Make Your Own: Abstract Art
Abstract art can work in any interior thanks to its diverse visual language which predominantly uses shape, form and colour. It has been the focus of many different art movements including fauvism, cubism and since the early 1990’s, the leader of modern art. As one of the purest forms of expression, it encourages the maker to freely paint without being bound to reality and is therefore perfect if you fancy creating your own individual statement piece and getting a little creative. Before you start, let’s take a look at the key things you will need to consider.
Photo Credit: The Interior Aid
Tip 1: Consider your colour palette
Colour contributes enormously to abstract art, so build up a limited colour palette that is inspired by where you are going to put the artwork. Choose two primary colours and see what happens when you mix the two together. The general rule is to pick complimentary colours that are opposites and contrasting. With this palette established, then apply some of the visual techniques below to create impact:
Use dark versus light values, I used black versus white for the painting above in this instance
Make one of your colours the dominant one and the other subordinate
Consider using warm versus cool tones
Make one textured and the other not by using different brush strokes or changing the build-up of the paint
Contemplate making one colour transparent by watering it down and leaving the other opaque
Of course, you don’t need to incorporate every single one of these techniques but it’s important to experiment with them to see which best expresses what you are trying to achieve.
Photo Credit: The Interior Aid
Photo Credit: The Interior Aid
Tip 2: Be Intentional When you Paint
This may come as a disappointment considering abstract art is all about free expression and movement, but bear with me. Think about how you are going to use the colours chosen, different brush strokes, forms and textures to create a look that really reflects you and your interior. For this to work, you want the painting to be expressive, as an example I used a simple colour block technique to reflect how I like things to be neat and simple, but then an unsteady brushstroke where the black meets the white to maybe reflect my occasional impatience and need to have things immediately done! So, in summary:
Let every mark that ends up on the surface to reflect your choice and actions
Connect with your emotions and how you want the space to feel and put that onto the surface
Reflect your interior choices back into the artwork, take inspiration from surrounding geometry and form
Photo Credit: The Interior Aid
Tip 3: Take a Step Back
This advice is definitely valid for any painting, but make sure you occasionally take a step back and view the artwork from the distance that you will usually see it once it is hung in the space. While up close something may look just right, at a distance it may present itself as overpowering or not defined enough, so ensure you are looking at it from different perspectives and depths to create a balanced composition overall.
Photo Credit: The Interior Aid
Tip 4: The Finishing Touches
How you frame your artwork is incredibly important, you want to use a frame that doesn’t compete with the art and elevates it, allowing the viewer to see it in the best possible way. Of course, not every painting needs to be framed especially if you have continued the painting around the edges, in which case that’s a win for you, but if you need to, consider some of the following things:
Paint the frame to compliment colours used throughout the artwork
Lighter paintings may look better with thin, reflective or no frame at all
Consider if mounting your art is sympathetic to it or too distracting
If not painted on canvas, remove the glass panel to celebrate the textures and brush strokes more
Photo Credit: The Interior Aid
Share Your Creations
Hopefully the advice above will help you to create some beautiful abstract artwork that successfully reflects you and your surroundings. I would love to see what you managed to create to please tag me in any of your creations on Instagram or share in the comments below.
Happy painting!