The free brush strokes of abstract painting are simple to replicate at home.
Abstract painting, characterized by the lack of figurative content, came into vogue in the early 20th century. Because the discipline does not require advanced drawing knowledge, abstract paintings are easy to replicate for the beginner seeking to redecorate a room with a splash of color. Many different kinds of abstract paintings exist, so look through art history books to pinpoint your favorite style.
Instructions
1. Set up your workspace in a well-ventilated area. Prop a prepared canvas onto an easel, and adjust so the canvas is at a comfortable level for your height. Pour about a cup of solvent into a glass container. Set up a small table beside you, and place the solvent, a glass or paper palette and an assortment of brushes on the table so that they are easily accessible while painting.
2. Mix your colors. Squeeze small amounts of oil paint on your palette and use a palette knife to combine the colors. If you are creating an abstract painting specifically as home decor, keep in mind the color scheme of your room. Use unadulterated primary colors, including cadmium red, cadmium yellow and cobalt blue, for a bold, brash effect, or create a subdued piece using earth tones such as burnt umber and yellow ochre. If you wish to paint the canvas a solid color other than white before beginning, mix acrylic paint in your desired tone on a separate palette and use a separate large brush that is only to be used with water-based paints.
3. Sketch out your composition on the canvas using a pencil after the base paint has dried. Both geometric patterns and free expressionistic brush strokes look equally at home in an abstract painting. If you would like to create a pattern, use circular household objects to trace circles onto your canvas, or create linear forms using a ruler or T-square. While a free form design might not necessitate a sketch, it is best to have an overall composition in mind before laying paint to canvas.
4. Cover large areas of the canvas before adding detail. Emulate the artists of the Abstract Expressionist movement, such as Barnett Newman and Willem de Kooning, by using broad sweeping motions and a large brush. Create Jackson Pollock's distinctive drip technique by laying the canvas on a flat surface and using a palette knife dipped in paint thinned slightly with solvent to splatter and drip paint onto the canvas. If you wish to emulate the neater work of Op-Artists such as Bridget Riley and Josef Albers, use medium-sized brushes to paint distinct shapes using complementary colors. If you are unhappy with any portion of the image, use a rag dipped in solvent to remove your work.
5. Let your painting dry for three to seven days, depending on how thickly you applied paint to the canvas. Ready your canvas for hanging by measuring the midpoint of the vertical stretcher boards on the inside of the canvas and screwing two mirror plates at either side.
