Journeys To Abstraction: 100 Paintings and Their Secrets Revealed

by Sue St. John

We don't have to know what a painting is if we know how it makes us feel. A fun, fascinating survey of abstract art, Journeys to Abstraction offers a behind-the-scenes look at how contemporary artists break free from literal depiction to rejoice in the pure expressive power of color, line and texture.

   • 58 artists share 100 striking abstract paintings, along with the ideas, inspirations and diverse working processes behind them.
   • Covers a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional media and techniques, including watercolor, collage, acrylics, ink and more.
   • Four step-by-step demonstrations show how abstract pieces come together from start to finish.
Discover how artists paint, pour, scrape, spray, carve, stamp, collage and otherwise build complex layers of texture and meaning. Painting with egg cartons, turning acrylic paints into shards of "stained glass," incorporating old "failed" paintings into fresh finished pieces...anything goes in abstract art! Marked by an inspiring freedom of form and content, this is a liberating book for any artist in search of new, dynamic forms of self-expression.

Genres: Art

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 24, 2012

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the subject matter may not appeal to you, the techniques that the artists used to create their pieces are discussed in detail and are a treasure trove of ideas and creative sparks. Excellent read!

[Karen Calhoun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing to me, mostly because the topic it covered was not what I expected from the title that it would cover. I was looking for a thoughtful analysis of a finished work of art. Instead this book talked a lot about painting techniques, how certain effects were achieved, for what appeared to my taste to be murky uninspiring art.

This book is recommended to contemporary painters who want to experiment with painting techniques and to those who appreciate this very abstract genre of art.

[john Gouzoules · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking for that MAGIC PILL

[Janet Freedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting information about products and methods used by contemporary abstract artists. Many excellent color illustrations of the work discussed.