Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Beginning in the early 20th century, abstract art became a leading style of modernism. Rather than portray the world in a way that represented reality, as had been the dominating style of Western art in the previous centuries, abstract paintings, prints and sculptures are marked by a shift to geometric forms, gestural shapes and experimentation with color to express ideas, subject matter and scenes.
Although abstract art flourished in the early 1900s, propelled by movements like Fauvism and Cubism, it was rooted in the 19th century. In the 1840s, J.M.W. Turner emphasized light and motion for atmospheric paintings in which concrete details were blurred, and Paul Cézanne challenged traditional expectations of perspective in the 1890s.
Some of the earliest abstract artists — Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint — expanded on these breakthroughs while using vivid colors and forms to channel spiritual concepts. Painter Piet Mondrian, a Dutch pioneer of the art movement, explored geometric abstraction partly owing to his belief in Theosophy, which is grounded in a search for higher spiritual truths and embraces philosophers of the Renaissance period and medieval mystics. Black Square, a daringly simple 1913 work by Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, was a watershed statement on creating art that was free “from the dead weight of the real world,” as he later wrote.
Surrealism in the 1920s, led by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Meret Oppenheim and others, saw painters creating abstract pieces in order to connect to the subconscious. When Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York during the mid-20th century, it similarly centered on the process of creation, in which Helen Frankenthaler’s expressive “soak-stain” technique, Jackson Pollock’s drips of paint, and Mark Rothko’s planes of color were a radical new type of abstraction.
Conceptual art, Pop art, Hard-Edge painting and many other movements offered fresh approaches to abstraction that continued into the 21st century, with major contemporary artists now exploring it, including Anish Kapoor, Mark Bradford, El Anatsui and Julie Mehretu.
Find original abstract paintings, sculptures, prints and other art on 1stDibs.
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Tempera, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Cotton, Paper, Watercolor
Artist Comments
A minimalist triangle emerges on a white background, exuding a bold yet understated appeal. It captures artist John Diehl's mastery of geometric precision wit...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink
Artist Comments
A bold black triangle against a stark white background creates a minimalist yet striking composition. It reflects artist John Diehl's mastery of geometric pre...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink
Artist Comments
Black lines form a minimalist triangle against a white background, reflecting artist John Diehl's mastery of geometric precision with freehand artistry. Part...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor, Graphite, Pencil
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Canvas, Epoxy Resin, Pigment
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1950s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Watercolor
Late 20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Gouache
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
Artist Comments
Artist Patricia Prendergast paints an impressionist view of the Sierra mountains. Mesmerized by the unique colors of the environment, she replicates it with a light green base and paints over the alpine scenery. Patricia reveals sections of the foundation and imposes multilayered hues to create a vibration of light. The snowcapped mountain range brightly glows along the pristine Lake Tahoe.
About the Artist
Pastel artist Patricia Prendergast creates impressionist artworks that depict the rivers and landscapes near her home in Sacramento, California. With each nature vignette, she captures the sense of larger natural rhythms through quick mark-making, mauve undertones, and a tranquil and serene haziness. Her work recalls the paintings from the Hudson River School such as Thomas Cole and Asher Brown Durand. Before working on her pastels at home in her studio, she spends hours studying nature on walks along the river near her home. Since becoming an artist, she says “everything is more vivid - the beauty of light and shadow in the trees, the subtlety of the color of clouds, the sparkle and reflections in water.†Her work as been exhibited in solo shows around California. She is represented by UGallery.
Words that describe this painting: Lake Tahoe, impressionism, mountain, lake, evening, snow, Alpine, sunset, Sierra Mountains, clouds, sky, water, reflection, serene, dusk, nature, pastelwork, small, impressionism, nature, pastel artwork...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Oil Pastel
Mid-20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel
Mid-20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Archival Paper, Graphite
1990s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Gouache
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Charcoal, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper
1990s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Color Pencil
Late 20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Gouache
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Archival Ink, Archival Paper
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Graphite
1960s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1950s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Charcoal, Laid Paper
Late 20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Gouache
1950s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor, Gouache
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper, Encaustic, Board
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Oil Pastel, Etching
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink
Early 2000s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Mixed Media, ABS
20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Charcoal
1960s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Chalk, Ink
1990s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Pastel, Archival Paper
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink
1960s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Gouache
Mid-20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Gouache
Mid-20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Oil
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Screen
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
Mid-20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Gouache
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink, Gouache, Graphite
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Wood, Ink, Mixed Media, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Archival Paper, Handmade Paper, Monoprint, Monotype
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink
1890s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Pastel
20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Canvas, Epoxy Resin, Pigment
1960s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel