Blog

One of my most read blogs is one that I wrote several years ago. Blog readers from all over the world seem to want to know what makes "good" abstract art. 

Recently, I have been asked by an art center to speak about my abstract painting that is hanging there. Since I wrote this blog many years ago, I read it again this morning to see what my thoughts were at that time. Not much has changed,

Many abstract paintings have sold for countless millions of dollars since I wrote this piece. How were they determined to be good, or in their case, great? Was it only the name and reputation of the artist that sold the piece?  If so, how was their work determined to be "good" as their art career progressed?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this, and a multitude of people from around the world would, too, according to the continual hits my old blogs still gets, many years after writing. 

The following is what I wrote:

What appeals to me in abstract art you might not be attractive you, but that’s true for realism as well, so how is it decided what is “good” abstract art and who determines if it is “good”?

My blog readers, I ask for your help. I hope some of you can help me to understand abstract art. I have section on my FASO website that I call ’Conceptual’ where I stable my wild beasts of emotional art. These abstract pieces are not what I am known for. Putting aside my more analytical self, I call on emotion to dictate what goes on to the canvas. Since I am a colorist, the color in my conceptual pieces is my connection to my other work. If you look at my artwork as a whole, color is what unites my paintings.

In my last blog,   “The Pyramid Of Knowledge Is Always Growing” I explain how I try to always grow in my art awareness. Usually there are basic guidelines to follow when starting a new medium, technique or genre. However, I am at a loss when it comes to abstract art.  Classical music guides the rhyme of my brushwork.  My innate color sense directs the choice of paint selection. I get the painting to a point where I feel like I have accomplished what I wanted to do. However, how do I know if it is “good”? Nothing that I have found on the Internet, so far, helps me to appraise my abstract art. Have you come across some webpages that explain how abstract art can be evaluated?

In painting a portrait, human or animal, mistakes in proportion are very obvious, even to the untrained eye. Landscapes have rules of perspective to follow. How do I grow as an abstract artist if I don’t know what the rules are? How can I tell if I am making progress?  Ultimately, how will I know if a gallery would like my artwork? Are there certain guidelines that they follow in accepting abstract paintings?

Abstract art reminds me of math. When I was tutoring math, I really disliked the ‘guess and check’ method. Give me a formula any day. I don’t like guessing if something is right, I want to know the procedure to make it right. If someone tries to move an object that I have painted in one of my trompe l'œil paintings, I know that I have completely fooled them into thinking that the object was real, so I have met my goal. But what I am to look for in my abstract pieces that let me know that I have created something of merit?

Jellyfish Abstract combines my love of science and art. When we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California I saw the most beautiful complementary colors in the jellyfish exhibits. The unique patterns of the long trailing tentacles of this  particular jellyfish on display were inspiring. Instead of crafting a scientific illustration of this curiously created creature I chose to give my impression of it through an abstract interpretation.

Maybe there are no rules when it comes to abstract art. What do you think?