression and encouraged a rethinking of traditional gender roles through its use of bold imagery, outspoken messages and an emphasis on the female experience.

I also have to mention my favourite art movement. Abstract Expressionism movement had a significant social impact. This movement represented a significant departure from traditional artistic conventions, encouraging viewers to explore the realms of emotion and abstraction.

Abstract Expressionism, with its bold use of colour, texture and composition, opened up new avenues for artistic expression and inspired a deeper engagement with the world around us.

By transforming attitudes, imparting ideals and interpreting events across space and time, art has an impact on society.

The arts—including painting, sculpture, music, writing and other forms—are sometimes seen as the repository of a society’s cultural memory.

Art maintains and records historical and living experiences at a certain location and specific time.

In this way, art is a form of communication that uses visuals, sounds and tales to connect people from many eras and cultural backgrounds.

Often, art serves as a catalyst for social change. It can represent and influence social and political views.

Abstract art can be viewed as a technique to process reality and deal with emotions, particularly negative ones, without having to deal with the cause directly.

To me, the captivating power of abstract art challenges us to learn more about how to interpret the unfamiliar and the unknown. This act itself is enough to distance our minds from the busy hectic daily routine.

Even though it could be just for a short while, abstract art attempts to connect deeper as we spend more time looking at abstraction in an effort to recognise its components.

Benefits of creating and appreciating abstract art

Abstract art can be used to express creativity, explore emotions and break free from the constraints of conventional genres.

Abstract art encourages the viewer to interact more deeply with the artwork and gives them the freedom to consider their own interpretations of it.

Additionally, it provides a chance to investigate the nature of artistic expression as well as the influence of colour, shape and composition.

Making abstract art gives the artist a chance to delve deeper into their own feelings and test the limits of their imagination.

Abstract art gives the creator a chance to express oneself specially and distinctively through the use of vibrant colours and unusual forms.

It also gives the artist a sense of independence from conventional genres, enabling them to stretch the limits of their own imagination.

Appreciating abstract art helps viewers become more sensitive to the beauty of everyday life and the natural world.

Additionally, it invites viewers to consider their own interpretations of the artwork and to think back on their own feelings and experiences.

It offers viewers the chance to learn more about artistic expression and the influence of composition, colour, and shape.

Overall, making abstract art and enjoying it can be a powerful and fulfilling experience for both the artist and the viewer.

It presents a special chance to express feelings, investigate the limits of creativity and think about the nature of artistic expression.

Summary

There is so much I can talk about the captivating power of abstract art. Its meaning, its beauty, its influence on us individually and on society, its enormous visual stimulation and its freedom of creation as well as its interpretation.

Every time I write about abstract art, I always intend to write briefly about it. But, as you probably have noticed from my other article, I get perhaps a little too carried away.

I’m always keen and interested to help others, not necessarily to master creating abstract art or understand it. But just to appreciate it and to find your own interpretation within your own deeper emotions and feelings.

Abstract art can disrupt our busy thinking routine. Its unfamiliar objects may drive our curiosity instinct to find recognisable images or some sort of meaning.  It’s a positive distraction to allow us the opportunity to engage our emotions to see what’s within.

Some of the frequent questions people ask me:

What is abstract art?

It is the type of art that distorts real objects partially or completely or uses colours and shapes to create an expression. It is created with the artist’s emotions aimed at evoking the viewer’s emotional response.

I have written a detailed article about What is Abstract Art?

What is so special about abstract art?

Abstract art allows both, the artist and the viewer, to break free from the restrictions of conventional traditional art. The artist is not restricted to representing real objects and the viewer is free to make his/her own interpretation. No two interpretations are ever the same.

Find out more information about Why Is Abstract Art So Popular?

Why are people drawn to abstract art?

People are drawn to abstract art because of its uniqueness. It doesn’t use a familiar recognised object. People are drawn to its powerful colours and shapes and their associations and meanings. It holds people’s attention to allow them the opportunity to think deeper within. It allows people to create their own individual stories.

This article takes you deeper and into more detail about What Do People See in Abstract Painting?

What are the 3 types of abstract art?

I have written a comprehensive article about the 3 Amazing Types of Abstract Art, namely:

• Abstract Expressionism,
• Abstract Impressionism, and
• Cubism

There are many more types of abstract art, including symbolism, dadaism, minimalism, futurism, etc.

What are the 7 elements of abstract art?

The elements of abstract art are the main components of the artwork. These are:

• Colour
• Value
• Shape
• Form
• Line
• Texture
• Space

More details are found in this article, The Elements of Abstract Art.

What techniques do artists use to create abstract art?

Abstract art is created using a variety of methods, such as mark-making, brushstrokes, palette knives and collages. My favourite method is using several layers of oil or acrylic paints to show the directions and movements of brushstrokes. My other preferred method is using my favourite palette knife to build many layers of paint.

Have a look at this article for more details about How To Make an Abstract Painting.

What are the materials used for making abstract art?

The beauty of making abstract art is the limitless freedom to select whatever you want, depending on your technique. There is a very wide range of oil and acrylic paints and mediums, charcoal, pencils, ink, fabric, etc. For painting abstracts, the most common surfaces used are cotton and linen canvases, paper and wood.