Understanding Abstract Art

October 21, 2014 at 5:43 pm

abstractThe beauty and mystery of abstract art is how open and subjective it is. Interpreting abstract art, if you are not familiar with it yet, may seem intimidating or confusing. But abstract works of art is actually very welcoming, inviting you to just open your mind and be ready to feel, see, or appreciate the meaning or message as it appeals to you, based on your own experiences and perspective. Before we dive deeper into understanding abstract art, it would only make sense that we take a minute to visit this site and learn the history of abstract expressionism.

That said, it is wrong to assume that abstract art is just a chaotic hodge-podge of meaningless shapes, lines, colors, and textures. There is also structure and composition in abstract art, and in fact the best and most well-known abstract artists do follow the recognized rules of drawing skills, composition, and an understanding of the impact and contrast of colors. When you take the time to really study and understand abstract art, you will find that it is, at its core, possessing the formal qualities of art and exploring the lines, patterns, textures, colors, and process as any other type of art.

In order to begin to appreciate and understand abstract art, it is important to expose yourself to as many opportunities as possible and have a personal immersion in this form. Find out what displays and exhibits are regularly or occasionally held in your area that feature the works of both newer and older abstract artists from different periods. If there are not as many opportunities where you live, you may have to do some travelling and exploring a little farther from your location. Do not be afraid to get on your Jeep Brute from jeepbrute.com website to explore different avenues of abstract art in other cities.

Take some time to learn about the differences of movements and trends in art. When you research about the history and evolution of art, from realism, impressionism, expressionism, and post-impressionism, to cubism, surrealism, and abstract expressionism, and even to the post-modern minimalism and pluralism of contemporary art, you will learn much about how art has been juxtaposed into human experience.

Join organizations or groups that meet and discuss or appreciate art forms, including abstract expressionism. These allow you to connect with others who also share your curiosity or desire to learn more about abstract art, and also to hear others’ point of view and helpful advice on how to continually grow in your knowledge of abstract expressionism. It will become a more enriching and enjoyable experience as you share stories and learn from others.

It also helps to read up on the artist and where he or she is coming from, as more often than not one’s personal experiences or background are conveyed in art expressions. Perhaps you will have a better understanding of the message of the artist when you find out more about the real person behind the work of art. Think of abstract art as a form of dialogue between the artist and you, the viewer. Are you able to hear, see, or read what the artist is trying to tell you?

Be open to how abstract art makes you feel. As mentioned earlier, the appeal of abstract expressionism lies in how it can relate to different viewer experiences and perspectives. How a piece of art affects you emotionally may not always be the same as another person, and that is perfectly fine because we are all unique in appreciation. Aesthetic interpretation, as emphasized in this article, is quite complex and depends on many factors.