Embarking on the journey of creating abstract art is akin to navigating an uncharted landscape, where intuition, emotion, and spontaneity converge to form a visual language that transcends literal representation. This process is deeply personal and varies among artists, but common threads such as inspiration, experimentation, and reflection often weave through the creative tapestry.
Inspiration: The Genesis of Creation
The inception of an abstract piece often stems from a profound internal or external stimulus. For many artists, personal experiences, emotions, and memories serve as catalysts for creation. For instance, abstract artists frequently draw from a variety of sources, blending personal experiences, emotions, nature, and conceptual ideas into their work.
Similarly, Caroline Kent’s work is heavily influenced by her rich Mexican heritage and personal experiences, which she translates into abstract forms to depict a new mode of communication.
Experimentation: Navigating the Unseen
Once inspired, the artist embarks on a path of experimentation, allowing intuition to guide the process. This phase is characterized by improvisation and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. Kent, for example, allows experimentation and improvisation to direct her painting process, leaning into the logic and practice of intuition.
This approach fosters a dynamic interplay between control and chance, leading to the emergence of unforeseen forms and patterns.
Material Engagement: Dialogues with Mediums
The choice and manipulation of materials play a pivotal role in the abstract creative process. Artists often engage in a tactile dialogue with their mediums, allowing the inherent properties of materials to influence the direction of the artwork. Joan Snyder, known for her textured and multi-layered canvases, incorporates diverse materials such as fabric, straw, lentils, and flowers, creating works that significantly interact with their surroundings.
Similarly, Susan Aaron-Taylor utilizes natural and man-made materials, such as gemstones, pieces of metal, teeth, and bone, to create her abstract sculptures, drawing inspiration from alchemy and personal experiences.
Reflection: The Mirror of the Soul
Throughout and after the creation process, reflection serves as a crucial component, allowing artists to derive meaning and direction from their work. This introspective practice often leads to personal growth and a deeper understanding of one’s creative impulses. For instance, Ms. Keay, an art teacher who struggled with burnout, found solace and rekindled her passion by working in the school’s art room, rediscovering art not just as a skill but as a form of meditation and emotional release.
This self-discovery led her to incorporate meditation into her practice and share her experiences through mindful art workshops.
Community Engagement: Collective Creation
In some instances, the abstract creative process extends beyond the individual, encompassing community participation. Artists like Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan create community-involved installations, inviting audiences to co-create and reflect on concepts such as home and the effects of deforestation. Their piece, Reflections/Habitations, features a toppled tree sculpture made from timber beams and cardboard sculptures created by visitors, encouraging participants to engage in the creative process.
Conclusion: The Ever-Evolving Journey
The creative process behind abstract art is a deeply personal and evolving journey, marked by inspiration, experimentation, material engagement, reflection, and sometimes community involvement. It is a process that not only results in a visual artifact but also fosters personal growth, emotional release, and a deeper connection to one’s inner world and the broader community. As each artist navigates their unique path, they contribute to the rich and diverse tapestry of abstract art, offering viewers an opportunity to engage with works that transcend conventional representation and evoke profound emotional responses.
