The Joy of Creating Abstract Art on Paper
Over the last several months, I’ve been working on a new collection of abstract art on paper. I’ve really enjoyed this creative process and wanted to share more about it through this article.
Specifically, I’ll be covering:
- What makes art on paper so appealing to me as an abstract artist?
- My techniques for actually creating abstract art on various papers.
- How do I choose which paper to use for each piece?
- Tips for preserving and properly displaying paper-based art.
I’ll also be including some examples of my recent art on paper pieces throughout the article so you can see the end results!
My goal is to give you an inside look into my artistic process when working with paper as a medium. Whether you’re an aspiring artist yourself or simply appreciate unique art, hopefully, you’ll come away with a greater appreciation for art on paper after reading this.
Some key things to know:
- All of the abstract art images here are my own original abstract art on paper.
- I work with a range of materials, but paper has become one of my favourites lately. I also like to work on canvases and wood.
- This article builds on some of my other recent posts about my 2023 collection of abstract art, namely
Let’s dive in and explore the joy of creating art on paper!
The Beautiful Qualities of Art on Paper
One of the things I love most about art on paper is how lightweight and portable it is.
Unlike bulky canvas paintings, paper creations are easy to transport and display in different locations. The lightweight nature makes art on paper feel intimate yet airy at the same time.
Art on paper also has a delicate, ephemeral beauty about it. The textures are subtle, the colours muted.
There’s a sense of intimacy when viewing paper art that you don’t get from other mediums. Up close, you can appreciate the nuanced details in a piece of art on paper. The slight variations in paint thickness, the speckles of colour peeking through.
Another major appeal of art on paper is the ability to experiment freely. With canvas or wood, it has a different feel and different challenges. I like to work on all these surfaces.
But with paper, I can try out new techniques without worrying about wasting precious supplies. I can layer paints and textures in creative ways.
I can also easily test out how different papers – smooth, rough, textured – interact with the paint.
That flexibility and forgiveness are part of what makes creating art on paper so joyful for me. I love seeing how the art evolves on the page.
Examples of my Abstract Art on Paper
From time to time, I like to create a small series of three abstract paintings. Displaying a series of three paintings side-by-side adds a great effect to the overall theme.
The following three vibrant abstract works hold special meaning – my wife was the muse who inspired their creation. Her steadfast support nourishes the roots of my creativity.
With brushes in hand, I visualised each composition in meditative detail, and then with great joy I translated this vision to paper.
Losing myself in colour cadences, I channelled energies far greater than mine into sublime shapes.
Once complete, I proudly displayed these pieces in our dining room, immediately transforming the space into a gallery pulsing with life.
The paintings radiated an aura of joy and possibility.
While digital screens provide convenience, nothing compares to encountering original art in person. Its physical presence electrifies the air, allowing you to connect viscerally with the work.
I welcome genuine impressions – please share your thoughts on these pieces or any others.
My Step-by-Step Process for Creating Art on Paper
Creating a vibrant, textured painting on paper requires careful preparation and a meditative layering process.
In this section, I’ll walk you through my artistic method step-by-step, from selecting the paper to building up intricate layers of acrylic or oil paint.
You’ll get an inside look at how I create my abstract art on paper, from the first sweep of paint to the final varnished finish.
Follow along as I share the techniques I’ve refined over years of experimentation with art on paper. By the end, you’ll understand my creative approach and have tips to implement in your own paper artwork.
So grab your favourite brush and let’s explore the joy of bringing paint to paper!
Select and prepare the paper
I’m very particular about choosing archival, acid-free paper – this ensures the longevity of the art.
My go-to is 250gsm acid-free, pH neutral and PEFC-certified paper. It has a nice toothy texture that acrylic and oil paints grip nicely. In this particular collection, I used A2 size paper 42 x 59.4 cm (16.5 x 23.4 in).
Prime the surface
Priming is a crucial preparatory step for art on paper. It creates a uniform, slightly textured surface for painting.
I typically do 3-4 coats of matt acrylic gesso, sanding lightly between coats. This results in a perfectly primed painting surface.
The gesso also helps prevent the paper from buckling when wet media is applied.
What is Gesso?
Gesso is an essential primer to prepare surfaces for painting. This white acrylic-based coating provides an ideal texture for art media to adhere to surfaces like paper, canvas and wood.
Applying several layers of gesso ensures proper absorption and adhesion of paints, preventing staining or excess penetration into the raw surface.
It also helps level any irregularities in the surface so brushstrokes glide smoothly. Gesso-primed supports remain flexible over time rather than becoming brittle and cracked.
For art on paper, gesso prevents oils and acrylics from causing buckling or wrinkles. Gesso creates a consistent, archival foundation for vibrant artwork with an even sheen.
Whether painting on canvas, wood or paper, gesso is a critical first step for any artist to prime their surface and enhance the brilliance and durability of the final painting.
Applying acrylic or oil paints
I use either acrylic or oil paints when creating art on paper to achieve unique effects. These are the two main mediums I use for creating my abstract art. You can see some of my paintings on the following pages:
First, I’ll apply thinned paints to stain the paper and start defining shapes. I also incorporate mediums like gloss or matt gel with the acrylics and painting medium with the oils to get desired textures.
Using these two versatile paint types gives me endless creative possibilities!
Build up layers
Now the fun begins!
I start applying thin acrylic or oil paints, usually earthy tones. Then I’ll add some thicker areas of acrylic or oil paint, using a palette knife to create texture.
Once that’s dry, I’ll go in with more layers of paint to start defining shapes and add pops of bright colour.
I’ll keep layering the oils or acrylics to achieve depth and interesting effects as they interact. It is one of my biggest enjoyments to create art with layers. I even wrote a blog about it – Mastering Art with Layers. Check it out.
Note: Just to avoid any confusion. I don’t use oil and acrylic paints together on the same painting. Oils are used for creating oil paintings and acrylics for, obviously, acrylic paintings. As we all know, water and oil don’t mix well together.
Embrace Spontaneity
With art on paper, I relinquish control and let the paint dance freely on the page. My brush swirls rapidly, leaving trails of vivid pigment in its wake.
Sometimes, I tilt the paper at dramatic angles, encouraging gravity to pull abstract shapes downward. Wielding a spray bottle, I mist the surface, encouraging rivulets to meander randomly across the texture.
Each pass evolves the work into something new.
I learned to embrace happy accidents – the splatters and drips that defy my plans but enrich the visual story.
The paper’s thirsty texture drinks the paints in quickly, urging me onward. I add more layers, compelling colours to mingle and textures to collide.
With an open mind, I allow the piece to guide itself, not forcing any preconceived composition. This spontaneous approach breeds novelty from chaos.
Finding joy in not knowing what happens next is the creative revelation paper provides. I relinquish control and witness beauty emerge.
Drying Time
A key yet often overlooked step when painting is giving your art adequate drying time.
Unlike fast-drying acrylics, oil paints require a lengthy curing process that can take 6-12 months depending on thickness and other mediums used in the process.
Oil remains mobile for weeks, so overlying brushstrokes can penetrate and muddy colours if not fully dry. Rushing this important curing stage results in tacky, impermanent works.
Being patient allows sufficient cross-linking of the oil for a resilient, luminous painting.
Acrylics reach a workable state within hours but still benefit from 1-2 days of drying time between layers to prevent cracking.
No matter your medium, resist the urge to rush the creative process. Allowing paints to dry fully, especially oils, ensures your artistic vision will remain vibrant for lifetimes to come.
The months invested in proper curing return a thousandfold with an enduring masterpiece.
Consider Varnishing
Once the paint is fully dry, as a final step, I always apply an acrylic varnish to protect the finish and enhance the colours.
This adds a subtle gloss sheen and ensures the longevity of the piece.
And that’s my artistic method for creating vibrant, textured art on paper!
Tips for Displaying Art on Paper
Now that you’ve created a stunning piece of art on paper, you’ll want to display it with care to protect it. Here are some of my top tips:
Custom framing
Framing is the best option to preserve and present art on paper.
- Use archival-quality matt and acid-free backing. This prevents discolouration.
- If you wish to use glass, go for plexiglass instead of standard glass. It filters out UV rays that can fade pigments. Personally, I don’t use any type of glass with oil paintings to avoid any build-up of condensation. Oil paintings need to breathe!
- If you decide to go for glass, double mats with spacers help keep the art from touching the glass.
- Make sure the art is mounted to the backing securely. Loose pieces can sag or wrinkle.
I prefer simple modern frames to let the art on paper be the focus.
Handle with care
However you choose to display it, always handle the art on paper gently along the edges. Try to avoid touching the surface too much to prevent smudges and oils from your hands damaging the artwork over time.
With the proper care and display method, your paper creation will stay vibrant for many years! Let me know if you have any other framing or display questions.
Tips for properly caring for paper art:
My article, 14 Tips: Taking Care of Your Art, provides a detailed guide including framing, displaying, handling, storing and many more tips necessary to look after your art.
The Endless Creative Potential of Art on Paper
In closing, art on paper offers artists like myself endless versatility and visual appeal.
- Its portable, lightweight nature makes the paper a convenient surface for art.
- The ability to experiment freely with textures and paint effects is creatively liberating.
- From elegant acrylics to dense, textured oils, paper handles any medium beautifully.
- The intimacy of viewing detailed paper art up close forges a powerful human connection.
After learning about my process for creating art on paper, I hope you feel inspired to try your own paper-based art.
- Don’t be afraid to play and make mistakes – that’s where the best work comes from!
- Explore using different papers, brushes, paints and found objects as mark-making tools.
- Find your own voice by working intuitively and letting the materials guide you.
If you create an art on paper piece and you’d like to share, I’d love to see it! Tag me so I can witness where this medium takes you.
Thanks for joining me on this creative journey through the diverse world of art on paper. I hope it provided some insight and inspiration. Please reach out with any final thoughts or questions.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!
I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring art on paper and my creative process through this article. I’d love to hear your thoughts:
- If you’re interested in purchasing any of the art on paper pieces featured here or checking out other abstract works on my website, please reach out! I’m always open to inquiries. Just drop me an email. It’s that simple.
- I also welcome any feedback on this post – areas you’d like me to expand on, questions you still have, or suggestions for future articles.
- Your comments help me improve as a writer and artist so I can keep bringing you helpful, engaging content.
My goal is to provide value by sharing my artistic journey while having thoughtful discussions with readers like yourself. Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below!
I look forward to hearing your impressions and chatting more about the limitless world of art on paper. Art has the power to connect us across boundaries – thank you for being part of my creative community.
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