10 Tips for Beginners: How to Start Painting Abstract Art

Introduction

Abstract art is a deeply personal and expressive form of visual communication. Unlike realism, which depicts the world as it appears, abstract art emphasizes emotion, color, form, and imagination. It invites you to forget the rules and create freely.

For beginners, however, knowing how to start painting abstract art can feel overwhelming. What if your painting doesn’t “make sense”? How do you choose the right tools? What if it just looks like random shapes?

This guide is your roadmap. Whether you’ve never held a brush before or are transitioning from realism, these 10 practical tips will help you confidently dive into abstract painting and develop your unique visual language.

1. Understand the Essence of Abstract Art

Before you begin painting, take time to understand what abstract art is — and what it isn’t. It’s not about random splashes or meaningless shapes. Abstract art conveys ideas, emotions, and energy through non-representational forms.

There are different styles, including:

• Geometric abstraction (think Mondrian or Malevich)
• Expressionist abstraction (like Kandinsky or Pollock)
• Minimalist abstraction (such as Rothko or Agnes Martin)

Explore art history, modern galleries, and online museums like the Tate Modern to study how abstract art evolved. Understanding the movement helps you see your work within a larger artistic context.

2. Choose a Limited Color Palette

Color can be both exciting and intimidating. Beginners often overload their palette with too many colors, leading to muddy or chaotic results. Instead, start simple.

Pick 2 to 4 harmonious colors and experiment with shades, tones, and contrast. Focus on relationships between colors — how they play, fight, or blend.

Consider:

• Complementary (opposite) colors for high contrast
• Analogous (neighboring) colors for harmony
• Monochrome for emotion

Pro Tip: Limitations inspire creativity. Restricting your palette forces you to get creative with form and composition.

3. Gather the Right Materials

You don’t need expensive supplies to get started. Use this essential toolkit:

• Acrylic paints (easy to work with and clean up)
• Brushes (flat, round, fan, etc.)
• Canvas boards or watercolor paper
• Palette or old ceramic plate
• Water jars and rags
• Palette knives, sponges, or tools like credit cards

Experiment with unconventional tools — anything that creates texture or patterns can be part of your process.

4. Start with an Emotion or Theme

Even though abstract art doesn’t represent physical objects, it often starts with an emotion, memory, or atmosphere.

Ask yourself:

• What do I want to express?
• Am I painting joy, chaos, love, or silence?
• What colors or forms reflect that mood?

Let that be your guide. Abstract art is deeply intuitive. Instead of planning every stroke, respond to the canvas in the moment.

Suggested Exercise: Choose a single word (like “freedom” or “conflict”) and paint how that feels.

5. Explore Composition Techniques

Composition brings order to abstraction. It’s the invisible structure that holds your piece together.

Use principles such as:

• Rule of thirds: Divide your canvas into a 3×3 grid for dynamic placement
• Focal points: Draw the eye to a specific spot
• Balance: Distribute visual weight evenly

Try sketching thumbnail ideas or placing masking tape on your canvas to block areas. Even in abstraction, structure matters.

6. Embrace Layering and Texture

Abstract art often builds meaning through layers. Use glazes, washes, scraping, and reapplication to create visual depth.

Techniques to try:

• Layering colors with drying time in between
• Adding texture mediums like sand or gesso
• Scratching through wet paint to reveal layers beneath

Texture tells a story. It adds tactile quality and keeps the viewer engaged.

7. Don’t Be Afraid of the “Ugly Phase”

Every abstract painting goes through a stage where it looks chaotic, messy, or unfinished. This is normal — and necessary.

Here’s how to push through:

• Step away for a few hours or days
• Turn the canvas upside down for a new view
• Cover a part you dislike with a new shape or color

Trust the process. Some of the best paintings emerge after embracing the mess.

8. Study and Copy — Then Break the Rules

Start by studying works from artists like:

• Wassily Kandinsky (spiritual abstraction)
• Helen Frankenthaler (color field painting)
• Joan Miró (biomorphic abstraction)
• Gerhard Richter (modern abstract)

Try recreating parts of their paintings. Understand what makes them work — then develop your voice.

9. Practice Regularly, Not Perfectly

Like any skill, abstract painting improves with consistency. Set small, manageable goals:

• One small canvas a week
• Daily color or shape studies
• Joining a 30-day painting challenge

Focus on process over perfection. Celebrate every experiment, even if you don’t love the result. You’re learning.

10. Share Your Art and Get Feedback

Posting your art helps you grow. Share on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, or Behance. Join Facebook groups or Reddit forums like r/learnart.

Consider setting up a portfolio or listing your work on a platform like ISKUSS, which features global artwork rooted in culture.

Feedback and community are invaluable — they help you find your style and stay motivated.

Bonus Tips: Push Your Practice Further

If you’ve already started and want to keep improving, try:

• Switching tools (paint with your non-dominant hand, or with sticks)
• Painting large-scale
• Working in a series (explore one idea over multiple canvases)
• Limiting time (paint something in under 15 minutes to capture spontaneity)

Growth lies just beyond your comfort zone.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Knowing what to avoid is as important as knowing what to do. Here are mistakes to watch out for:

• Overworking the canvas: Stop before it gets muddy.
• Copying too much without experimenting: Imitate, then innovate.
• Ignoring composition: Even wild art needs balance.
• Not prepping materials: Cheap canvases or paints can lead to frustration.
• Comparing to professionals: You’re just starting — embrace the beginner mindset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to know how to draw?
A: No. Abstract art focuses on feeling and form rather than accuracy.

Q: Is acrylic paint better than oil?
A: For beginners, yes. Acrylic dries faster and is easier to clean.

Q: Can I paint digitally and still be an abstract artist?
A: Absolutely. Many artists explore abstraction through iPad apps or Photoshop.

Q: How do I price or sell my work?
A: Start by building a portfolio, sharing online, and joining platforms like ISKUSS or Etsy. Price based on size, experience, and uniqueness.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to start painting abstract art is a journey of freedom, self-discovery, and exploration. You don’t need a formal education or perfect technique — just a desire to create.

Let go of fear. Embrace the unknown. Use color and shape to express what words can’t.

The canvas is yours. Start painting.