Fantasy abstracts are generally painted on canvas using oil paints. This makes the work look more realistic and attractive. In the 16^th century, Heironymous Bosch, a well known Dutch artist was instrumental in making fantasy art popular. As years passed by and man discovered photography, art gained new and versatile forms. Artists began departing from the conventional genre making way for expressionism, cubism and abstract art. Mystical forms were imbibed with new forms of art. This lead to the birth of surrealism.

These days apart from the traditional demons, angels and other forms of fantasy drawings, newer versions of fantasy abstract art are being developed. These include aliens, fairies, dark beings, vampires and characters from sci-fi stories. This form of abstract art is perhaps one of the most loved genres and is slowly finding popularity with the masses probably due to the air of mystery that surrounds them.

There are a number of famous abstract art galleries around the world. These include Pecci Guggenheim Collection and Pecci Museum of Contemporary Art in Italy, Stedelijk Museum located in Amsterdam and Centre Pompidou that is situated in Paris. England also houses many well known abstract art galleries like Pier Art Gallery, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Serpentine Gallery, Modern Art Oxford, Estorick Collection and Annely Juda. The Whitney Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in United States are also home to some of the well known works of abstract art.

The Pompidou Centre or Centre Georges Pompidou as it is formally known is home to more than 50,000 works of arts that include not just sculptures and paintings but also photographs. Peggy Guggenheim is also known as a great connoisseur and collector art and her collection is displayed at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection that is located on the banks of the Grand Canal in Venice in Italy. Besides her own personal collection, there are a number of other well known works by Italian and American artists which is what made this museum famous in Italy initially. These works are based on abstract expressionism, surrealism and cubism themes.

In England, you can look and understand various forms of abstract art in the Tate and Modern Art Oxford Galleries. The Museum of Modern Art is home to some of the most well known works of masters like Piet Mondrian, Salvador Dal, Piccasso and Vincent van Gogh.

These days you can not only visit these abstract art galleries physically to feast your eyes on their incomparable collections but also visit them online by logging into the virtual art museums.

The rules in abstract art are dependent on the artist, meaning there are none

Picasso - Cubism 1937

 other than those created by the artist. As a result, the styles vary with the artists. However, through history, despite the countless artists and their styles, three styles seem to have gained prominence over time. These styles namely, Abstract Expressionism, Neoplasticism and Cubism, were endorsed by the well-known masters and therefore are more known than the others.

Cubism was born in 1908 and lasted until about 1920s. This was the period where artists like Francis Picabia and Fernand Leger were born. Cubism was more about analyzing the various geometrical views of the object. All these views were grouped together in an imaginative fashion. This is one of the more modern forms of abstract art.

The era of Neoplasticism was governed by the basic principle that the real world or objects should not be reflected in art. The artists were more focused on expressing the life absolutes that were the primary colors, horizontal and vertical lines. Artists such as Theo van Doesburg popularized this era.

Jackson Pollack, the “action painter” is a well known artist of the era of abstract expressionism. This era was more about spontaneity, brush strokes and colors. Artists like him would create their paintings by dripping and pouring paint on the canvas.

Creativity in the form of art is a well known an activity that helps to relieve stress and relax your mind. Art takes on many shapes from painting to needlepoint…few people would really be interested in painting complex portraits or landscapes, as that requires a lot of patience and skill, just as needlepoint does. However, when looking at abstract art, it is entirely a different ball game. It does not follow the normal rules, as there are no expectations to be met, because it is all about the artist and what the artist is feeling at that particular moment in time.

So how does one make a beautiful abstract art masterpiece? Simply by using your creativity and imagination! Just take a paintbrush or a crayon or anything that you like and start drawing on canvas or paper. You can mix and match different colors, lines and shapes to create something that is unique and out of this world. Abstract art can also act as an outlet for your emotions. It’s generally seen that when people are happy, they use bright colors and when they are angry, upset or sad, they use dark colors.

If paint is not your thing, then how about some abstract figurines made from nuts and bolts, or a patchwork canvas with strips of cloth….you are only limited by your own imagination when it comes to creating abstract art pieces. In fact, some artists use music to inspire them while they are creating their masterpiece. The rhythm of the music can influence your art in many different ways.

Abstract arts are not about loud colors, they can be full of color or have no color at all. It is completely dependent on artists mood. An abstract painter may use acrylic paints or water colors. A metal abstract artist may use pop cans or wrought iron, a plop artist may use a combination of mortar and metal, or literally use garbage that has been collect off the street specifically for that purpose. Abstract arts are a combination of emotions, thoughts, energy and resources all combined to create their form.

When creating your own abstract masterpiece, don’t try to please others and make what you think they want…allow your feelings to flow through your chosen medium to the finished work that will bear your mark of satisfaction.

“Okay, I give up,” I finally said. “What’s the dot for?”

She laughed. “I’ve had a very nice floral numbered print up there for years,” she told me. “I paid a lot of money for it and everything in the kitchen matches the colors in that print. But not once has anyone asked me about it. I took it down and hung this abstract painting that I paid less than $100 for and everyone who has come into my kitchen has asked me about it.  I have decided to start an abstract art collection because this one has been a conversation starter like non other I’ve had!”

Hmmm … Are you tired of the same old humdrum decorations that match what everyone else has? The mass processed photos, knick-knacks and prints? Then why don’t you just have an abstract makeover! Collecting abstract art such as paintings, and other abstract pieces can really change your home and give it a vibrancy that will never grow old. In addition, it starts a collection that will keep conversations going.

So, how does one start a collection? How do you know what to or not to buy? The first thing to do is to research, learn what you can about known or even famous artists and their works. Some prominent names that you may come across are Barnett Newman, Helen Frankenthaler, Hans Hoffmann, Willem De Kooning and Jackson Pollock. You can also go to an abstract art gallery to study their paintings in closer detail.

Once you decide on the kind of paintings or other abstract art you want, you will need to decide what pieces will fit in the allotted space and which you want first. Of course, you need to keep your budget in mind as well, because original works of abstract art can be quiet costly, ranging into the tens of thousands of dollars. Don’t let that scare you, because some of the lesser known artists, and even some artists that are local to your location, no matter where you are in the world, who produce phenomenal work are more affordable for those on a limited budget, with prices from $20 to a couple of thousand.

Some people may be interested in collecting period pieces of abstract art. If this is the case, then you may be able to find the pieces you are looking for by searching on the Internet or through specialty dealers. Some places, both online and off even hold art auctions where you can get a prized painting for a lesser amount.

No matter where your interest lies with abstract art, a collection of beautiful art beautifies your surroundings and brings with it a sense of joy and pride.

Wheat Field with Cypresses (1889)Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)

In most people, abstract landscape artwork can inspire these kinds of feelings and more. Abstract landscapes can be about any subject ranging from weather, seascapes, natural scenes, mountains, trees or anything else the artist fancies. But how do these abstract landscapes differ from other regular sceneries? In landscape paintings, the artist simply translates what he sees in the physical world on to his canvas. However, in abstract landscape paintings, the image that finally appears on the canvas is the artist’s representation of the scene or the view. The artists can also use skillful brush strokes to create chimeras of depths and heights. Besides the landscapes, you can get paintings depicting cityscapes, hardscapes, skyscapes and moonscapes.

To become an abstract artist you need to have an innate understanding of colors and art. You also need to have the mind of a poet to interpret what you see in the world in your own unique way.

Do You Know Your Colors?

Your abstract landscape painting should have a balanced composition, the right kind of texture and tone. Besides, you should also know how to take care of aspects like tension, contrast and harmony. There have been several painters who have made a name for themselves in the field, Barnett Newman and Sean S is quite famous in this genre.

These kinds of paintings are all about evoking the emotions of your viewers through the right blend of colors, lines and strokes. Regardless of whether you create your own abstract painting or buy a masterpiece, a landscape painting helps enhance the interior of your home and work place. Although there are many masterpieces available in this genre, most of them are quite expensive, thankfully, these days, you can get a number of reproductions that can equally enhance your home or office on a budget.

Abstract is something that cannot be defined or whose definition depends on the perception of the viewer. Abstract paintings and sculptures have been an integral part of our art and culture. In the modern century, people are using the latest technology to create new abstracts. One such phenomenon is the abstract blown glass art.

In this kind of an art, the glass blower crafts the glass into an unrecognizable structure or shape. Originally, glass blowing has been used to create scientific equipments like tubes, beakers and other lab items. These days’ abstract glass blown items have become a rage for art collectors. These can either be made with white glass or colored glass. Glass is being used to make wall art, vases, stemware, sculptures, glass ornaments, boxes and many more decorative pieces of art. This kind of unique glass work can also be used for gifting your friends and family on special occasions. They look delicate, classy and sophisticated.

Now days, art is not defined by regular and stereotypic shapes and sizes. In today’s world anything that can inspire you and bring out the emotions in you, is labelled as art. You may not be able to understand the structure or even the artist’s inspiration, yet if you feel nice about it, then it is a piece of abstract art work that has gained a lot of prominence in the recent years.

More and more companies are now using abstract blown glass artwork as rewards for their employees. This looks better than those stereotypic metal cups and shields that were given in the olden days.

Besides the blown glass art abstracts, you can find a number of other abstract glass works that can help in enhancing the décor of your home and office. Besides making your surroundings look elegant, these abstract glass art pieces will show case your own creativity as well.

The uniqueness of abstract metal art lies in the fact that it does not confer to any natural design but is a composition that utilizes all kinds of shapes, dimensions, line and colors. The result is an aesthetic form that is completely different and pleasing to the eye. Most of times, abstract art is used to depict feelings or objects of the real world in a more simplified or even complex manner. This is why these art pieces are perfect for enhancing the décor of your home without making it look too obvious.

These metal wall art pieces can become great conversation pieces when they are placed at focal points in your home. They can help you to break the ice at parties. This type of art can be placed on a wall next to a staircase or fireplace mantel.

Smaller pieces of metal art can be used to fill up the small nooks and corners of your home. You can place them on depressions next to the bay window or breakfast nooks. Your home will acquire an understated elegance that also showcases your own creativity.

Take time in selecting the right kind of abstract metal art pieces for your home. It should be something that helps you to both balance and enhance your environment. Moreover, when you do get the right art work, make sure that you use the right kind of lighting around it to enhance the effect.

With the right kind of lighting and décor, an abstract metal art pience can help your home look unique and classy.

Creating an abstract sculpture gives the artist a freedom of expression that is unhindered by canvases or any such base. There are no rules to conform to and the artist is not restricted by any kind of assumptions that are generally a part of other conventional sculptures. Many sculpturist may find this kind of a freedom daunting and alluring at the same time. Abstract sculptures can be created by using a variety of materials, such as clay, wood, metal, wire, pop cans, and believe it or not, I have even seen an abstract done with parts from an old toilet and a kitchen sink…so anything and everything under the sun can be used to create an abstract work of art. Perhaps, this is the reason that some people find it difficult to give any form of recognizable (to the layman) definition to abstract sculptures. In case of paintings, there will at least be some kind of resemblance between them since they are all created with paint and on canvas. However, in case of sculptures, the different mediums can make one sculpture look absolutely different from others. Moreover, even if the artist wants, he cannot create two similar sculptures using different mediums, which makes each creation unique.

These days’ abstract sculptures adorn many offices and homes, both inside and outside as landscape pieces. Parks and Recreation Departments have even begun placing sculptures throughout public parks in an effort to create a free flowing free-thinking environment. Even though people may not understand the true meaning behind many such pieces of artwork, they are in great demand. People today love the idea of owning something unique. These kinds of sculptures add character to any place.

You can create your own abstract sculptures by following your own intuition. You can choose your own base, color, size and form for your sculpture. Just listen to your intuition and let your creative juices flow. Who knows, you just might be the next Picasso!

If you are planning a trip to Paris, France, you will want to be sure to visit the art museums – particularly the Musee d’Orsay, France’s most well-known art museums.  With over two millions annual visitors the museum alone is worth the cost of the trip. 

Musee d’Orsay is located in the Gare d’Orsay building and can be found at 1 Rue de la Legion d’Honneur. The Musee d’Orsay specializes in fine arts produced between the years 1848 and 1914.  The museum houses a treasure trove of artwork from some of the most well-known artists, as well as artwork from lesser known artists. You may find the work of van Gogh, Courbet, Renoir, Millet, and Monet. Regardless of the popularity of the artist, all works housed in the Musee d’Orsay are known for their quality, uniqueness, and historical importance. 

The building that houses the Musee d’Orsay is just as intriguing as the artwork found inside.  The building was built in 1900 for France’s World Fair.  During World War II, it was then used to greet prisoners who were freed. In the early 1970s it appeared that demolition was certain; however, sanity ruled, and the beautiful old building became an art museum. 

Just as is true in any fine art museum, the Musee d’Orsay has a few rules they ask guests to follow: food, drinks, cameras are not allowed inside the building.  Touching of works of art is also prohibited. You must also turn off your cell phone so as not to disturb others who are enjoying the tour. 

The Musee d’Orsay has everything – beauty, history and nice places to eat. You will find a restaurant on the second level, as well as a tearoom.  On the fifth and six levels, you will find the Café des Hauteurs and Mezzanine, which are both fast food restaurants.  You will also find a boutique, card shop, and bookstore for purchasing souvenirs.  

In addition to the awesome tour of the work of famous artists. the museum is also home to special events throughout the year. These events are commonly held in the nearby auditorium.  These special events may include concerts, learning courses, and other shows.  So, be sure to check the schedule, as something may be happening on the day of your visit. Also, museum hours do vary depending on the season, so verify this information ahead of time.  You should not have any difficulties gaining admittance should you start your day early. 

I could go on – but you get the picture (pun intended). There is just too many reasons of why you should visit the Musee d’Orsay to list here. So, if you love art and want to expand you art education you simply must plan to visit this great art museum. 

The Starry Night, Saint Rémy, June 1889Vincent van Gogh 1853-1890