Few words are used to describe our current situation as often as “uncertain.” For now, we are living in a state of ambiguity, in which more seems unknown than known. In abstract art, ambiguity is a part of the process. For people who dislike uncertainty, abstraction might be a difficult style of art to embrace. For others, it may be freeing to make their own sense of the image. We have developed some short activities inspired by abstract works of art in our collection to help demystify abstraction and provide a creative escape from the everyday.
Tips from art critic Jerry Saltz on how to look at abstract art: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/abstract-art_n_5486273)
Abstraction Inspired Activities
Abstract Photographs
Inspiration image:
Jean Dubuffet
Texture Legere (Fragile Texture), 1959
Lithograph on paper
Gift of Eugene L. Gaier, Ph.D ’47 in Memory of Esther and Jacob Gaier
Samek Art Museum Collection,1996.2.4
© 2020 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
Sometimes, abstraction is actually just a closer look at reality! This lithograph by Dubuffet was part of a series in which he drew inspiration from common textures, in this case, the work looks similar to the wood grain. You can achieve similar results through close-up photographs of textures in your own home. This can be a great way to change your perspective on things you look at every day!
- Use your cellphone’s camera to take close up photos of interesting textures. These can be wood, textiles, stone, wallpaper, anything!
- Use the editing features of your phone to change the image to make it less recognizable. You can change a color photograph to black and white, alter the saturation or contrast in the photo, crop the image, etc.
- Keep making alterations until you are happy with the result!
- Want to take it a step further? Create a drawing based off of your photograph!
Tracing Shadows
Inspiration image:
Sidney Gordin
Abstraction, 1980
Lithograph on paper
Gift of Virginia and Herbert Lust
Samek Art Museum Collection, 1991.16.6
© Estate of Sidney Gordin
- Grab some paper and a writing or drawing utensil.
- Next, find or make an interesting shadow! Look at shadows from windows, furniture, from trees, bike wheels, anywhere!
- When you find an interesting one, set your paper on the ground and outline the shadows on the page.
- You can layer several shadows on one sheet in the same or different colors!
- Fill in some or all of the shapes you have outlined however you like!
Making Marks
Inspiration image:
Polly Apfelbaum
Untitled (from The Press portfolio), 1994
Monoprint on paper
Gift of Stuart Horodner, Paul Romley, and Alix Wexler
Samek Art Museum Collection, 1999.8.13
© 2020 Polly Apfelbaum
Let go of the idea of making something beautiful and think about making marks. Perhaps you feel like repeating soft, light marks. Or maybe you have some tension and want to make dark, angular lines. Maybe you want to scribble. Whatever kind of mark you want to make, make it! Don’t be afraid to layer with different marks, colors, or types of materials! This is a great way to release tension, stress, or anxiety!
Samek Art Museum staff’s take on this prompt!
Modern Grid Activity
Inspiration images:
Anni Albers
Fox II, 1972
Color offset photolithograph on medium weight, ivory wove paper
University Purchase
Samek Art Museum Collection, 2008.28
© Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
Beatrice Riese
Schoolmaster, Echo and Hen, 1983
Oil on linen
Gift of Jeff Russell
Samek Art Museum Collection, 2006.1
© Estate of Beatrice Riese
Many modern artists, including the two above, use the grid as a starting point for their art. In this activity, you can use a grid to create your own work of art!
- Select a grid size. We have provided ¼ inch, ½ inch, and 1-inch options for you to download.
- Decide how you want to use the squares! Don’t be afraid to create shapes within the squares, to color more than one adjacent square the same color, or to leave some blank! Use the above artworks as inspiration.
- You can also look up other artists, including Piet Mondrian, Josef Albers, Agnes Martin, or Sol Lewitt!
Click to Download Grid Paper
Abstract art with laundry!
Inspiration image:
Sam Gilliam
As Kids Go, 1996
Mixed media print on handmade paper
Gift of Anthony T. Podesta
Samek Art Museum Collection, 2002.13
© Sam Gilliam / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
- Grab some laundry.
- Next, sort the laundry by color.
- Taking inspiration from any piece of abstract art including (but not limited to) the one above by Sam Gilliam use the laundry to create your own masterpiece.
- Take a picture of your abstract artwork and then start again.
Samek Art Museum staff’s take on this prompt!
Ambiguity & Abstraction Crossword
Click to download
Below are some abstract artworks from our collection for you to view.
Sidney Gordin
Untitled, n.d.
Lithograph on paper
Gift of Virginia and Herbert Lust
Samek Art Museum Collection, 1991.16.6
© Estate of Sidney Gordin
Polly Apfelbaum
Untitled (From “The Press” portfolio), 1994
Monoprint on paper
Gift of Stuart Horodner, Paul Romley, and Alix Wexler
Samek Art Museum Collection, 1999.8.13
© Polly Apfelbaum
Sam Gilliam
As Kids Go, 1996
Mixed media print on handmade paper
Gift of Anthony T. Podesta
Samek Art Museum Collection, 2002.13
© Sam Gilliam / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
Anni Albers
Fox II, 1972
Color offset photolithograph on medium weight, ivory wove paper
Samek Art Museum Collection, 2008.28
© Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
Jean Dubuffet
Texture Legere, 1959
Soft-ground etching on paper
Gift of Eugene L. Gaier, Ph.D. ’47 in Memory of Esther and Jacob Gaier
Samek Art Museum Collection, 1996.2.4
© Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
Beatrice Riese
Schoolmaster, Echo and Hen, 1983
Oil on linen
Gift of Jeff Russell
Samek Art Museum Collection, 2006.1
© Estate of Beatrice Riese
