How To Produce An Abstract Image II - From
Anarchy To Abstraction

I want to go into a little more detail of the different ways
you can approach the enigmatic task of producing an abstract.
In this article we will look at the Anarchist and the
Abstractist.

If you have an anarchistic attitude within you then abstract
art is for you. You will never run out of ideas - in fact even
if you had NO ideas then your temperament alone would find a
most fundermental mood swing or dark (and maybe on more rarer
occasions - light) moment to enrap you within its aggressive
drama and painful colours. Willem de Kooning's "Gotham News" is
a good example of anarchistic abstraction - just look at this
picture - http://www.albrightknox.org/ArtStart/sKooning.html.
Wild movement mixed with such vigorous aggression.

Anarchists tend to be wildly demonstrative in their approach to
... everything! They have the potential to be able to utilize
almost anything at hand that might provide them with
contradictory ideas and totally original materials.

However, there is a big "down" side to what might be seen as
the almost perfect abstract artist. An Anarchistic attitude
tends to come from a tremendous sense of lacking in many areas.
So things like confidence can be a very fearful barrier to the
power of a creative flow. Therefore I believe that by working
on some of the practical ideas written below obstacles like
shyness and fear can slowly be weakened until finally the real
artist begins to rise out from the depths of darkness or light
in an increasingly "louder" manner.

The Abstractist is in many ways similar to the Anarchist. The
difference here is that the Abstractist mind has a colder
capability of "seeing" completely non-representative
imaginings. And although both the Abstractist and the Anarchist
generally produce work from deep within. The Anarchist
cultivates a more physical "anti" approach, whereas the
Abstractist appears to have the knack of actually visualizing
dots, lines, and shapes when looking at every day objects.

Notice the similarities between de Kooning's "Gotham News" and
Peter Lanyan's "Wreck" - http://www.ablot.com/wreck.htm Then
take another look and seek to find any differences. "Wreck" is
very anarchistic, but there are at least two variants. First
the colours of "Wreck" give off an almost tangible "landscape"
feel. And secondly, Lanyan seems to have made decisions when
placing of lines and shapes. This is a classical abstract
attitude. Another fine Abstractist example would be Howard
Hodgkin.

OK lets practice. Get yourself a large piece of paper - any
paper ... even newspaper will do. You will need plenty of Red,
Blue, and Yellow (remember the practicals in Part I) acrylics
or cheap powder paints will be fine. A one fairly thin paint
brush, and one fairly thick. With the first attempt do not
"think" of anything other then lines. Place the paints in easy
reach for you to work quickly. Ready? Thin brush first - dip it
deep into any colour then quickly bring the brush into contact
with the paper - do not stop moving. Move in any direction.
Paint faster. Paint one continual line. As soon as the brush
starts to run dry dip it into paint - any of the colours. Keep
doing this until you have filled the paper with a mass of
scribbles. Try this about five or six times - not caring what
is produced (you can throw it away - no one needs to see it ...
or you might want to frame it!).

Now repeat the above practical only this time try using what is
sometimes called "short stroke" - which is precisely that.
Rather than one continual line, produce lots of short lines -
you decide on the length. But make sure you are still acting as
though it is one continual line - you are just lifting the brush
at the appropriate time. Repeat this a few times.

Next decide which you felt more at home with. Produce another
image in that way only this time look for shapes. When you see
one, load your brush and paint the outline of the shape - very
quickly. Finally get the thick brush and load it with a colour
and roughly fill in the shape. Carry on mark making - even if
it runs over any painted shapes.

Finally try again with line and shapes, and this time adding
something else - you decide. If you really cannot think of
anything try choosing any of the following: Screwing up the
whole paper, then unfolding it and carrying on painting; rip or
cut holes into the paper - and carry on painting; spatter (a
well used favourite) paint onto the paper; find rice, spagetti,
sand, earth, dust ... anything - pour it or sprinkle it - then
carry on painting ... the list is endless.

Of course you might not be at home with this ... too messy you
might say. Then, perhaps you might be a Surrealist - or maybe a
Visionary ... that will be the next article.


About The Author: Tim Seaward is the author of "How to produce
an abstract image II - From Anarchy to Abstraction". He is also
a practicing fine artist living and working in the UK. Visit his
site to find out exactly what he paints. http://www.ablot.com or
mailto:tim[at]ablot.com (replace [at] with @)