Generally it’s more of a springboard, and it doesn’t actually matter what the subject of the photo is; I usually abandon the reference very soon after starting. It just helps get things going.
How to start an abstract painting
I recently saw, that the question “How to start an abstract painting” got new interest. So I decided to add to this post a video about the process of starting a new large painting. Just watch how the first layers grow. If you want to see the finished painting, you will find it on Instagram here.
An artist friend asked me the other day: How do you start an abstract painting? I didn’t give her an answer yet. Now here is a series of photos that may tell a part of the story. But it is the story of these particular works. It may be quite different with other paintings I do or how others artists design their process. There are so many ways to start a new painting. Not all ways are invented by now.
How do I start an abstract painting?
When I was starting my painters journey about 20 years ago – after some very few lessons in working figurative – I was so lucky to visit a painting workshop by an Austrian artist. Her name was Fria Elften-Frenken. She lived in a beautiful kind of farmhouse on the Neusiedler Lake. She had studied in the academy of fine arts, Vienna and was well known. One of her remembered sentences was: “It took years to forget about what I learned and to start doing my own art.” Consequently she would provide us with materials but not with lessons and ideas. She was always ready to consult when we were stuck. But we had to find our own way.
Some insights into the development of “Thinking of Saint Tropez”
Trust into yourself -its all about you!
I am lucky that I had this kind of start. That was what I was looking for in art. It is this kind of freedom. It allows you to do what you want. In a way, there is no right and wrong. If it is appreciated by others is a second questions. Art is a lot about expressing yourself. Of course there are many of things to be learned. About ways you can take, materials you can use and thousand other things. But what you do, how you get there and what result comes out of it, that is your own art.
At the beginning another sentence was in my head about something artists experience: “the angst of the white canvas”. I don’t know where I had heard it and why it stuck in my head. But influenced the steps I took.
Read on how I handled that „Angst“ and watch the beginning of a large painting
My very first act in that lovely farmhouse garden was „to paint it black“. No more angst of white canvas that might have ask for perfection. From this move I learned a lot!
70 way – no, some ways – to start an abstract painting
One beginning is to start with paint that has been left over from another painting. I turn the painting, to change perspective and to build a new harmony from another angel. This helps me to open up my view and to leave ideas that occur too early. I make a photo to see it from a greater distance, to see what is strong and what is weak. Sometimes I take a larger brush and some paint and close my eyes before I make a bold movement. This way new discussion point is evolving. Something new has to be handled. A new crossing on my way to somewhere.
Development of “Think big , dream in color“, 160 x140 cm
What really matters at the beginning
Now I use many different ways to start a painting. However most important for me at the start is to do what ever my body and my intuition is telling me. Brain is stopped, judging is stopped, its just acting out what comes to me. With my black canvas I learned that everything is possible. You can turn a black canvas back to a white one. Nearly every mistake will be forgiven and can be a starting point for a new fascinating move.
As an example the featured three paintings are rather “straight forward” . Others undergo much more dramatic transformation. Look here to find out how that looks like: Wonder of transformation – from old to new!
Watch the beginning of a large painting
You want to watch the process of the beginning of a large painting? This is 190×100 cm and I had to work with the canvas on the earth! (no good for your back, though
Development of “Chinese Market” 160x140cm
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How to Paint an Easy Beginner Abstract Landscape: 8 Steps
This art demo and tutorial is an easy way to create a multi-layered acrylic art painting in a landscape style. Follow along with the steps below (and watch full demo video to see how I did each step).
The full materials list of products I use/recommend is listed below. You can use any colors you like, but this should be done with minimal colors used in various strengths and layers to achieve a similar effect.
Beginner abstract landscape painting demo
I’m starting with a canvas prepped with Titanium White. I used a thick coat and let the brush strokes remain, as you can see in the above photo. Let dry.
CREATE INTERESTING “LANDSCAPE HORIZON LINE”
Then use STRING GEL to create a drippy, landscape type horizon line across the center. Let thick drips remain.
Mix a little water with some string gel in a plastic container. Use a plastic spoon to drip the gel onto your canvas and then stand canvas up to let it drip a little. Let dry flat.
Let dry thoroughly.
CREATING A WARM-TONED BACKGROUND ON CANVAS
Here I used the golden yellow to create a background.
I painted on the color then used a paper towel to soften and blend. This creates a soft warm layer to paint over.
I also added some buff color (optional). This makes a softer, warm-toned background to build on.
Let your background dry thoroughly – at least 24 hours.
MIX YOUR BACKGROUND COLORS
I mixed the grey and blue and white paints.
Mix white with a little black (or use a grey). Mix the Prussian Blue with a little white; add a little grey.
Use more blue or grey as you like!
Painting the blue/grey layer. Use various strokes to create more visual interest. Use both the blue and grey colors you mixed.
HOW TO ADD A PAINTED FRAME EFFECT TO YOUR ART
Beginner abstract landscape painting demo
Add some black paint to a paper towel.
Lightly go over the textured area to leave depth and show the texture.
I also “framed” this painting with the black. I went around the outer edge, as you can see in the photo, and left a black “frame” around the entire canvas. This is optional, but nice to add a little depth/drama to you artwork.
BRIGHTEN DULL COLORS:
Adding another layer of color / yellow
Here I added a coat of my glaze mix and while still wet, I added more of my golden yellow and blended.
Blending and muting with a paper towel. Use a light hand to leave some deeper areas of color and blend and soften most of it.
DEFINING THE Horizon Line ON THE LANDSCAPE PAINTING
I added more of the Prussian Blue to my knife and worked along the horizon line and below.
I took a slightly damp paper towel and blended this on my still-wet surface. Use a light hand and leave some strong blue, some softer areas.
You can use a brush for this. I would recommend a dry flat brush.
Here is final dry art. You can see the under-textures and the blends of blues.
I finished the sides with black to match the framed area.
Final artwork | Example matted and framed.
LIST OF MATERIALS USED:
-Black Acrylic Paint (soft body) https://amzn.to/38wnWpG
-Paper towel/ palette / mister bottle of water
I love this set of “starter” acrylic paints – it has almost every color you need!
Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint Set
I like to paint on a table for smaller pieces. I paint on a utility table like this one. For larger paintings, I like to use a heavy-duty easel. This is the one I use and recommend for anything larger than 30″ x 40″ canvases. I use one like this: Large Art Easel
*Affiliate links to product I use and recommend are listed above in materials list.
Learn to paint like a pro!Acrylic art tutorials | Step-by-step video classes
How to paint with acrylics like a professional | Pro-level art tips and techniqes | Art tutorials for beginners | Beginner to Intermediate Art Classes Online | Video Acrylic Painting Tutorials | Easy Art Paintings | How to Paint Abstract Art | Modern Art Painting Class | 101artists.com
Art classes taught by KR Moehr, Artist
https://www.abstractart.live
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Vary your marks
Marks are fascinating things.
They ‘talk’ to each other, so that every one you make contributes to the conversation.
It’s up to you to create a harmonious conversation, or even a disjointed one, but one that can be ‘read’ by the viewer, even though no two people will read it the same.
I like to push myself to create as many different types of marks as I can while I’m working; it’s surprisingly hard because we fall into patterns and habits.
For example, I have a deep love and abiding habit of making vertical marks, so I have to be careful to balance that with more horizontals than I might think of making.
It’s so much fun to have that challenge running as I paint – it keeps me on my toes!
Here’s an experiment in mark making I made recently for the Touchstone course. No reference image, but that ‘path’ is showing up again! And quite a few verticals.
Use your feelings
Because abstract art doesn’t have a recognisable subject, the subject can become pure emotion.
I recently made a painting while drinking wine and dancing, and I was in the most fabulous mood while doing so. .
Here’s the painting that resulted:
It’s quite chaotic and I’ve since calmed it down a bit, but you can see and feel the exuberance I was feeling as I painted it.
So channel what you’re feeling and let it inform your painting! Obviously this can be very cathartic too.
Have a concept
Something I’ve been playing with a lot recently is the idea of painting ‘weather’.
To me that means not literally painting blue skies or rain, but the feeling that weather carries, in particular wind.
I’m not sure why – wind is my least favourite weather condition – but often when I’m painting I’ll find I’m thinking about the wind and what it ‘looks’ like. It helps keep the paintings dynamic and alive.
You might choose a less violent concept!
It doesn’t matter what it is, only that it inspires you and helps you stay focused.
Switching from one concept to another can lead to a confused and confusing painting.
Keep it simple
As a basic rule of thumb, variation and contrast are what will help make the painting interesting, especially if you’re a bit of a noob and not feeling too confident about you’re doing!
Personally I prefer paintings with more darks and lights, and a feeling of dynamic movement.
Here’s a video of me making one of my ‘almost abstracts’ – Chaos Precedes Order, which I mentioned earlier in the post – from start to finish. I sped it up or we’d be here all day.
“This video unstuck something in me. Yesterday I spent the happiest three hours painting than I have in a long time. I’m still unsure of the results but I feel freed up again, and enthused. And you know how tiresome it can be when your creativity dries up, so thank you so much for sharing that – it was very generous, I feel like I was given a gift!”
Vicki Hutchins
I hope this helps! I’m by no means an old hand at abstract painting, but I use and find every one of these points helpful, and I’m making some work I love lately.
Do you have any questions? If so, pop them in the comments and I’ll do my best to help. Or do you have any techniques that help you make abstracts? My list is by no means exhaustive so please do share your own experience!
If you enjoyed this post and are all fired up to dig deeper into your own process and practice as an artist, you might like to check out the Happy Artist Studio.
It contains 20+ courses and other resources I’ve created over the years, all focused on helping you make the art you’re here to make. Release the realism, the heavy influence of other artists, and start to build a true to you body of work, whether for your own pleasure, to move toward selling, or both.
Click here or the image on the left to find out more and join today!
