Modern Art Abstract

Modern Art Abstract

Well, if you are new to Art you need to know what some of the general terms used mean and what styles of art are classed as modern. For an example, the subject really is the object, persons, or places, the artist is trying to encapsulate. The form is the colours, textures, lines etc. and how they shape the work.

Content is what the meaning of the work is and how we are actually given to understand it. This really is how we respond to the painting, the form, the medium and of course the subject.

Medium - this basically is all the methods and materials used for the artwork you see before you.

Modern art is enjoyed by most people simply because it is presented in so many different forms. Modern art, you could say, probably dates back to somewhere beyond the 1860's.

Modernism is similar to abstractionism, but you could say quite a lot of modern art would not be abstract.

Modern artists, for instance, might just do mainly work that is figurative, but to me, many works are abstract. After all, we use all shapes, forms and colours to create our work.

Cubism often depicts the essence of the subject, not necessarily how it actually looks. Thus giving different viewpoints of the given subject, but dissecting it really. Take Pablo Picasso as an example.

Pop Art came in to being around the late 1950s-1960s. Andy Warhol being a fine example. A whole new form of art emerged for advertising, comic strips etc., which were extremely bright and brash really.

Op Art, also from the late 1950/1960's. Abstract art in a geometric form which often creates an illusion, so that the art looks as if it is actually moving.

Minimalism from the late 1960-1970's. These are very often a series of repeated elements, but the art in general is made up from very little.

Expressionism started in the 1900's. This usually has a sort of emotional impact, as very strong brush strokes and colours were used. Often very exaggerated colours used with distorted shapes.

You can also have abstract impressionism which originated from New York, I think in the late 1940's. This art form being more a spontaneous expression of feeling, often depicting action paintings. A famous artist in this field, of course, being Jackson Pollock.

Futurism is of Italian origin from 1909. Really, these paintings showed actual speeds and motions.

Surrealism - Often showing automatic type of drawings, I would say, to the workings of the mind. Sometimes realistic and yet, not always seeming to make a lot of sense. One brilliant artist has to be Salvador Dali, whom most people will have heard of. Or, if you have been to Barcelona, you are surrounded by his great works of art there.

Impressionism - Many of these paintings consist of short dashes of colour near to each other, to make a picture. When viewed from a distance they look as if they actually merge together. These were often used for landscapes. Claude Monet was a prime example of a leading painter in this field.

This article was created by contemporary artist Anna Meenaghan. As a experienced, contemporary painter, Anna writes articles about art to help beginners improve their technique. She also runs an online art community where artists and art enthusiasts alike can meet and exchange ideas.

Do you think modern "abstract" art is real art?

For example, somone who paints a clear paint over a canvas and calls it art and tries to justify it with a political statement they pulled out their a*s. Or things like this:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xDcK7NUgmhQ/SrI1JLRNAOI/AAAAAAAAABg/hf87tDohcLg/s320/rothko_painting.jpg

http://arteest.org/images/neoplasticism-mondrian.jpg

Do you consider this real art that requires real talent?

yes; I'm not saying I enjoy looking at it (I'm a huge fan of Van Gogh, I also like Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo, and Gustav Klint among many others), but as long as there is meaning behind and effort put into it I think it is art. art is a very free, open ended term.