Abstract Art is Ancient & New

Abstract art is not actually new.  It was created by the earliest indigenous people all over the world. They used simple lines, shapes, and forms to communicate with symbols. Children even create abstract art. They are known to enjoy finger painting, very intuitively actually, purely for the love of color and abstract form.  But, when it comes to genres in art movements and what exists in art museums, yes, abstract art (from recognized and celebrated artists only) came into existence around the 20th century.  So abstract art is ancient, primal, child-like, but it has been accepted in fine art museums only quite recently.

Abstract Art & The Need For Expression

As human beings we create nothing of our own, but only partake in the great creative process as conduits.  So the creative position of the artist is a humbling one.  The artist is essentially a channel.  This can't be any more obvious than in the abstract expressionist artist creating abstract art.  

As you probably know, abstraction indicates a departure from reality.  The need to produce and be a part of something other than the "real world" is a natural desire especially in bad times.  In Europe before the 19th century abstract paintings were not considered fine art by the elite. And it wasn't until World War II that the Americans experimented with abstract art or perhaps just found a need for this new form of expression.   Jackson Pollock was at the helm of this new direction later called abstract expressionism.

While caught in the moment, a modern abstract artist is often times unaware of just exactly what he or she is creating.  Exploration, uncertainties, and emotions all play out on the canvas. Pollock once said, "My method of painting is a natural growth out of a need.  I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them."  So for the expressionist, the visual outcome is important, but so too is the entire action of painting.  The action is like therapy for some. It is a means to channel feelings that need to be expressed for whatever the reason.

People question whether many modern abstract paintings are actually fine art.  It's hard for some to get past the sometimes carefree appearance and non traditional methods of applied paint and foreign matter that exist in today's contemporary art. But at the same time there is a huge following for abstract art. Perhaps the intrigue comes from a simple truth that abstract art is a very raw and unique visual language, appealing both in its form and substance from which it came.

What Are Abstract Landscape Paintings?

Abstract landscape paintings are both abstract and a landscape. This method of painting can involve a great deal of creative expression either by altering scenery that exists in real life or by creating an imagined setting. The abstraction can be done without any symbolic significance or the abstraction can represent an idea and express the artists' inner emotions and feelings.

Abstract landscape paintings are intentionally different from what exists in real life. The artist has freedom to use an unrealistic color palette, exaggerate forms, and use details and texture that express just about anything the artist is feeling. Abstract landscape paintings can offer the viewer another way of seeing the natural environment. Some artists abstract the landscape by breaking it down into simple colors and shapes. Others go so far as to try and express the energy of life and nature. An abstract landscape painting can also communicate a sense of human emotion using the earth, air, fire, and water elements.

Because an abstract landscape painting utilizes characteristics from the abstract art movement it is not uncommon to find unusual materials in the painting. For example an artist can add sea shells, a leaf, sand, string, and many other materials. These paintings often have visual or tactile texture. The artist can also emphasize qualities of light in different ways by using iridescent or metallic paint.

Expressing the creative mind and spirit, abstract landscape paintings display an interwoven connection with man and nature. While the abstract landscape artist seeks to create a composition that is different and unique, there is always a subtle familiarity. It is this intrigue of strange and familiar that can capture the viewers attention and allow for a variety of interpretations. Because abstract landscape paintings share a sense of personal expression with relation to the environment , the creation of a painting can be very soulful and connected with the individual.