Abstract Drawing
Step-by-Step Introduction

What is it Abstract drawing?
It is the art of expressing a thought, feeling, or emotion without creating a realistic image on the canvas. It is much like music, in that there can be several variations of the format, and the mood of the artist can be brought through similarly through certain visual styles.

Take, for example, a song on the radio. The abstract emotion can be felt as the voice of the artist raises and lowers, becomes gruff with emotion, and softens after an emotional outburst. The music in the background supports the feelings being expressed with harder beats or with gentler, flowing notes. The same can be accomplished through abstract drawing. Instead of having an object that the artist is trying to capture, the artist wishes to show emotion or thought with the drawing. Colors, shading, and certain strokes of the brush can say a lot about the mood of the artist at the time the piece was completed.

For example, shades of blue that are blended together, along with a little gray, usually mean sadness or gloom. These shades may also be somewhat hushed in their appearance, without clean brush strokes differentiating between the hues. However, a painting covered in red and orange slashes could convey anger or irritation. In fact, it could even express violence in the attitude of the artist at that time.

How can you create it?
There are many different means by which to express oneself in abstract drawing. The artwork can be very geometric - much like that of Malevich, a well-known Russian abstractionist. Of course, one could also be very dramatic and unorganized, simply sweeping lines and brush strokes across the canvas with no seeming rhyme or reason. If one wishes to begin delving into abstract drawing, one method by which to start is to paint what is real. Don't involve a lot of detail - paint outlines and skimp down to nothing but shadows and shapes representing nature or a scene of some sort. Then, begin to blend the items together, doing away with all sense of reality by simply blurring the edges together to create a work of abstract art.

When working on an abstract drawing, especially in the beginning, one should not try to use too many colors. Determine the mood of the drawing that you wish to portray, and limit the palette to the colors that represent the mood of choice. For example, jealousy and greed call for shades of green and yellow, while reds and oranges are angry or upset. Blues and purples remind the viewer of sadness, and yellows and pinks are usually cheerful images.

Growing as an Abstract Artist
Study abstract artists and their works to get a better idea of the meaning behind an abstract drawing. Study Malevich, mentioned above, Kandinsky, or any number of other abstractionists. Find one that speaks to the heart through his or her work so that a true journey to the world of abstract drawing can begin in earnest. Without some study and training, it is nearly impossible to learn about a subject with as few rules as there are in regards to abstract drawing. It is simply a matter of becoming part of the community.