Paul Jackson Pollack was an American artist known for his improvisational style of abstract art which was created by dripping and flinging paint onto a canvass. This style of Action Painting emphasized line and colour over form.

Mark Rothko was an abstract painter of Latvian-Jewish descent. He is known for his Colour Field paintings, where he used blurred outlines and large areas of colour to express himself.

Willem de Kooning is a Dutch-American abstract expressionist painter. He is considered an Action Painter who used paint to create emotional, abstract gestures.

Jean-Paul Riopelle was a painter and sculptor from Quebec. He is best known for his “mosaic” works of the 1950s which he created by using only a palette knife to apply paint to canvas, giving his works a sculptural quality.

Alexandra Luke was born in Montreal, Quebec. In 1952, she organized the first Canadian Abstract Exhibition, where she met many of the members who would later become Painter’s Eleven. In addition to exhibiting as a professional artist, Alexandra Luke was a teacher and helped to create an artistic community in Oshawa, Ontario.

William Ronald is one of the founding members of Painter’s Eleven, an influential group of abstract painters from Ontario. He graduated from the Ontario College of Art in 1951. William Ronald is also known for his nonrepresentational portraits of Canadian Prime Ministers (1977-1984).

Clifford Still was born in 1904 in Grandin, North Dakota. His work started as realistic images and landscapes and then transitioned to abstract shapes, colours and lines through which he expressed his ideas and feelings on large scale canvases.

Lines are the paths left by a moving point, such as a pencil or a digital drawing tool. A line can be a mark, a guide, or a boundary that leads the audience’s attention in an artwork. Diversity in the type, orientation, and/or quality of lines can be used to suggest a variety of ideas, shapes, or emotions. For example, horizontal and curving lines can feel restful or inactive. Vertical and diagonal lines can create the idea of movement or action. Horizontal and vertical lines can create stability.

A shape is a form that is enclosed or outlined. For example, when three lines meet they create the shape of a triangle. A shape has length and width. A shape’s boundary can be created by line, value, colour and/or texture. Shapes may be geometric or organic.

In scientific terms, colour is the particular wavelength of light viewed by the eye when an object reflects or emits light. The four characteristics of colour are hue, value, intensity, and temperature. Colour categories include primary, secondary and tertiary. Colours can also be sorted into the temperatures of warm or cool colours. Cool colours include blue, green and purple. Warm colours include red, orange and yellow.

Value is the lightness or darkness in an artwork. Value is created by the gradual changes in the lightness or darkness of an artwork even when colour is absent. Changes in value can be created by adding white or black to a colour and/or by erasing or adding more art medium to an art piece. Value is used to create the illusion of texture and light in art.

Form is the three-dimensional shape and dimensions of an artwork, or objects within an artwork. Form can also mean the illusion of a two-dimensional object being three-dimensional. A shape can appear to be a form with length, width and height by using shading and/or perspective. Forms can be geometric or organic.

Texture is the feeling and appearance of a surface. Texture can be smooth, rough, furry or soft. Texture can be the illusion of texture or real texture.

Space can be the area around, inside, or between parts of an artwork. Space can be a physical distance between objects. Space can also be an illusion of distance in a two-dimensional piece. The illusion of space can be created by a variety of techniques, including overlapping parts, a variety of sizes, changing value or colour, the use of detail, and perspective.

Contrast is the use of opposing elements of design in order to highlight their differences and create balance, interest, or a focal point. Contrast is the opposite of unity. For example, contrast can be created by using the opposite values of dark and light. Contrast often creates emphasis in an art piece.

Rhythm uses repeated elements to create movement in an artwork. Repeating elements direct the audience’s attention through the artwork in a set pathway. Rhythm gives a sense of unity to artwork. For example, creating a line of similar shapes create the impression of moving along a path.

Repetition is the repeated use of similar elements and effects in an art piece. The repeated use of an element creates unity in an artwork. Repetition may give attention to one idea. Repetition can create a feeling of harmonious relationship. Repeating one element can also make a pattern or create a rhythmic movement of the audience’s attention. For example, a repeated pattern of similar brushstrokes can lead the audience’s attention through the artwork.

Variety is created by using diverse elements in art for contrast. Variety can be created by using diverse shapes, sizes, colours and textures.

Emphasis is the special importance given to one part or element in an artwork. Emphasis directs the audience’s attention to the chosen element first. Emphasis can be created using design elements such as contrast, colour, and size. For example, a shape can be emphasized by making it contrast and stand out to the audience.

Proportion is the connection between objects and their sizes. Proportion includes the parts of a whole being the right sizes. For example, an image of an outdoor scene with the right proportions between a large building and the smaller people around it would appear to be realistic.

Balance is a principle of design. Balance is when the elements in an art piece create the impression of stability. Balance is created by having equal parts on each side of the art.

Unity means the arrangement of elements to create a sense of wholeness. Unity can be created by using repeated elements or having similar elements. Unity creates a feeling of satisfaction in the audience.

Harmony is created by the use of similar elements. Similar elements can be similar shapes, colours, or themes. Harmony makes the elements fit together. Art with harmony feels balanced.

Movement is the impression of action along a path in an art piece. Elements are used so that the audience’s attention follows a set path. Movement can be created by using lines, edges, shapes, colours, and values. Movement often ends at the most important part of an artwork.

Decide which artist and style of abstract art inspires you. Return to the artwork shared in the Minds On and Action section as inspiration. Create an audio, video or written description of your plan and procedure for your abstract art piece.

Create an abstract art piece using a digital application of your choice.

Step 1: Decide which artist and style of abstract art inspires you. Return to the artwork shared in the Minds On and Action section as inspiration.

Step 2: Choose a topic, feeling or idea that you want to express in your art. What will the title be?

Step 3: Consider the abstract stylistic elements that you will use to express yourself..

Step 4: Sketch out your design on your canvas.

Step 5: If using colour, consult and explore the colour wheel to plan your colour scheme (cool, warm, complementary, monochromatic, combination)

Step 6: If you are working with paint, consider how you might add abstract elements such as gestural strokes, markings or splatter techniques to your canvas.

Step 7: If you are using shapes and forms, outline the stylistic features that you would like to emphasize on your canvas.

Share your abstract art piece with a partner, if possible.