What is Abstract Art?

Joan Miro's Bleu II - Centre Pompidou, Paris, France

Have you ever stared at an abstract painting and exclaim "I can do that!" and then asked yourself what is the main purpose of abstraction in art? What is the story?

I believe that abstract is the opposite of telling a story, but to encourage involvement and imagination. This art form has as its main objective to provide viewers with an intangible and emotional experience, being completely different for each individual, depending on their personality and mood.

What makes a good abstract painting? Abstract paintings can also be appreciated in terms of the individual elements of art: colour, shape, line, texture, space, value, etc. An abstract artist's skills lie in his or her ability to use colours and textures to their best visual strength and to create a sound composition from these elements.

The next time you come across an abstract piece of art, rather than trying to figure out what it looks like, just allow yourself to be taken in. See what emotions, sensations or memories emerge. Let your eyes relax and travel around the piece without expectation. Examine the colors, forms, materials, surface, and how they interact with each other.

You can even ask yourself the following questions:

• Is there a distinct mood?

• Does it make you think about anything?

• Does anything jump out at you?

• How does it make you feel?

• What did the artist say about the piece?

If you enjoyed this article or want to continue the discussion of Abstract Art leave a comment below!