What I've learnt about Abstract Art
I was wandering around my apartment (because I have good reasons to do that…), and saw the old paintings on the wall in our living room that has been with us since… when I was a kid? So I decided that I would add something new.
I’ve never really learnt abstract art, because I thought they don’t have to be learnt. All the classic jokes about abstract art, I’ve already heard of and laughed with them before. Most art exhibitions didn’t amuse me. Honestly, I thought they were boring.
A few months after I quit my job, I was sketching in daylight to do some studies and practices. After 2 hours in the sun, I came back indoors and noticed I had a black dot in my eye. This black dot is still with me today. They are eye floaters. I didn’t take it well, because I believed sight is quite important to an artist.
Anyhow, I was more aware of my eye health since. I was looking for a way that allows my eyes to rest, but doesn’t stop me from doing art.
Why not try some abstract art that requires no thought at all?
Turned out, it was quite enjoyable. I was able to set my mind free, and let the colours move about the canvas wherever my arms wished. Abstract art was not so difficult after all. Later I realized I was just lucky.
Acrylics on canvas (78 x 51 cm). Test draft.
So I had this idea that I would give my apartment some new paintings. I wanted to put one above the fish tank, and one above our sofa. I started with the fish tank painting.
I wanted to have a clash of warm and cool colours, since the fish tank area is cool (the white light we use to light up the tank), and the sofa area is warm (our house lights are warm lights). Everything was going well so far.
Then I kept on adding more paint, and adding more, and more… I ended up with a disaster.
I absolutely ‘just splash paint’ on the canvas. There are no colour coordination, no composition, the movement is everywhere… It was a failure, but a good lesson learnt.
Abstract art do need a bit of planning and thinking. If I had no foundational knowledge of art, I would have been able to complete the pink one at first.
I took another good look at my living room. I observed the environment, picked out the colour palettes that complimented the surroundings, and drafted a few compositions before I land my first brush stroke on the new canvas. From time to time, I would stop, step back, look at the canvas as far away as possible, and go back in and make changes or add colours slowly and patiently.
I followed these steps for both paintings, and below are the results:
Above fish tank. Acrylic on canvas ( (60 x 100 cm).
Living room above sofa. Acrylics on canvas ( (92 x 184 cm).
Abstract art is not about splashing paint on a canvas, or putting random objects together and call it done. Abstract art is just like another piece of art, but removed of solid form. We humans have a lot of perceptions in the society, and often times our thinking are kept inside a box. When we remove the form of what we ‘took for granted’ seeing, we are given a new perspective. ‘Sight’, may not be so important to an artist after all.
One of the reasons why abstract art is so popular in hotels, homes or interior settings, is because it gives us space to develop personal connection with the surroundings. The paintings don’t tell you what it is, but rather, let your mind soar in the colours and mysterious shapes and movements. This art form creates a mood, a feeling, and it speaks to us directly.
Abstract art is not easy. The artist has to understand form, movement, colour and composition to make good abstract art. I now get a glimpse of the true enjoyment of abstract art, and I’m going to love it more as I continue to learn and explore them.
You can watch the painting process for BOTH abstract art if you are interested! Also available on Youtube.
SIDE NOTE: If any of you are interested in commissioning me for an abstract painting, please do not hesitate to contact me!