The Principles of Abstract Art

The principles of abstract art are methods artists use to arrange and organise the elements of art in an artwork. They also help the viewer to describe the art.

There are several principles of abstract art and in this article, I will focus on the following:

• Movement
• Balance
• Unity
• Variety
• Rhythm
• Pattern
• Proportion
• Emphasis

While the elements of abstract art are the main components of visual art, the principles of abstract art focus on the arrangement of the elements in the artwork. The principles of abstract art concentrate on the composition itself.

To provide additional explanation and information, I will include examples of the principles of art using some of my abstract paintings and other famous paintings, too.

I hope the explanation and the examples will give you a better insight into the principles of art, their meanings as well as their applications.

If you are new to abstract art and wish to know a bit more about it, I have written a general article about the definition and meaning of abstract art.

It is worth noting that the principles of abstract art are not specifically for abstract art only. They are also applied to all other visual artworks.

I covered the elements of art and explanation of their functions in a separate article. If you have not already seen it, I would recommend you to have a look at it. Understanding the elements of abstract art is necessary to understand the principles of abstract art.

Both, the elements and the principles of abstract art are necessary to understand and appreciate the overall composition of the artwork.

Composition is the most important component in abstract painting art or any other visual piece of art. It is the one component that differentiates between good and great artwork.

Any piece of art starts with its elements. As you create the elements of art, you then need to think carefully about how the elements of art fit into the principles of art. The third and final step is to look at how the principles of art project a meaningful composition.

The challenge for beginner artists is to develop their creativity by taking into account the three processes, above, as they progress in their art.

Being aware of every element you add and its contribution to the principles of abstract art and composition will definitely help you to create a great piece of art. You need to keep the three processes in mind all at the same time.

Let’s find out a bit more about the principles of abstract art.

What are the principles of abstract art?

1.  The Principle of Movement

The impression of movement adds a lot of interest and excitement to almost any piece of artwork. It makes the objects and elements of the art more than just blocks of meaningless colours or shapes.

Similar to all other genres of art, movement in abstract art attempts to tell us something and contribute to the story of the artwork.

Movement is one of the principles of abstract art and there are two ways we can create the sense of movement in art.

The first is when we make a path for the viewer’s eyes to travel through the artwork in a particular direction, usually to the areas of interest. The second way we can create movement is by making an object that appears in motion.

Artists create the illusion of movement, motion and action using shapes, colours, rhythm, space and other elements in a variety of techniques. Here are some examples of techniques to help create movement in a piece of art:

Brushstrokes

This is one of my favourite techniques I use to create movement. Using bold intentional large brushstrokes create directional movement from one side to another. Naturally, our eyes will follow the direction of brushstrokes in an attempt to find its beginning and where it leads.

In the the aove or opposite painting (depending on your device) I created with acrylic paints, you could easily see a lot of movement made with a large and thick curved path.

Directional brushstrokes are visible throughout the entire abstract painting using different colours. Thick brushstrokes create also interesting texture to further enhance a three-dimensional impression of movement.

Object Motion

This is another technique to create a sense of motion in the object itself. Drawing or painting motion lines from or around the object can suggest the object is in motion.

In this painting, there are three methods used to create a sense of motion. The first is using imaginary lines to convey the direction of movement. The white curved lines around the main object suggest its motion.

The second method is to create the suggestion of motion by distorting objects in the artwork. The third method is blurring the object or the background. In this method, the entire painting adds the feeling of motion and movement to almost all the elements of the artwork.

Repetition in Perspective

Repeating the same object in your painting and changing the object’s size, i.e. from large to small, or vice-versa, in perspective can create a sense of movement. The eyes will naturally follow the object as it seems distant away from us. Or, follow the object’s path to the foreground as it may seem moving forward and closer to us.

Creating perspective could be in a straight direction or more interestingly in a curved or radial way.

Objects in Space

Objects in space will always give the illusion of motion due to gravity. Objects in space cannot be stationary as we normally assume their movement in certain directions, e.g. airborne and floating through the air or falling down.

Rhythmic Repetition

The arrangement of a single element or similar objects in a certain way could create a pattern and a path the eyes will naturally follow. When you look at a dotted line, for example, the eye will follow the beginning and move along to see where it leads.

A regular rhythm is created when you arrange the element to follow a particular path. Rhythm can also be created by arranging the element randomly without following any certain structure. Rhythmic movement adds a great dynamic feel to any painting.

Rhythmic movement can be created by using several other elements, e.g. repetition of light and dark contrasts, warm and cold colours, negative and positive spaces, colours, shapes and lines.

There is no doubt that rhythmic movement in abstract art helps to create interest within a flat canvas.

Rhythm has such profound importance in all types of art and it is one of the principles of abstract art, which I will talk about later in this blog post.

These are only a few techniques used to create and convey a sense of movement in artworks. There are many more ways you could use to suggest motion and movement in a painting.

Look again at the images of the paintings on this page and check to see if you can identify the feeling of movement in any of the elements of abstract art.

2.  The Principle of Balance

Similar to all the principles of abstract art, balance plays a vital role in any artwork.  Balance is the visual distribution of each element of art in a way that the elements of art complement each other.

The collective arrangement of all the elements should create the composition the artist is seeking to produce. Balance creates visual stability across all the elements of abstract art.

You may hear artists talking about balance as the distribution of the weight of the elements. However, we usually link weight to three-dimensional physical objects. In two-dimensional art, weight here refers to the visual weight which helps to create a sense of complete coherence.

You can create balance in art by varying the use of colours, sizes, positions, textures and patterns.

The more you practise painting, the better you would become at developing creative balance in your art. Remember, it is a visual balance and how the elements of art appear to you. Do you feel there is a balance among the various elements in your art?

Creating intentional imbalanced compositions is a fantastic artistic way to evoke certain emotions and interests.

There are three types of balance in visual art:

Symmetrical Balance

Symmetrical balance is created when you have both sides of your painting or artwork mirror each other.

In symmetrical balance, all the elements of art appear to have equal arrangement within the artwork. The same elements would be equally distributed similarly on both sides of either the vertical or horizontal axis.

Most of us are drawn to symmetrical balance because it creates feelings of organisation, order and stability. Symmetrical balance is also known as formal balance.

Asymmetrical Balance

Asymmetrical balance is the opposite of symmetrical balance. It is a type of balance in which the two sides of the artwork are different, but still feel stable.

In visual art, asymmetrical balance can be created by arranging contrasts in the same elements. For example, drawing or painting dark and light shapes, thick and thin lines, and smaller and larger forms.

Known also as informal balance, asymmetrical balance provides greater flexibility than symmetrical balance. It also creates more interest in the artwork.

Radial Balance

Radial balance differs from symmetrical and asymmetrical balances. Instead of the elements’ arrangement around the horizontal or vertical axis, in radial balance, the elements are made around the centre.

Usually, radial balance follows a circular path but not exclusively. You can also create radial balance by arranging the elements to follow a square, triangular or other patterns.

Each type of balance creates a distinct function in the artwork. Whatever type of balance you use, the most important is to know how to employ balance to your subject matter and message.

3.  The Principle of Unity

Unity can also be called harmony and it is one of the principles of abstract art. A sense of unity is made when you use similar or repeated elements in an artwork to create consistency. So we might see repeated marks, a similar mood or value, repeated colours or a kind of consistent theme throughout the artwork.

The principle of unity in visual art allows all the elements to interact with one another to create aesthetically beautiful artwork.  Unity brings all the elements into a balanced harmony.

The principle of unity is what makes an artwork appear unified and even despite the differing elements in shape, size, style and colour.

To properly create unity in artwork, the artist must evaluate each element and learn about its connections and interactions with all the other elements in the artwork. Furthermore, the artist will also examine each element and its contribution to the overall art.

Wassily Kandinsky was a master of creating almost all the principles of abstract art in several of his painting. His painting, Colour Study: Squares with Concentric Circles 1913, shows a remarkable demonstration of unity, variety and pattern principles.

The principle of unity not only examines the relationship of the elements but also evaluates the relationships and connections of other principles of art in the artwork.

Every single component in any piece of artwork must add value to the overall desired and intended message of the artwork. No element is added haphazardly. Everything must work together in harmony and unity.

4.  The Principle of Variety

Variety is the opposite of unity. So where unity seeks to bring things together by being similar, variety, instead, uses many different elements. When we use many different elements, it helps us to create interest or contrast in an artwork.

You can create variety in artwork by placing different elements next to one another. For example light colours next to dark colours. Cold colours next to warm colours. Thin lines next to thick lines.

Variety is made by using several elements of art, e.g. colour, lines and shape placed in different places in your artwork.

Whilst all the principles of abstract art are closely interconnected, variety is closely linked with unity, harmony, balance and emphasis. More variety or less of it can affect the functions of the other principles and collectively the overall composition.

Variety principle in visual art has its own importance, function and role. It must effectively work together with each and every other principle of art to create a meaningful composition.

5.  The Principle of Rhythm

Rhythm is one of the principles of abstract art and it is the repeating of elements in order to create a feeling of organised movement. Artists create rhythm in artwork to help the viewer to follow a certain path, perhaps leading to the focal point or centre of interest in art.

The principle of rhythm is similar, in a way, and interconnects with pattern and repetition. However, each of these principles is distinct and unique in its functionality.

Several types of rhythm can be applied to visual art. These include regular, flowing, random, alternating and progressive.

Regular Rhythm

You can create a regular rhythm by repeating the same or similar elements in a regular and measured arrangement or order. The elements become evenly spaced in the artwork.

Careful arrangement of the elements can make the difference between an interesting or uninteresting rhythm. 

Flowing Rhythm

Arranging the repetition of the elements in a curved or circular at regular intervals creates a path that gives a sense of movement in the art. A great example of a flowing rhythm can be seen in clouds and waves.

Random Rhythm

I like random rhythm as it allows both the artist and the viewer more flexibility to create a sense of emotions.

Random rhythm is made by repeating the elements without a specific order or arrangement. Nature makes some of the best random rhythms. There is no specific path for your eyes to follow. It creates a great sense of freedom.

Alternating Rhythm

An alternating rhythm is created when you use two or more elements interchangeably. It is similar, in a way, to the regular rhythm but because you are using and repeating more elements, it creates more interesting variety in the artwork. A good example is by repeating light and dark colours in a certain pattern.

Progressive Rhythm

Repeating elements in a pattern that modify colour and size creates a progressive rhythm. It follows a pattern to gradually change and transform the elements.

Like all the other principles of art, we use rhythm to create interest and excitement in the artwork.

6.  The Principle of Pattern

This is similar to rhythm in the sense of repeated design. The repetition of lines, colours or any other elements of art in a specific arrangement creates a pattern. The part that is repeated is known as a motif.

A motif can be made in different ways and arrangements to create various types of patterns.

A pattern in art adds a sense of variety and helps to enhance movement, rhythm and unity to a composition.

Paul Klee’s Castle and Sun 1928 painting demonstrates a pattern in the simple yet effective use of triangles, squares and rectangles. It creates a great abstraction of a tiled architectural scene of a city.

The other painting shows how a simple pattern of repeated white rectangles helps to create a sense of balance and harmony in the principles of abstract art and, therefore, in the overall composition.

The basic types of patterns are mainly natural or man-made. We see a lot of natural patterns in Nature. The shape of tree branches, leaves, the scales of a fish and the shape and colour of flowers are just a few examples of natural patterns.

Nature is a great inspiration for many abstract artists, particularly non-representational artists.

Man-made patterns, on the other hand, are made more structured with specified lines and shapes of particular angles or curves. Several man-made patterns attempt to imitate natural ones.

Here is another image of Wassily Kandinsky’s Colour Study with Lozenges 1913 painting demonstrating the principle of pattern.

Both types of patterns, natural and man-made, can be arranged in several sequences including:

• Regular,
• Irregular,
• Organic,
• Radial,
• Geometric,
• Linear,
• Symmetric, and
• Asymmetric

There is a lot to explain about the sequences of patterns but I will mention briefly the following:

Regular patterns tend to aim for perfection in their structure. For example, the repetition of the same line, shape or colour to follow a specific path. A regular pattern is made by repeating the same element or elements in exactly the same way that it becomes predictable.

On the other hand, the irregular pattern is the opposite of the regular pattern as the motif changes the way it is repeated. Therefore, it becomes unpredictable.

One other type of pattern worth mentioning is a complex pattern. This is a pattern that is made up of several motifs and uses a different combination of patterns in the same composition.

7.  The Principle of Proportion

Proportion is a reference to the ratio of the size of certain elements to the whole and each other. Proportion adds a sense of unity and uniformity when all the components in the artwork interconnect well together.

Artists use proportion to create certain effects to contribute to the overall composition that is aesthetically pleasing to look at. More importantly, the composition strives to create and evoke an emotional response.

In visual art, when we talk about the principle of ratio, it directly links to the “Golden Ratio or Golden Mean”. This is one of my favourite elements I take into great consideration and implementation when creating my abstract paintings.

I have used the golden ratio a lot in my paintings and it does make a difference without actually realising it. It is almost the perfect ratio of the meaning of ‘beauty’.

There is quite a bit of maths involved, but I hope it is not too difficult to understand. The point is, it works in art and design.

The best way to understand and physically see the golden ratio effect is by experimenting with painting the same object in different ratios.

I will give one simple secret. Check the ratio of the width and length of your canvas or paper! Try it and let me know the result.

8.  The Principle of Emphasis

This is a method of highlighting the differences between the various elements of the artwork. Artists use many different techniques to highlight certain elements to make them stand out.

This is a technique used to attract attention to specific areas within the artwork, e.g. the centre of interest in the composition.

I create art to tell a story and all great stories have heroes, or at least, main characters. I use the emotional power of colours to create heroes in my stories, but not necessarily a person. A particular colour or object can serve as the main hero in the visual artwork.

I prefer to create colours, shapes and lines to represent the personal characteristics and personality of my hero. But how do I help my viewers to find my hero and read my story?

The simple answer is emphasis. Emphasis is one of the principles of abstract art that helps viewers to create their own stories not necessarily mine.

I may create several areas of interest just to give the viewer greater flexibility to choose his /her own focal point of interest to find their own interpretations.

I believe all art, including abstract non-representational art, is about the artist and the viewer. I create art to tell my story, but at the same time, I would encourage the viewer to make his/her own story inspired by the artwork.

One of my favourite videos is a BBC documentary that explains in greater and more interesting detail about abstract art: The Rules of Abstraction. The documentary is made up of six fascinating parts and covers the elements and principles of abstract art.

Why are the elements and principles of abstract art important?  

The importance of the elements and principles of abstract art applies to almost all other types of visual art. They are important to both, the artist as well as the viewer.

Here are some examples of the importance of the elements and principles of abstract art:

• To the artist, understanding the elements and principles of abstract art applies as a guide to building a piece of art. These are the building component to structuring the work. Without them, it may not be possible to create visual art.
• The knowledge and understanding of the elements and principles help the viewer to gain a better insight into the making of the artwork as a composition or perhaps the narrative and meanings of the artwork.

It helps the viewer to appreciate how the artist created the artwork. However, it may not necessarily help to like the artwork. Just mere appreciation of the making of the artwork itself.

• A visual work of art begins with the elements of art as building blocks. Secondly, the elements must fit within the guidelines of the principles of art to make some sense of it. The elements and principles of art must also work effectively together to create a meaningful composition.

Composition in visual art is the main target. It is what makes or breaks a piece of artwork. Composition in abstract art does not necessarily mean aesthetically beautiful, but it must be able to evoke emotions – the viewer’s emotion.

What is the relationship between the elements and principles of art?

You probably will find a lot of emphasis, explanation and discussion about the relationship between the elements and principles of abstract art in almost any visual art subject.

A great deal of emphasis is also placed on the importance of the elements and principles of art in making art.  

Whilst I do not dismiss their importance in constructing a piece of artwork, it is worth highlighting that the principles of abstract art do not necessarily lead directly to creating good art.

Creating good or great art requires a different talent. That talent must come from deep inside our feelings.

(I have written an article about what is a great painting. A great abstract painting is not as easy as some may think).

Several artists and abstract artists, including myself, break all or some of the rules of the elements and principles of abstract art. However, to break a rule, you must understand that rule before you break it.

This may be contradictory to highlighting the importance of the principles of abstract art. But, being knowledgeable of what they are will help you to effectively know their importance in making an artwork.

Such knowledge will enable you to decide which one to use or not to use in order to make your art. Nothing happens haphazardly, in my opinion.

Personally, I do not like rules or to follow rules. But I need to understand them to know how I can manipulate them effectively.

Effectively means I can get my message across. Better still, is to allow the viewer to freely interpret his/her own thoughts without having to learn and understand the unnecessary complication of the art world.

Art is for everybody. It is a simple expression of life experiences. It does not need any art or academic complications and rules.

(If you are interested to make your own abstract painting, you may be interested to look at this article about making your abstract paintings).

By the way, the elements and principles of art are a recent creation by the art world elites and academics. It was triggered by the huge interest in art-making over the last couple of decades.

Usually, artists do not consciously or subconsciously apply the elements and principles of art to create meaningful artworks. These may apply to modern design and advertising applications. However, they are not a way of artistic natural creativity.

True artists are not designers trying to manipulate visual elements or principles consciously through psychological research or science.

True artists and abstract artists create art to express genuine and original feelings, ideas and messages.

I know this might sound contradictory to highlight the importance of the element and principles of art and at the same time to question their importance in creating good or great art.

However, I think this is the beauty of the freedom of artistic expression without rules.

The principles of abstract art are a huge subject to cover in one article. There are also other principles of abstract art that I have not covered in this article. All the elements and principles of art aim to create specific centres of interest in art and design.

I would welcome your comments and thoughts.