Abstract Art

Inspiration & Exploration

Start by looking at abstract art without trying to understand it — just feel it. Spend time on Google Arts & Culture browsing works by Wassily Kandinsky, Mark Rothko, and Joan Miró. Visit the Utah Museum of Fine Arts on the University of Utah campus, which has free student admission and rotating abstract exhibits. Watch Nerdwriter1's YouTube video "How Abstract Art Explains the Modern World." Notice what draws your eye: color, shape, texture, or movement. Write down three words that describe how each piece makes you feel. You're ready for the next step when you can look at an abstract painting and name at least three things you notice — without saying what it "looks like."

Tools & Techniques

Abstract art can be made with almost anything, but starting with the right tools makes experimentation easier. Pick up a pad of mixed-media paper, a set of acrylic paints (or watercolors), and a few flat and round brushes in different sizes. Watch the YouTube channel Painting with Jane, specifically her abstract painting tutorials for beginners. Download the free app Canva to experiment with digital color palettes before you put paint on paper. Try mark-making exercises: dots, drags, splats, and scrapes using a palette knife or even an old credit card. You're ready for the next step when you've made at least ten different marks on paper and can name the tool you used to make each one.

First Creations

Make your first abstract piece with no plan — just put color on paper and see what happens. Set a 20-minute timer and fill an entire page using at least three colors. Don't try to make it look like anything. Try one piece using only warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) and another using only cool colors (blues, greens, purples). Look up "intuitive painting for beginners" on YouTube and try one technique you see. Photograph both pieces and look at them the next day with fresh eyes. You're ready for the next step when you have two completed pieces and can point to one thing you like in each — even if it's just a single brushstroke or color combination.

Style Development

Now you start developing your own visual language. Look back at your first pieces and ask: What do I keep coming back to — texture, bold color, soft blending, geometric shapes, or wild lines? Pick one approach and make three pieces exploring just that. Watch the YouTube channel Fluid Art World if texture and movement appeal to you, or look up Erin Hanson (a Utah-based painter known for "open impressionism") for inspiration on bold color choices. Try limiting yourself to only two or three colors per piece — constraint often sparks creativity. You're ready for the next step when you can describe your emerging style in one sentence, like "I like loose, layered marks in earthy tones."

Refine Your Craft

Dig into the concepts behind abstraction. Read "The Art Spirit" by Robert Henri or explore the free online course "Modern Art and Ideas" from MoMA on Coursera. Study how artists like Cy Twombly used gesture, or how Hilma af Klint used spirituality as a framework. Experiment with adding layers — let one layer dry, then paint over it so earlier marks peek through. Try scraping away wet paint with a palette knife to reveal color underneath. Share a piece in an online community like the subreddit r/learnart and read the feedback without defensiveness. You're ready for the next step when you can explain one specific technique you're using and why you chose it.

Portfolio Piece

Create one intentional portfolio piece — your best abstract work so far. Plan it before you start: choose your palette, decide on your primary technique, and set an intention or emotion you want to convey. Work larger than you have before if possible (at least 11x14 inches). When it's finished, photograph it in good natural light and write a 3–5 sentence artist statement explaining your choices. Consider submitting to the Utah Arts Festival open call or sharing in SLCTrips to inspire other creators in the community. You're ready for the next step when you have one finished piece you'd be proud to show someone, plus a written statement that explains your creative decisions.