Abstract art uses a visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an attempt to reproduce an illusion of visible reality. The arts of cultures other than the European had become accessible and showed alternative ways of describing visual experience to the artist. By the end of the 19th century many artists felt a need to create a new kind of art which would encompass the fundamental changes taking place in technology, science and philosophy. The sources from which individual artists drew their theoretical arguments were diverse, and reflected the social and intellectual preoccupations in all areas of Western culture at that time.[2]

Abstract art, nonfigurative art, nonobjective art, and nonrepresentational art are loosely related terms. They are similar, but perhaps not of identical meaning.

Abstraction indicates a departure from reality in depiction of imagery in art. This departure from accurate representation can be slight, partial, or complete. Abstraction exists along a continuum. Even art that aims for verisimilitude of the highest degree can be said to be abstract, at least theoretically, since perfect representation is likely to be exceedingly elusive. Artwork which takes liberties, altering for instance color and form in ways that are conspicuous, can be said to be partially abstract.

Best artists in this genre:

• Jill Krasner
• Gary Reed
• Albert Hower

If you want to learn how to paint photorealism, these next few pages will walk you step by step through the photorealist painting techniques that I use to create my photorealistic paintings, such as the ones on the right.

This step-by-step guide may be an equally interesting read for non-artists who have a deep appreciation for photorealist art and want to understand how photorealist paintings are created, from start to finish. You can see more of my photorealist work on my art website.

There are many mediums an artist can use to paint (or draw) photorealistically. The most common are oils, acrylics (paintbrushed or airbrushed), watercolor, graphite, colored pencil, and pastel.

The majority of my photorealist work is done in acrylics using a paintbrush (as opposed to an airbrush), although I have used watercolor and colored pencil as well. For the purposes of this write-up, I’ll focus mainly on acrylics.

Best artists in this genre:

• Diego Fazio
• Robin Eley
• Ron Mueck

A lot of people who long to draw—but feel too intimidated to try—will rejoice at the wonderful first entry in this brand-new creative series. Written by arts educator Steven Aimone, it’s packed with solid, friendly, hands-on instruction, as well as inspiring images, and backed by the trusted AARP name.

Aimone teaches an accessible style called expressive drawing that emphasizes line and mark, rather than rendering a specific object, which for many people, can create barriers to self-expression. Exercises start off simple and quick, encouraging readers to work on instinct and feeling, while the later ones focus on detail and refinement.

The workshop examines the relationship between technique and image, the language of materials, and drawing as an end product. The focus is on the experience, the very act of drawing. The resulting work is a by product.

“We all can learn to draw: the first step is to believe we ca”. Sarah Simblet

Best artists in this genre:

• Jackson Pollock
• Kandinsky
• Gonzales

In most beginner-level art classes, the teacher gives students an example of a still life settign and just tells the students to start painting. But that doesn’t answer the dozens of questions that beginners and amateurs have about how to use watercolors. Tubes or pan paints? What kind of paper and brushes are best? Damp paper or dry? How do I get those glowing effects without creating muddy lagoons?

The Watercolor for Absolute Beginners class is different. It’s designed from the start to “build in” success, with the right paper, paints, brushes, simple exercises, and patient instruction.

It’s the right course for you if…

if you’ve never painted before and you are sure that you “have no artistic talent”

if you’ve tried watercolor, but “just made a big mess”

if you’ve had some success with watercolor, but don’t know how to create the effects you’ve admired in watercolor books or in galleries

Unlike acrylics or oils, watercolor paints have a mind of their own — rich and juicy, yet unpredictable and hard to control. But learn to work with them, and they’ll do most of the work for you. You’ll study exactly how to handle the paints to get the beautiful effects only watercolor can provide.

Best artists in this genre:

• Albrecht Durer
• William Blake
• J.M.W. Turner

Painting has been one of my life’s greatest sustaining pleasures. It has enlarged my world. My goal here is to share that pleasure with you and to see painting bring out the world of creativity within you!

Oil paints have been most artists’ first choice for hundreds of years, with good reason. The colors are gorgeous, you can do anything with them and they last forever. Oil paint is slow drying so you can remove what you don’t like while it’s wet or you can paint over it when it’s dry. Oil paint is easy to use once you learn the basics. I’ve taught beginners to masters and I’ve learned that everything builds on just a few basic concepts that I will show you here.

This web site is set up to take you step by step to a finished painting.

First learn about the materials you will need to get started.

Next learn a little basic information in easy steps.

Finally use these concepts as you paint the four exercises with me on your own canvases.

You will then have the skills to paint anything you can see or imagine.

Best artists in this genre:

• George Duschamps
• Herbert Walker
• Ronny Melloney

The group of artists who became known as the Impressionists did something ground-breaking in addition to painting their sketchy, light-filled canvases: they established their own exhibition. This may not seem like much in an era like ours, when art galleries are everywhere in major cities, but in Paris at this time, there was one official, state-sponsored exhibition—called the Salon—and very few art galleries devoted to the work of living artists.

For most of the nineteenth century then, the Salon was the only way to exhibit your work (and therefore the only way to establish your reptutation and make a living as an artist). The works exhibited at the Salon were chosen by a jury—which could often be quite arbitrary.

The artists we know today as Impressionists—Claude Monet, August Renoir, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot, Alfred Sisley (and several others)—could not afford to wait for France to accept their work. They all had experienced rejection by the Salon jury in recent years and felt that waiting an entire year between exhibitions was too long. They needed to show their work and they wanted to sell it.

Best artists in this genre:

• Claud Manet
• Renoir
• Degas