What Is Abstract Art?

Posted by Rebecca Shapiro on 23 Dec 2008 / 7 Comments

between-the-dream-times

There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterwards you can remove all traces of reality. There’s no danger then, anyway, because the idea of the object will have left an indelible mark. – Pablo Picasso

I ran across this quote today. I haven’t seen it in a while. Even though Picasso says there is no abstract art and I consider myself a painter who creates abstract art – I believe this quote is really more about the fact that abstract art must begin with something for it to have substance.

I love this quote. It describes how I work as an abstract painter. I always work from something – a model, a photo, something outside my studio window – so I can capture it’s essence much like a Haiku captures a moment in time with words.

I must start with something and then remove traces of reality rather than start with no subject at all. I’ve tried that before and my paintings end up being an exercise in decoration. When I work from something as I paint, the impression of what I began with always lives within the painting. I consider this critical to the success of a piece.

7 Comments for What Is Abstract Art?


Bridget Pilloud
December 30, 2008, 11:20 am

This is brilliant! Even if what you’re trying to express is an emotion or an abstract concept, it’s something. It’s not nothing.
I’m excited when someone sees what I see in an abstract painting.

Wendy
December 30, 2008, 11:23 am

what a great perspective! this will definitely change the way i look at abstract art (and create it!)

Lea
December 30, 2008, 11:24 am

I think that is a beautiful way to describe abstract art! Stunning painting, too!

krista colvini
December 30, 2008, 11:27 am

lovin’ the way you look at it… my eyes + heart have been open to abstract…but now my mind is on board 😉

Amrita
December 30, 2008, 11:33 am

I too, love the quote, however my take is slightly different. Many great abstract painters are painting a feeling or expression rather than an abstract rendering of a starting point that is representational. It is possible to do that and not have the result be decorative but it is very hard and rarely done well.

I found it curious too that your experience was people saying something is abstract when they don’t understand it, would love to hear about about that as I have not come across this.

Peggy Guichu
January 7, 2009, 11:18 pm

Love that piece you have up front. Work like that just churns my juices. Sends me right to work.

Lisa SB
April 26, 2009, 3:00 pm

I also start with an idea, phrase, or real world object or location. After sifting out what is not interesting I focus on what is catching my attention and try to refine that visually. If I start with nothing, I usually waste time and materials. And, I’m less sure when the piece is finished, outside of formal design elements relating to each other. Thank you for the quote.
Lisa