Abstract art — Art, 4–6
An artwork does not always show a recognisable thing. Colours, marks and shapes can be arranged to make an idea, feeling or visual surprise.
Art without a picture of a thing
In abstract art, you may see colours, lines, spots or shapes without seeing a house, person or animal. The artwork is about how these parts look and work together. You can still notice a mood or an idea, even when there is nothing to name.
Why make abstract art?
Sometimes you want to show a feeling or a thought, not draw an object. Abstract art gives you a way to choose marks for their colour, direction, size or energy. Artists have used it when a real-looking picture would not say what they wanted to say.
Show a windy day
Choose blue and grey crayons for the air. Draw five long, curving strokes moving in one direction. Add three small red marks that look as if they are being pushed along. There is no need to draw a tree or a cloud: the marks themselves can suggest wind.
Abstract does not mean random
You may think abstract art is just making marks without deciding anything. That is understandable because it may not show a familiar object. But you can still choose where a mark goes, how big it is and how it meets another mark; those choices make the work yours.
Abstract ideas in life
You can find abstract designs on fabrics, posters, plates and book covers. A zigzag may suggest energy, while a quiet empty area may suggest calm. When you see one, say what you notice first, rather than searching for the one correct thing it must show.
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