Now let’s dive in! If we’re going to talk about brushstrokes, it starts with the brush! My favorite brush for abstract painting is the Simply Simmons 1” oval wash watercolor brush. I don’t often buy expensive brushes because I go through them so quickly! But this is my go-to brush for my abstract acrylics. It makes the most perfect brushstrokes and is so versatile! If you can’t find this exact brush, you’ll be able to follow along with any similar oval wash brush.
6 Abstract Acrylic Painting Technique to Try
Abstract art is, arguably, some of the most interesting and unique art to look at. As the experts at Tate explain, abstract art does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality. Rather, abstract art is all about using shapes, colors, forms and gestural marks to make something visually appealing.
If you’ve ever wanted to create abstract art in your own time, we have some tips and techniques to try. Read on to learn more about some abstract art acrylic painting techniques that can get you started on your journey.
Elements of Abstract Art
Before learning about the best acrylic paint abstract techniques, it’s important to know a little more about this art style. Many people think that abstract art is effortless or easy to create. But this simply isn’t true.
Abstract art is still very intentional. While large swipe gestures and shapes may appear random, it still takes practice and time to learn how to master composition, color mixing, and more techniques. The creatives at Artist Network said it best, “If abstract art emerges from vision and intuition, it’s still grounded in discipline.”
That being said, most artists agree there are a few key elements involved in creating abstract art. These include:
When learning about abstract acrylic painting techniques, you will realize that these elements are always included in some way. Some techniques are more focused on line work while others on texture, but they’re often incorporated in some way or another in an abstract piece.
Best Abstract Art Techniques with Acrylic
There are dozens of painting techniques for acrylic abstract style to try. That’s because acrylic paint is a great medium to create abstract art with. The variety of colors and additives means acrylics are perfect for creating different textures. Plus, it dries quickly so you can easily layer colors and lines to create stunning abstract pieces.
Here are a handful of the most common abstract acrylic painting techniques to try if you’re just starting out.
Dry Brush
This easy technique is great for adding texture to your abstract painting. As the name suggests, dry brushing is using a clean brush with no water to apply a little bit of paint. This technique can make your acrylic paint appear feathery or textured and can also be great for creating a color gradient.
When it comes to abstract painting, using a dry brush is great for creating both lines and shapes. Experiment with a variety of different brush sizes and shapes to make your vision come to life.
Smooth Blended
Of course, not all abstract art has to be texture-heavy. If you want to create a more whimsical, softer abstract piece you will like this abstract acrylic painting technique on canvas.
After choosing your color palette, place dots of different colors on your canvas. Then, use a dry, hard brush in circular motions to blend the colors together. This is a great way to create interesting color combinations and see where your piece takes you. The smooth blending of colors can make a great backdrop for your abstract piece.
Then, layer on graphic lines, shapes, or splatters – whatever your intuition tells you!
Impasto
This technique involves using a stiff brush or palette knife to move around larger amounts of paint to create texture. Adding a medium to acrylic paint to make it stiffer is ideal for creating art with this technique.
Get creative with how you move the paint to create textures, dips, and valleys on your canvas.
Washing
Acrylic washes can make your vibrant colors stand out in a different way. This abstract acrylic painting technique requires you to thin your acrylic paint with a medium or water to lower its viscosity.
From there, you can use a wide brush to effortlessly swipe it on your canvas. Since this makes your paint more transparent, you can layer colors to create eye-catching lines and shapes that are perfect for abstract artwork.
Pouring
This fluid acrylic painting technique can also create beautiful abstract art. By strategically layering colors and letting them pour onto the canvas, you can create truly abstract shapes and lines.
A fluid painting can make for an eye-catching piece of abstract art on its own, or serve as the backdrop for your artwork. Let the fluid shapes and lines inspire your art.
Splatter
Of course, we can’t forget about this popular abstract art technique with acrylic paint. This fun technique has you let loose and flick, fling, or splatter paint onto your canvas. There’s really no rhyme or reason to this technique, but you can definitely get creative with your color combinations and application.
Ready to try some of these abstract acrylic painting techniques for yourself? Explore 94 brilliant colors of professional acrylic paint from Nova Color today.
RELATED ARTICLES
- 7 Acrylic Paint Splatter Techniques
- 6 Acrylic Paint Shading Techniques for Beginners and Experts Alike
- 7 Unique Acrylic Painting Ideas You Have to Try
- 5 Easy Painting Ideas for Beginners (Step by Step)
- Acrylic Paint: Why You Should Use it for Your Art
- 8 Unusual Acrylic Painting Techniques You Can Try
close
About Us
We are passionate about art and the joy it brings to people around the world. That is why we maintain high standards by incorporating a creative approach that is always guided by our years of painting experience. We use high pigment content to create the intense color saturation preferred by artists.
STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest updates including, new product announcements, tips & tricks, and more!
Abstract Acrylic Painting Effects & Tricks
This video shows a wide range of techniques and tools for creating abstract paintings in acrylic paint.
- Watch the 19 second version
- Watch the 1 min. version
- Watch the 4 min. version
- Watch the 2 hour version
This is for the sake of my own development than settle right away into what people think I should do to please the highest number of people.
Art Supplies
- Acrylic paint, preferably heavy body
- Golden Acryl Med 16 Oz Heavy Gel Matte
- Golden 8 Oz Coarse Pumice Gel
- Golden Acryl Med 16 Oz Glass Bead Gel
- Liquitex Matte Medium
- Winsor & Newton Winton Fan Brush
- Utility Knife
- Plastic Sculpting Tools
- Metal Kemper Sculpture Tool
- Kroma Krackle
- Freezer Paper
- Palette Knife
- Blue Painter’s Tape
- Printmaking Breyer
- Sharpie Marker
- Fredrix Canvas Panels, 5″ x 7″
- Legion Yupo Paper, Heavy
- B074Q2C33Q Canson XL Series Rough Mix Media, 9″ x 12″
- Wilton Disposable Pastry Bags
- aluminum foil
- saran wrap
- panty hose
- bubble wrap
- cheese cloth
- paper towels
- cardboard toilet paper tube
- sponges
- comb
- plastic fork & knife
- plastic condiment cup containers
- sandpaper
- popsicle sticks
- yarn, twine
- Q-tips
- pom poms
- toothbrush
- corrugated cardboard
- coffee grounds
- kosher salt
- straw
- tree branch
As a free educational source, Art Prof uses Amazon affiliate links (found in this page) to help pay the bills. This means, Art Prof earns from qualifying purchases.
Related
Abstract Acrylic Painting Compositions with Collage See how to begin and develop an abstract painting composition with acrylic paints, starting with…
Abstract Acrylic Painting Prompts This video demos exciting painting prompts to get you started creating abstract paintings in acrylic,…
BBQ Squid: Mixed Media Acrylic Painting Teaching Artist Lauryn Welch demonstrates techniques for creating a mixed media acrylic painting that is…
Details & Top Layer Strokes
Once your base layers are complete, you’ll want to add some detail strokes. This is what helps add more visual interest to your abstract piece and gives it some movement. I use this type of stroke for the finer details on the top layers of my paintings. These strokes really pop against a blended background.
To create these strokes you’ll use the same brush, just turned to the side so you’re using the side edge of the brush instead of the flat part.
Here’s an example of the difference between how sharp the detail strokes are against the blended background.
With the side of your brush, start to make shorter strokes in one direction. This will give them a more defined, sharp edge and less of a blended wispy look like the background strokes.
Confident Accent Strokes
I’m guessing that a “confident accent stroke” isn’t something you ever heard in an art class but these strokes are some of my favorite parts of my abstract paintings. I believe that painting with confidence not only helps your paintings look more beautiful, but helps you grow as a person too. So what is a “confident brush stroke”? These are short, strong strokes painted with a bold color. I love to use deep colors like Prussian Blue, or super vibrant colors like Fluorescent Pink!
We’re trying to evoke a feeling with abstract art, and one of the things that I always want to convey with my pieces is the idea of being bold and confident. These accent strokes evoke a feeling of surprise and excitement for the viewer of the painting and give the composition some more shape.
No matter what kind of brushstrokes or paintings you’re creating, I encourage you to make your marks on the canvas with confidence. If we worry about getting it perfect, it often keeps us from creating in the first place. Paint with bold strokes, and if it doesn’t turn out exactly as you were hoping for, the best part is that you can always paint another piece! After all, we all create art because we enjoy it. The worst thing that can happen if you make a bold stroke that doesn’t work out is that you get to create another piece of art! Doesn’t sound too bad to me.
Experiment!
At the end of the day, abstract art is a very personal art form. You have free rein to express yourself in whatever way feels best for you. These brushstroke techniques are here as a guide and a jumping off point, but with abstract there are no “must-do’s”. I always encourage my students to play. Play with different pressure, different amounts of paint on your brush, adding water to your brush, which parts of the brush you paint with – the options are endless. Maybe you even want to try ditching the brush and finger painting for a while! It’s all up to you. Let your creative inner child run free and discover your favorite ways to make brushstrokes on the canvas!
I hope this brushstroke tutorial was helpful! If you want to learn more about abstract painting I would love for you to join me in my Happy Galaxy Class. In this class, you’ll learn everything you need to know to complete a stunning abstract painting including color mixing, brushstroke techniques, blending, details, and more!
