SUBJECT TREATMENT IN ABSTRACT ART, PART 1

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Subject treatment or approaches to creating an abstract or non objective art piece can still be described by the qualities displayed in the work, whether or not the viewer responds to the imagery intended by the artist, or whether it actually contains objective subjects.

Representation of three dimensions in a painting or art work that is flat is only an illusion. A composition may be described as an attempt to reproduce the effect of three dimensions or not. Either approach may be attempted in abstract art, even without recognizable or objective imagery. Much of abstract art has to do with the interplay of characteristics of dimension. 

The elements of design have to do with  the two dimensional aspect of the layout within the picture plane.

Organic Non-objective Composition

The success of abstract art depends directly upon the execution of good aesthetic characteristics, and the study of composition at an early stage of the work is more needed, than when the artist is using nature, and recognizable imagery in creating a piece of art, because with realism, familiarity with a subject often includes an intuitive sense about compositional principles. The study of composition while dealing with realistic subjects can be delayed but not so easily if working with non objective art work.

Organic composition includes shapes, and lines generally found in nature. Usually these elements  are irregular in character. Although completely organic, the above composition seems to lie completely on a flattened surface, (two dimensions) as if looking at it from above or from across a room. There is no attempt to create depth or represent three dimensions in this piece.  Perhaps this is why abstractions work so well in large interior spaces. Note the quiet areas near the edge of the composition, without actually using a mat, spacer or complex frame so that it effectively contains the composition within the central area.

Describing types or approaches of creating abstract art will be the focus of the next few blogs. Study of the characteristics of various works may increase the awareness of the artist or reader, as well as my own, and with it, greater awareness of aesthetics in good composition.

Writing and art work are the Copyright © of Ruth Zachary.