Concept

Abstraction is used in the arts as a synonym for abstract art in general. Strictly speaking, it refers to art unconcerned with the literal depiction of things from the visible world—it can, however, refer to an object or image which has been distilled from the real world, or indeed, another work of art. Artwork that reshapes the natural world for expressive purposes is called abstract; that which derives from, but does not imitate a recognizable subject is called nonobjective abstraction. 

From its roots, abstraction should mean basically “something pulled or drawn away”. So abstract art is art that has moved away from painting objects of the ordinary physical world in order to show something beyond it. Theories are often abstractions; so a theory about economics, for instance, may “pull back” to take a broad view that somehow explains all of economics (but maybe doesn’t end up explaining any of it very successfully). An abstract of a medical or scientific article is a one-paragraph summary of its contents—that is, the basic findings “pulled out” of the article. 

Abstraction in its main sense is a conceptual process where general rules and concepts are derived from the usage and classification of specific examples, literal (“real” or “concrete”) signifiers, first principles, or other methods. “An abstraction” is the outcome of this process—a concept that acts as a common noun for all subordinate concepts, and connects any related concepts as a group, field, or category.

Definition of abstraction

1a:

The act or process of abstracting: the state of being abstracted

1b:

An abstract idea or term

2:

Absence of mind or preoccupation

3:

Abstract quality or character

4a:

An abstract composition or creation in art

4b:

ABSTRACTIONISM

– Schemata

1.1

Single Horizontal Line Dissecting Vertical Canvas

The first line to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is a straight horizontal line. Dividing the picture plane into two equal horizontal parts.

[ each half can be painted with any two contrasting colours or any colour scheme of the artists choice.

1.1

Single Horizontal Line Dissecting Vertical Canvas

The first line to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is a straight horizontal line. Dividing the picture plane into two equal horizontal parts.

[ each half can be painted with any two contrasting colours or any colour scheme of the artists choice.

1.2

Single Vertical Line Dissecting Vertical Canvas

The second line to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is a straight vertical line. Dividing the picture plane into two equal vertical parts.
[ each half can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or any colour scheme of the artists choice.

1.2

Single Vertical Line Dissecting Vertical Canvas

The second line to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is a straight vertical line. Dividing the picture plane into two equal vertical parts.
[ each half can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or any colour scheme of the artists choice.

1.3

Single Diagonal Line Dissecting the Diagonal of the Canvas

The third line to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is a straight diagonal line. Dividing the picture plane into two equal diagonal parts.
[ each half can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or in any colour scheme of the artists choice.

1.3

Single Diagonal Line Dissecting the Diagonal of the Canvas

The third line to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is a straight diagonal line. Dividing the picture plane into two equal diagonal parts.
[ each half can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or in any colour scheme of the artists choice.

2.1

Two Lines Dissecting the Canvas Horizontal / Vertical

The first two lines to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is a straight horizontal line and a straight vertical line. Dividing the picture plane into four equal rectangular parts. This is the only possible formulation based on using only two 90 degree perpendicular lines on a rectilinear canvas.
[ each quarter can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or in any colour scheme of the artists choice.

2.1

Two Lines Dissecting the Canvas Horizontal / Vertical

The first two lines to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is a straight horizontal line and a straight vertical line. Dividing the picture plane into four equal rectangular parts. This is the only possible formulation based on using only two 90 degree perpendicular lines on a rectilinear canvas.
[ each quarter can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or in any colour scheme of the artists choice.

2.2

Two Diagonal Lines Dissecting the Canvas Diagonally

The second two line schema to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is two equal crossing diagonal lines extending from each corner of the canvas. Dividing the picture plane into four interfacing triangular parts. This formulation creates two equal triangles interfacing vertically and two equal triangles interfacing horizontally.
[ each quarter can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or in any colour scheme of the artists choice.

2.2

Two Diagonal Lines Dissecting the Canvas Diagonally

The second two line schema to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is two equal crossing diagonal lines extending from each corner of the canvas. Dividing the picture plane into four interfacing triangular parts. This formulation creates two equal triangles interfacing vertically and two equal triangles interfacing horizontally.
[ each quarter can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or in any colour scheme of the artists choice.

2.3

Two Curvilinear Lines Dissecting the Canvas into two Hemispheres

The third two line schema to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is two curvilinear lines dividing the picture plane into two equal interfacing hemispheres. The negative spaces create two interfacing curved apexes on a horizontal axis. This formulation adds an anomaly of curved lines to the schemata of otherwise all rectilinear and angular dissections / canvases. [ each section can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or in any colour scheme of the artists choice.

2.3

Two Curvilinear Lines Dissecting the Canvas into two Hemispheres

The third two line schema to intersect the visual field of the picture plane is two curvilinear lines dividing the picture plane into two equal interfacing hemispheres. The negative spaces create two interfacing curved apexes on a horizontal axis. This formulation adds an anomaly of curved lines to the schemata of otherwise all rectilinear and angular dissections / canvases. [ each section can be painted with any two contrasting or harmonious colours or in any colour scheme of the artists choice.

0.1

1 complete colour filling the plane of the canvas

The first 0 / 1 schemata of the set is one complete colour filling the whole visual field of the picture plane.

0.1

1 complete colour filling the plane of the canvas

The first 0 / 1 schemata of the set is one complete colour filling the whole visual field of the picture plane.

0.2

2 complete colours filling the plane of the canvas

The second 0 / 2 schemata of the set is two complete colours filling the whole visual field of the picture plane. The second colour application should cover the entire first colour. Exposing the edges of the underneath layer is optional. [ The full picture plane can be painted with any second monochrome, warm, cool, contrasting or harmonious colour of the artists choice.

0.2

2 complete colours filling the plane of the canvas

The second 0 / 2 schemata of the set is two complete colours filling the whole visual field of the picture plane. The second colour application should cover the entire first colour. Exposing the edges of the underneath layer is optional. [ The full picture plane can be painted with any second monochrome, warm, cool, contrasting or harmonious colour of the artists choice.

0.3

3 complete colours filling the plane of the canvas

The third 0 / 3 schemata of the set is the completion of three complete overlapping colours filling the whole visual field of the picture plane. The third colour application should cover the entire first & second colour. Exposing the edges of the underneath layers is optional. [ The full picture plane can be painted with any three monochrome, warm, cool, contrasting or harmonious colours of the artists choice.

0.3

3 complete colours filling the plane of the canvas

The third 0 / 3 schemata of the set is the completion of three complete overlapping colours filling the whole visual field of the picture plane. The third colour application should cover the entire first & second colour. Exposing the edges of the underneath layers is optional. [ The full picture plane can be painted with any three monochrome, warm, cool, contrasting or harmonious colours of the artists choice.

+ Theory

Abstraction Schemata 1: The canvases presented in this box have been carefully constructed based on the most primary and minimal rules of dissecting a rectangular plane by a limited number of lines. First by single lines and secondly by two lines. The possibility of dissecting the plane by any other combination becomes quickly limited. There are actually no more possible ways or combinations using 3 lines to dissect the plane into even parts unless all lines run parallel in the same direction. The 3 monochromes represent 0 lines in the minimum 1, 2 or 3 colors. Each tile however can be moved and switched around on a 9-grid enabling endless new compositions. The schemata coupled with digital technology and design opens up 1000's of possibilities in the order of the rearranged tiles of the schemata. 

Theories of Abstraction

Histories of Abstraction

Artists of Abstraction

+ Process

ABSTRACTION SERIES © Painting application:
Paint can be applied to the canvas panels using a variety of painterly techniques and mediums including; brushes with oils or acrylic, gel medium, texture paste, spatulas, screen squeegee, oil stick, graphite, aerosol, enamel, and/or collage. Artists can use freehand application or masking tape to effectively frame the edges of the canvas and mask the lines of each canvas diagram. 

Paint/Painting

Brushes

Techniques

Prep Guide

Colours

Arrangements

Hanging

Installation