Abstracts: 50 Inspirational Projects

I like the projects and exercises to work through. Good guidance.

Although I've been painting for many years, I wanted to find out how to go about doing abstract paintings: I wanted to know the secret ingredients of a good abstract painting. This book did answer some of my questions. It is a very attractive book, and enjoyable to look through, there are many interesting examples of abstract work. It has some very good information on the elements of painting at the beginning, also. I am still exploring the book, but so far have found several of the author's projects useful, out of the 50 in the book. I'd recommend it to those who want some help with understanding and developing their own abstract work, as well as to enhance figurative work, or who are curious to know how other people go about it. What it lacks perhaps is the ideas and thought processes which I assumed went into abstract paintings, this book doesn't touch on anything intellectual, purely the practical side of making an abstract.

I would say that this book is more suited to the ‘hobby’ artist. Apart from the front cover I found all the images to be of an amateur nature and uninspiring. Thus if you are a serious artist wanting to progress to a more professional way of working this book is just too basic. It has interesting principals at the beginning but the exercises and examples given are just to basic and uninspiring to really stretch abstract art making in an interesting and innovative way.

I love this book as a reference book. It is not paint by numbers or a book of paintings to flip through. This has real theoretical insight into painting abstractly. There are suggestions of projects but they are all based in theory.The text is as important as the illlustrations . Fabulous.

I now have all four of Rolina Van Vliet's books on the techniques of abstract painting and can heartily recommend them to anybody who is interested in exploring what abstract painting involves. These 50 projects will give you hooks to hang your thoughts on and a place to start. This is an invaluable aid as abstract painters do not have the luxury of having the basics of picture composition worked out for them in the form of photographs or the work of other artists. I can highly recommend these books.

Excellent resource book - full of inspiring projects

lovely book about abstract painting, bought it by mistake as I am interested mostly in watercolours.

Very pleased. Good instructions and colorful paintings. Very pleased. Good content and colorful paintings.