Make an Abstract Painting

Hello everyone! Today, as a change from the usual, I propose we dive into the world of abstract art. Through this article, I will offer different lines of thought so that you too can easily create abstract works!

Prepare all your equipment... but most importantly, a good dose of creativity: off we go!

What is abstract art?

Before getting started, it is useful to understand what abstract art really is. Unlike figurative art, which seeks to represent the real world (a landscape, a body, an object, etc.), abstract art completely detaches from it. It does not show things as we see them, but reinvents them through shapes, lines, colors, or textures.

The abstract does not seek to "resemble" anything. What matters is what the image makes you feel. A composition of spots, rhythms and/or contrasts can evoke anger, joy, calm, movement... or just a pleasant visual sensation.

In other words, abstract art is about expressing without representing. It opens the door to all freedoms, you don't need to be good at drawing, you just need the desire to explore, to experiment, to feel.

To better understand this, I suggest we explore some very famous abstract art pieces and try to understand what the artist wanted to express through them.

Composition VIII – Wassily Kandinsky (1923)

Kandinsky wanted to create a visual language equivalent to music. He used geometric shapes, bright colors, and dynamic lines to express emotions and rhythms, without representing reality. He said that yellow "sounded like a trumpet," and blue like "a deep cello."

Broadway Boogie Woogie – Piet Mondrian (1942-43)

Inspired by the city and music, Mondrian transformed the map of Manhattan into a visual rhythm, made of yellow, red, white, and blue squares. Each element is like a musical note or a pulse of light.

Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) – Jackson Pollock (1950)

Pollock painted by letting the paint drip, splash, or flow directly onto a canvas laid on the ground. He did not aim to represent a subject, but to capture a gesture, an energy, a moment. The title "Autumn Rhythm" evokes the idea of a season, a natural and organic movement, like leaves in the wind.

No. 61 (Rust and Blue) – Mark Rothko (1953)

He sought to provoke a very intimate emotion in the viewer, like an inner echo. His large surfaces of color applied in thin layers float gently over one another. This painting, with its deep and warm tones, evokes melancholy, contemplation, and even spirituality.

So yes, some works or interpretations may seem a bit "out there"... and that's exactly the appeal of abstract art! As you can see, you don’t need to be a great draughtsman: as long as you let your sensitivity speak, you can create abstract art.

What matters here is not the technique, but the emotion, the intuition, the desire to play with shapes and colors.

The materials

Just as the works created are unique and bold, the materials you use can be too! You are free to use whatever you like, and above all, what you feel most comfortable with to express yourself.

Generally, artists have a particular appreciation for acrylic paint. It is not very expensive, offers intense and vibrant colors, and is very versatile: it can be worked in thin and light layers, or, on the contrary, in thick layers to add texture. Moreover, it dries quickly, which allows for rapid progression through the stages without much waiting.

However, there are also other interesting options depending on what you want to do: oil painting, inks, or even unconventional materials like collage, or pastels to add different textures. You can even mix mediums together!

The most important thing is to find what inspires you and helps you translate your emotions onto paper or canvas. Abstract art is an invitation to explore without limits.

Some examples of exercises for abstract drawing

We're used to creating figurative drawings, where the aim is to depict the world as we see it, so abstract art can seem perplexing, even intimidating. There's no recognizable shapes, no specific subjects... Where do you start when everything seems possible?

Don't panic! Abstract art is primarily a playground for creativity and personal expression. It's not about "doing well" or "doing something right," but about giving free rein to your emotions, feelings, and ideas.

In this section, I will propose several lines of thought through simple and accessible exercises that are designed to guide you step by step. Whether you are a beginner or accustomed to figurative art, these exercises will help you to explore shapes, colors, rhythms, and, most importantly, to unleash your creativity without pressure.

Exercise 1: Emotional Doodles

Choose a strong emotion that resonates with you at the moment, whether it's joy, anger, anxiety, nostalgia, or something else.

Take a pencil, a marker, or even a brush, and get ready to express that emotion. For 2 to 5 minutes, scribble without lifting your hand, not trying to control or to “make it pretty.”

Just let your gesture follow the flow of what you feel. Lines, shapes, and rhythms will naturally appear, without you needing to think.

This exercise invites you to connect with your inner feelings and directly translate them onto the paper, without barriers or judgment. You'll be surprised to see how much these spontaneous strokes can reveal energy and creative strength; you can even close your eyes to focus solely on your emotion.

Exercise 2: The Musical Drawing

Choose a piece of music that inspires you, whether it's classical, electronic, rock, or jazz, it doesn't matter; the important thing is that it speaks to you.

Take your brushes, your pencils, or your favorite material, and let your movements follow the rhythm of the music. Become one with the sound variations: the quiet moments, the build-ups, the silences, the accelerations...

Paint or draw without trying to precisely control your shapes, but by translating the emotions and energy that the music makes you feel.

This exercise teaches how to let your body and intuition guide the movement, which is essential in abstract art. It opens the way to spontaneous creations that are rich in expression and dynamics.

Exercise 3: Intuitive Tasks

Equip yourself with watercolor, ink, or another fluid technique. Without thinking, let your intuition guide you to create random-shaped color stains on your paper.

Do one task after another, changing the colors. Feel free to mix several shades directly on the paper to create subtle gradations or, on the contrary, sharp blocks of color.

Once your spots are dry, you can add patterns, lines, dots, or other small details to enrich your composition.

This exercise invites you to let go, to explore color and shape without constraints, to create lively and original compositions.

Exercise 4: Unintentional Mixtures

Choose multiple colors, whether they are harmonious or completely contrasting. Apply them to your medium, letting the shades blend freely, without trying to precisely control the outcome.

Focus solely on how these colors "communicate" with each other, on the emotions or impressions that this spontaneous mix evokes for you.

Let your gaze immerse itself in these interactions of colors without judgment, simply observing what reveals itself.

This exercise helps you understand the expressive power of colors and familiarizes you with the unexpected, which is an essential part of abstract art.

Succeeding in Abstract Art

So, it's a bit complicated to say when an abstract artwork is truly successful or not because it's primarily a matter of personal feeling. There are no strict rules like perspective or anatomy to adhere to.

However, here are some simple tips to help you find your way and move forward on this creative path.

Play with contrasts

Abstract art often relies on strong contrasts to captivate the eye and convey energy. Playing with oppositions such as big/small, full/empty, fluid/dry or bright/dark colors allows for the creation of visual tensions that add dynamism to your works.

These contrasts capture attention, structure your composition, and allow for the expression of powerful emotions without relying on realistic representation.

Do not hesitate to experiment with these dualities to find what works best according to your style and feelings.

Stopping at the right time

Knowing when to stop is often the most difficult part. A good simple rule to remember is to observe how your gaze moves around the composition.

If your gaze travels naturally and harmoniously throughout the image, without being drawn to or annoyed by any overly prominent detail, that's a very good sign.

On the other hand, if an area “catches your eye” or bothers you, it often means that it needs a little adjustment, balance to be restored, or softening.

Learning to sense that moment when the artwork is just finished is essential in abstract art.

Giving your work a title (or not) 

Sometimes, a poetic or abstract title can help the viewer enter your world and feel your work in a certain way.

Titles like "Calm Storm," "Sweet Dissonance," "Red Rhythm," or "Circular Silence" can evoke atmospheres, emotions, or movements without fully explaining them.

But you can also choose to leave your work untitled, silent, so that everyone can freely project their own interpretations and feelings onto it.

In abstract art, both choices are valid, depending on what you want to convey.

In conclusion, abstract art is above all a personal adventure where emotion and freedom take precedence over rules. Let yourself be guided by your feelings, experiment without fear, and above all, have fun creating works that reflect who you are.

After all, that's the beauty of abstraction! I hope you enjoyed this article! 😊

Writer and Illustrator: Chloé Pouteau