Paste: THINK FREELY (part 2). So let’s see abstraction in use: 1. USE ABSTRACTION TO DEPICT FIGURATIVE SUBJECTS. Thinking abstractly and stylistically about a subject means you can break it down into its more elemental parts. Notice the defining characteristics. Are you painting a still life? Really look at your subject, and then determine what elements and principles best fit to convey your message. Maybe those flower petals are a series of quick dots with the paintbrush. Perhaps the edge of a leaf is a beautiful nuanced, organic line of varying width. Maybe you want to convey a sense of airiness or lightness, so you set the flowers to one edge in the frame and paint in a lot of negative space (area around the subject). The shadow on the edge of the vase might be a purple triangle. You could use some very quick marks to show life and movement, and restrained marks for contrast. 2. GIVE ABSTRACT IDEAS A VISUAL CONTEXT. We’re doing the same thing here as before, simply thinking about which elements and principles of design might best express an abstract feeling or thought. Do you want a landscape that feels subdued and moody? You might stick to a very cool color palette, with undertones of blue, green, and grey throughout. Your marks might be more repetitive and horizontal to suggest calmness. Do you want a purely abstract painting that expresses vitality and joy? Think about your visual tools that might express this: Color! Movement! Variety! Check out the next post for a project idea to strengthen this mode of crossover thinking, and visit the link in profile for a great article I found on Our Everyday Life. It contains some good ideas to help children think abstractly in everyday goings-on. // Image: stained glass windows by Farris.