The Early History of Abstract Art

Abstract art refers to the visual rendition of an artist’s thoughts or feelings that may not be easily comprehended by the viewer. In case of abstract painting, the object of the painter is portrayed through a style that may not relate to anything directly, but only be suggestive of it.
The earliest signs of abstract art were found in pottery, textiles, paintings on rocks, and inscriptions. They usually had a symbolic significance, and were said to originate in the Islamic culture wherein the direct depiction of the human form was, in a way, forbidden.
Some of the early art movements that had an influence on the origin of abstract art in the nineteenth century are Romanticism, Impressionism and Expressionism. During this period artists were recipients of private patronage. Emphasis on the visual sensation, rather than the object itself, was a characteristic of this form of art. Some of the artists aimed at making a logical construct of reality based on a view from a particular point.
In the later part of the nineteenth century, schools such as modernism and mysticism also had a strong influence on abstract art. This led to the popularization of geometric abstract styles in the twentieth century.

The Basics of Oil Painting

Painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil is known as oil painting. In Europe, where this form of painting grew popular in the early modern era, linseed oil is the popular variant used. Linseed was often boiled with pine resin or frankincence and turned into ‘varnish’. This substance was the reason behind the glossy feel that a painting attained.
An artist making an oil painting initiates the work by taking a canvas and sketching the theme or subject with a piece of charcoal. Some artists also use thinned paint for this purpose. Oil paints usually have a mixture of linseed oil, mineral spirits or other forms of spirit that helps in the creation of a thinner, faster or slower drying paint, as required.
A basic tenet of oil painting is that each layer of paint must contain more oil than the previous layer. This ensures proper drying, which would not be possible if the layer on top has less oil. On the contrary, the paint would begin to crack and peel.
The traditional method of making an oil painting comprises the use of a paint brush. However, variations include the use of palette knives or rags as well.