understanding abstract art
what is abstract art?
Abstract art is a popular contemporary style of painting. There are many different variations of abstract art. The general understanding is that abstract art does not depict anything in the natural world and the subject is simply a visual language of color and form. While this is true of non-representational abstract art, this is simply not true for all abstract art. The word "abstract" means a departure from reality, but this departure can sometimes be only a slight one. Creating abstract art for the artist can be an expressive means to channel creative energy and emotion however slight the abstraction. The action of painting is actually considered therapy and very meditative for many abstract artists who enjoy the freedom the abstract painting process brings.
Many people collect abstract art simply to beautify their surroundings with intrigue. They often feel a connection with the colors, the forms, texture, or energy that the abstract art gives off. The abstract artwork changes their living space and creates an atmosphere entirely new. The beauty of abstract art, both for the artist and the viewer, is that anyone can take what they see and interpret it however they want. Abstract art is a non-traditional free art form that resonates with the feelings and emotions of today's contemporary artists and art collectors.
the need for expression using abstract art
As human beings we create nothing of our own, but only partake in the great creative process as conduits. So the creative position of the artist is a humbling one. The artist is essentially a channel. This can't be any more obvious than in the abstract expressionist artist creating abstract art.
As you probably know, abstraction indicates a departure from reality. The need to produce and be a part of something other than the "real world" is a natural desire especially in bad times. In Europe before the 19th century abstract paintings weren't even considered art. And it wasn't until World War II that the Americans experimented with abstract art or perhaps just found a need for this new form of expression. Jackson Pollock was at the helm of this new direction later called abstract expressionism.
While caught in the moment, a modern abstract artist is often times unaware of just exactly what he or she is creating. Exploration, uncertainties, and emotions all play out on the canvas. Pollock once said, "My method of painting is a natural growth out of a need. I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them." So for the expressionist, the visual outcome is important, but so too is the entire action of painting. The action is like therapy for some. It is a means to channel feelings that need to be expressed for whatever the reason.
People question whether many modern abstract paintings are actually fine art. It's hard for some to get past the sometimes carefree appearance and non traditional methods of applied paint and foreign matter that exist in today's contemporary art. But at the same time there is a huge following for abstract art. Perhaps the intrigue comes from a simple truth that abstract art is a very raw and unique visual language, appealing both in its form and substance from which it came.
abstract landscape paintings - painting from the inner light
The Impressionists were a genre of artists from the 19th century whose intent was to capture the effects natural light had on the landscape. To achieve this, they set their easels up outdoors. They called themselves "en plein air" artists which is a French expression that means "in the open air." Some believe that painting outdoors expresses nature in a fuller way and allows the artist to capture the needed vibrancy and spontaneity in their work. Today the contemporary landscape artists are very much still "en plein air" artists, but there are a group of landscape artists that, while painting indoors, paint a light from a slightly different source.
These landscape artists tend to create work that is abstract or slightly abstract. And to understand their source of light, you have to understand the abstract artist. The abstract artist has a painting style that is all together very different. The general consensus is that the abstract artist paints from within where there is more emotional and expressive energy. So if indeed these artists are painting a light source it would make sense that they are painting not the natural light on the outer world, but an expression of the inner light from within.
Artists and critics have yet to classify all the genres of abstract art. So at this present time there does not appear to be a classification for abstract artists painting "the light from within." But what does it really mean to paint this way?
First of all, not every abstract landscape painting is a result of an artist attempting to paint an obvious light source within their work. And those that do paint this way are generally unaware as to why they are doing it other than the fact that it may look intriguing. But considering what the light source represents from those abstract landscape artists that have spoken about it in plain words, it is something very soulful and connected with the individual. One way to explain it would be to say the light represents their our own souls connection with its source.
You see, without trying to re-create reality, some abstract landscape artists go within themselves to reveal on the canvas an essence of nature and also the source of nature, all while they are aware that the two are a part of themselves. The end result is something they consider spiritual, uplifting, or possibly healing. Of course, this is not to say that "en plein air" artists do not have these same emotions when painting, it's just a different way to express the light source.
what's the difference between contemporary paintings and abstract art?
This is a basic question, and a little confusing to answer because the terms "contemporary," "modern," and "abstract" can be used interchangeably at times. Let us start with "modern art." Modern art is a classification of an art period that started around 1870 by Impressionists like Claude Monet. It is understood that modern artists are those who experimented with new ways of seeing, expressing new ideas and methods. But technically the modern art movement ended around the 1960's and 70's when the term "postmodern" started to be used and pop art became the new thing.
Abstract art is a style of painting a departure from reality and was definitely modern at the time. Abstraction in paintings started to make the scene right around the same time modern art became known because it is a painting style classified in the modern art movement. But full blown abstract paintings really started appearing early 1900's in Europe by the likes of Pablo Picasso and others in the cubism movement. Abstract art really was not created in America until the 1940's in the abstract expressionism movement with Jackson Pollock at the helm. Because abstract art is a style of painting and not a classification of an art period, abstract paintings are still being created today.
And that brings us to right now. Right now we use the term "contemporary" to define artwork as being created in our lifetime or in the current present moment. So any paintings being created right now are contemporary paintings no matter what the style. What has happened is that people generally use "contemporary art" to describe artwork from the 1970's until now. It is hard, if not near impossible to define a period while we are living in it. One might wonder, will we always use the word "contemporary" to describe the artwork being created in the present moment? Or will there be an end to the use of the word "contemporary" signifying an end of another artwork period very similarly to how "modern" was used. I don't know. But in any case, I hope this information has helped and not confused you even more.