Why Abstract Art?
Using abstract art ideas may at first seem unconventional for home decoration. Yet I can show you how this simple idea can revolutionize your decor. The greatest benefit from abstract art is its flexibility.
The range of options extends beyond what people would typically expect. I wish to take you beyond mere nonrepresentational art and into a new world.
Here you will discover a new appreciation for wood art, mobiles, sculptures, glass art, and pottery.
Natural Abstract Art From Woodworking
As I am a wood artist one would expect that I begin detailing the uses of abstract wood art. Most often these pieces are used in compliment with furniture. At times it is a functional piece within the home.
They key to many abstract pieces will be the art carving found within the item. While the art itself is abstract, the piece is more true to fit and form of function.
In the most basic concepts, stumps are made into tables, chairs, and I have even seen them used as a chest. The potential application for these items are many, and these are beautiful when decoratively carved.
Wall mounted abstract wood art also aids in giving practical function. Boards which create an asymmetric design can allow for a decorative display.
Here the boards provide a space for items to be placed much like a shelf. This frees up counter space and shelves which should be used for other purposes.
If one prefers wood turning items, bowls are a great companion for decoration and practical function within a kitchen or dining area. Live edge designs allow for unique and beautiful art.
Stepping outside of art for household functional uses, we arrive at its use for aesthetics and beauty. Wall art, free standing carved sculptures, and other display pieces can be used in compliment with functional art.
If one wished to step beyond this to a more stylized form then you could seek out driftwood art. While genuine driftwood is becoming more rare, it can provide some of the most beautiful qualities.
Art created by this kind of wood is most often for display only and can be nonrepresentational by form. Typically no carving is found in the wood itself. Larger pieces can be brought together to form more functional items in furniture.
Mobile Abstract Art Ideas
What is a mobile? A mobile is a form of Kinetic Art which uses rods or wire to hang objects as a display. In its most simplistic form, a mobile has often been used on baby cribs to gain the attention of a young child.
Yet for home decorating this is not as simplistic as in my example. There are rather complex designs which can command a space, give beauty to a room, and define the atmosphere.
Art of this nature can be static so that it does not have motion. Alternatively it can be allowed to have motion thus becoming a more true form of Kinetic Art.
This is not something you will find in most homes, yet it will certainly set you apart from your contemporaries. While many are accustomed to chandeliers within homes, replacing this with Mobile Abstract Art will certainly draw great attention to the space.
The art does require adequate room for display. It is not typically hung in living rooms or other areas where foot traffic is a concern.
It is for this reason that spaces typically reserved for chandeliers are great for this kind of art. Locations around stairwells, foyers with high ceilings, or in the open air space off of a balcony is perfect.
You are able to make use of these spaces adding beautiful art to your home without obstructing an area needed for movement. In addition to this, the plain blank walls become the backdrop to the art.
This is better than walls appearing as a blank and empty canvas.
Abstract Sculpture Ideas For The Home
Abstract sculptures can be a lot like the abstract wood art ideas. These can have functional uses within the home. Yet depending upon the material which the sculpture is made from there can be added benefits.
A stone sculpture could allow for a water feature, hold and display herbs, or merely be decorative. While stone can be heavy I do prefer it when compared to many other mediums. Why?
Stone allows for flexibility of use without great danger of compromising or damaging the art. This is quite different from other materials such as clay that is more fragile. Metal itself can rust or have sharper edges and does not have natures aesthetic appeal.
Nevertheless it is important to realize that these pieces of art do not require a large footprint. Smaller sculptures are beneficial to use in conjunction with display spaces.
Plaster sculptures would be the least durable to use within the home. Items of this nature should be for display only with minimal interaction.
Clay sculptures fare better with some use. While clay can be delicate, it has been a material which was used for thousands of years. Storage of goods, food, herbs, or other purposes can allow for functional art with minimized fear of damage.
Metal is a material I personally do not care for in sculpting. That is unless it is art which is out of reach such as found within mobiles. Aside from potential sharp edges, my dislike is more focused on aesthetics.
Abstract Glass Art Ideas For Decoration
The really cool part about glass art is its ability to be incorporated with so many different things. Glass can be used with mobile art and incorporated into sculpted or carved art.
While these uses would be more for aesthetics it can enhance other functional pieces within the home. Personally I see glass art as complimenting rather than the focus. Do not underestimate its power though to influence a space.
A vase can hold flowers, or a bowl could be used for art while it contains your weekly fruits. Blown glass can be abstract based upon shape, color, and its form while still serving a functional purpose.
If you enjoy stained glass art these pieces can be incorporated into wood features of the home. Display cases, a hutch for dining ware, or a top for a table are all great options.
Where abstract glass art can really shine is within mobile art. This becomes more true when the mobile is kinetic and natural sunlight is allowed to shine through the glass.
The unfortunate part about glass art is that it is slowing being lost to time. Artists who specialize in this field seem to be harder to find. Manufacturing processes have taken away much. Nevertheless the artisans touch cannot be compared to in uniqueness and quality.
Abstract Pottery Ideas For The Home
Pottery is much like what I have earlier discussed with clay sculptures, yet there are differences. Generally speaking when it comes to abstract pottery, its form is almost always a container of some kind.
Most often what makes the pottery abstract is the art which is placed onto the pottery. Nevertheless its form can be more stylized than what one would normally be accustomed to seeing.
Aside from these key differences their functional use will be similar. These can contain items such as foods, herbs, teas, coffee, or other ideas one may have.
Alternatively they can also be purely for aesthetic display only. While this would be especially true of smaller pieces, larger pottery art can add a unique appeal to guests when entertaining.
A piece which can be used as a pitcher can be aesthetic and artful while also appealing to your guests. Plates can offer this same aesthetic which is a different feel from traditional china sets.
Ideas such as these allow for one to reconnect to the past, incorporate art into your home, and build aesthetic appeal unlike others. Concepts such as these would definitely set you apart from the status quo of many friends.
How Much Will The Art Cost?
While the cost of these different ideas can vary widely, I can give you a general idea in what you may find. First we must qualify what you may or may not call art.
If you are acquiring your piece through a branded retailer, then the cost will be more generally known by its brand. Yet I do not qualify these pieces as art. Rather I call them decor.
In my opinion art can only be had from an artisan, or in some cases a true craftsman. Virtually all artists would agree to this principle.
If you seek out these kinds of items from an artisan then expect to pay significantly more. Wall art for example can range anywhere between a few hundred dollars to a thousand or more. Scale and scope of the work of course matters.
Pieces with offer dual purposes as art and furniture will rarely start at no less than a thousand. Aesthetic pieces in glass and mobile art can be more competitive. Yet here too scale, scope, and detail matters.
Turned wood art such as bowls can easily be had at bargain prices comparatively speaking. A hundred dollars can still get you a nice small piece.
Sculpted stone, clay, and also pieces from pottery can all range widely. Here the material and art placed into the piece becomes the focus.
Natural Materials Make The Best Abstract Art
I know my love of natural materials is not shared by all. Nor will my opinion that natural materials making the best abstract art be agreed upon. Nevertheless its argument is strong.
Stone, wood, and even clay, have a call upon human nature which takes us back to older times. It is also a way to incorporate what is in nature into our man made structures. This alone brings a connection to a world that many miss out on.
Natural materials offer a uniqueness which plastics and metals cannot offer. What nature itself has done to the material creates a unique canvas that cannot be duplicated.
How a stone has been weathered, or the grain which has been placed into wood, it is like a fingerprint. Often what an artist does to the natural canvas is to enhance what nature itself has created.
This to me is far more valuable than man made resins which merely provide abstract beauty by color and shape. I do understand where I am in my thinking is a departure from the past.
Historically any abstract art idea was often focused on canvas and paint. Its rise to popularity in the mid 20th century was focused largely on this medium.
While earlier kinetic art was known, it was not until around the 1950s to 1960s that its real appreciation came to fruition. Early iterations of mobile and kinetic art was largely focused on metal and mechanization rather than beauty.
It has taken some time for there to be a resurgence of turning back to natural concepts and ideas. Yet we have arrived in an era where there is greater appreciation for these qualities. With this has come a deeper appreciation for natural arts.
How To Care For These Works Of Art
Natural materials can have specific needs in its care. This becomes more true if they are functional. There will also be many abstract arts which need no care at all.
Clay, glass, and pottery which are for aesthetic display need little interaction. Stone can also fall into this same category. The difference really comes in where our interaction around these items involves foods.
I am no specialist on how to care for pottery for its interaction with food, thus I will not pretend to know it here. Please do proper research on this.
Yet I do know wood and how to care for it in this case. If the wood art will have any kind of food items touching its surface, follow what I have laid out in preserving these wood pieces.
Stone can also need special care. There are preservatives which can be applied that is often used for granite counter tops. Again here I am no specialist yet have a general familiarity. I suggest researching options carefully.
When it comes to art made from the materials I have discussed, do take care to avoid excess water, heat, or scrubbing when cleaning. These items should always be hand cleaned, never machine washed.
In the case of wood, your preservation method should also be periodically reapplied as needed. This will help to ensure the art lasts for a lifetime.