Abstract art is a broad genre that can involve many different kinds of elements. Most abstract artists will use a combination of colors and shapes to create their unique artworks. Finding inspiration for abstract art can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. In this article, New York City artist Hillel Selznick explains how you can find abstract artwork inspiration at home, from your everyday surroundings.
Find Colour Inspiration in Nature
Many abstract artists choose to incorporate vibrant and bold colours into their works. Nature can offer endless inspiration for abstract art. Whether you’re looking for inspiration in the colours in trees, the colours of flowers, or the colours of the sky, there are endless ways you can find abstract colour inspiration in nature.
If the weather is sunny, head outdoors to find a new perspective on your surroundings. If you have access to a backyard, go exploring to find new perspectives. Often, what we see in our everyday surroundings is a smaller version of what we would see if we stood a few feet taller or at a different angle.
When you’re outdoors, be mindful of your surroundings. What are you surrounded by? How are the colours of the environment different from the colours in the sky? What do the colours tell you about the environment where they’re located?
If the weather is cloudy, you can still find colour inspiration in nature. The colours of the environment can sometimes reflect the colours in the sky. Try to find areas where the colours of the environment are similar to the colours in the sky for a different perspective on your surroundings. If you live in a city, exploring your surrounding environment and looking for colour inspiration can offer you a new perspective on your surroundings.
Explore Urban Scenes
Sometimes you’ll find a new perspective on your surroundings when you explore urban scenes. Urban landscapes can often offer a new perspective on your surroundings when you explore them from a different angle. When you’re exploring urban scenes in your city, take note of the surrounding environment. What are some of the colours in the environment? What do you see around you? How do the surrounding colours make you feel or what do they tell you about the environment?
When you’re in an urban environment, try to find areas where you have a new perspective on your surroundings. Look for areas where you can have a new angle on your surrounding environment or where you can have a new angle on the buildings or structures around you.
When you’re exploring urban scenes, be mindful of the surroundings around you. What are the colour tones in the environment around you? What do you see around you? What do you notice about the surrounding environment and what does it tell you about the surrounding environment? You can also explore urban scenes on walks or hikes, explains Hillel Selznick. If you live in a city, exploring urban scenes in the surrounding environment can be very different from exploring them in the rural environment.
Look for Texture in the Environment
Textures are what give the environment around you a sense of depth and richness. If you’re looking for abstract art inspiration in the environment, try to look for texture in the environment. Textures can come from different sources. When you’re exploring your surroundings, be mindful of the plants, trees, rocks, and other items around you. What are some of the textures in the environment around you?
Textures can also come from other elements in the environment, like the colours of the sky or the water in a lake or river. Textures are often a combination of many different elements, making them even more unique and interesting. Textures can be very subtle, so you might not notice them immediately. Try looking for texture in the environment around you and see if you can spot them more easily.
Textures can also change over time. Raindrops falling from the sky can leave behind a pattern on a nearby bush or tree. If you’re exploring an urban environment, textures can be particularly interesting to explore because they can change so quickly. If you have time to explore an urban environment, take note of the textures around you. What are some of the textures in the environment around you? What are the colours in the environment around you? How do the colours in the environment around you make you feel or what do they tell you about the surrounding environment?
Stay Upbeat and Find Your Happy Place
When you’re exploring abstract artwork inspiration, you need to stay upbeat and find your happy place. If you’re feeling down or depressed, exploring abstract artwork inspiration can be very helpful. When you’re exploring abstract artwork inspiration, try to be mindful of your feelings. What are some of your feelings when you’re exploring abstract artwork inspiration? What are some of the feelings that come up for you when you explore abstract artwork inspiration?
Explore a Theme to Find Abstract Artwork Inspiration
If you’re looking for something to inspire your abstract artwork, try to find something that is meaningful to you. What are some of the themes that are meaningful to you in your everyday life, like your interests or hobbies? If you want to find abstract artwork inspiration based on a particular theme, try to find artwork that draws from that theme. If you want to find abstract artwork from a particular era or era, try to find artwork that draws from that era. If you want to find abstract artwork from a particular culture or social group, like an ethnic group, try to find artwork that draws from that group. If you want to find abstract artwork based on a specific animal or plant, try to find artwork that draws from that animal or plant.
Stay Creative and Have Fun Finding Artwork Inspiration
When you’re exploring abstract artwork inspiration, try to be creative while you’re looking for it. What are some of the things that you can try to be creative with when you’re exploring abstract artwork inspiration? If you want to stay creative and help you find abstract artwork inspiration, abstract painter Hillel Selznick recommends trying to keep a journal or sketchbook nearby, so you can capture any thoughts or ideas that come to you as you’re exploring it.