Abstract Art: Types, Techniques and Facts

Importance of Art

The word art is not definable in words. There are infinite ways to put it and express its meaning. Drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramic art or fine art, any kind we pick, it has its own essence and beauty. Those who are fond of art know the value of elegance, skill, and passion it demonstrates. Art cannot be a profession unless a person has inborn skills and enthusiasm to practice it which makes him an artist. Abstract art is a kind of art that cannot be perceived by everyone. It’s something that we cannot see but feel because the maker of this artist draws what they feel. If there’s any viable medium to put our abstract feelings on a concrete object, then it’s only abstract art that does the job.

Historical Background of Abstract Art

Abstract art as per the oldest records came into being by the end of the 20^th century. It’s totally opposite to the other art what we call “representational”, where a person draws what they see around in their real life, like drawing a portrait of a person sitting in front, or drawing anything existing in the world which has a form, shape, and visibility. Abstract art is nonfigurative. It’s intangible not in a direct sense, as in the art itself is abstract, but the source of its presentation is, of course, tangible.

Historically, abstract art was widely practiced during various popular movements like Fauvism, Cubism, Dadaism, etc. Primarily, a movement called impressionism in France marked the beginning of abstract art. It was about expressing the moment visually using light and color.

Also Read: Concept of Graphic Design

Types of Abstract Art

There are a number of types of abstract art like Suprematism, Neo Plasticism and Art Informel and each one integrates its own ways to present the abstract. They can be found in the creations of many famous artists like Piet Mondrian and Pablo Picasso. Using dots to create things is also a technique of abstract art called pointillism.

After the Second World War when people from Europe migrated to the USA, the Americans began adopting abstract art from the Europeans and it developed into entirely a new form post-American Art Movement in 1940.

Techniques of Abstract Art

Abstract art doesn’t involve fine details. One just creates something like an impression with the help of colors, shapes. An important technique of abstract art is mixing. By mixing two or more colors, the art gets a new dimension and meaning. Mark Rothko was an artist famous for his abstract art technique of layering which is evident in all his paintings. He wouldn’t mix the colors, rather would layer them right on the painting giving it entirely a unique texture. Now the technique of layering is still used in normal art as well. Another technique is to pour the colors on the painting and let them arbitrarily spread on the canvas. It further intensifies the depth of abstract art.

Those who are into abstract art can tell from looking at the art piece if it was drawn with pleasure or sorrow. Abstract art reflects the artist’s emotions. It is an art by which one jots down the unseen, unfelt and unrevealed.

Facts about Abstract Art:

• The World Wars changed a lot of things about art and the poetics of it; abstract art is one of them.
• The movement of abstract art is also called abstract expressionism.
• The abstract expressionism is somewhat similar to a movement called Futurism that was originated in the early 1900s in Italy. Giacomo Balla was one of the of major artist of Futurism.
• Suprematism was known as the most extreme style of Abstract Art. Russian artist Kasimir Malevich practised suprematism with his paintings.
• William de Kooning, a famous abstract artist, came to America as a stowaway on a boat.