Have you ever seen an abstract piece of art, and think to yourself “I could make that”?
While I don’t doubt your artistic talent, or your ability to slap some lines and blobs of colorful paint on a canvas, it’s a lot harder than you think, to create an aesthetically pleasing piece of abstract art!
I know I, myself, struggled for years with trying and failing to create pieces of abstract art that I actually wanted to hang on my walls and look at for longer than 2 days.
So, after careful consideration, I’ve compiled a list, below of tips to help you create the perfect piece of abstract art.
Choose your colors before you begin painting
Sometimes it’s easy to think that because you’re doing an abstract you can use as many different colors as possible.
I’ve found that, in my experience, it’s best to limit yourself to 4 different colors. I like to use 3 colors that are within the same color family, and 1 color that is darker than the rest (such as black or dark blue), that will really make my picture pop.
Be mindful of white space
When creating an abstract piece, white space isn’t your enemy, and it also shouldn’t be your main goal to cover every single inch of white space.
White space can be a good thing sometimes, and can also work to your advantage. I would recommend you use it to highlight certain sections of your piece that you want to stand out the most!
Plan the shape of your abstract piece, before you get started
I think it’s really important to have a clear vision of the shape you want your piece to take on. Do you want it to cover the entire canvas, from corner to corner? Do you want it to be in the center of your canvas, in a circular shape? Do you want it to be in the shape of a heart, or rectangle? Or a rectangle AND heart?
These are all important things to consider, so that you know how far towards the edge of your canvas to work and also, so you can account for your white space and plan ahead, which colors go where.
Don’t be afraid to use multiple techniques
When it comes to abstract, there are no rules! So get creative, use wavy lines, straight lines, dots, shapes, or anything you can think of.
The only recommendation I would make when it comes to using techniques is that you at least have some idea in your head about what kinds of strokes or shapes you’ll be using.
In the past, I ‘ve decided to just start painting without an idea in mind and I always ended up with the same painting: a big yellowish, greenish pukey blog, without many color or shape variations.
Know when to stop painting
Trust me, I know better than anyone, when you’re painting and really into what you’re creating, sometimes it’s hard to know when to stop. You get into full Picasso mode and you’re so in love with the piece you’re working on that you just want to make it better and better and BETTER!
Please remember, sometimes, less is more and when you’ve created something you’re super satisfied with, it’s often better to quit while you’re ahead
Let loose!
Sometimes when creating art, it’s really easy to get so caught up in making something beautiful that you forget to let go and give yourself artistic freedom to just express yourself.Don’t get so caught up in making the perfect paint stroke or the perfect combination of color, just enjoy what you’re doing and put a little of yourself into the painting. After all, isn’t the best piece of art the kind that shows the viewer who you are?
I hope these tips were helpful!
Below is a piece I worked on earlier today! I hope you enjoy.
Please feel free to drop me a comment below, I look forward to hearing from you. Also, don’t forget to follow me, for more simple crafts and art tips!
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