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, Watercolor
Early 2000s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Gouache
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Archival Paper, Graphite
Early 2000s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Synthetic Paper
1950s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
India Ink, Handmade Paper
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Acrylic, Archival Paper
1920s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Pastel
Late 20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Tempera, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Pen
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Paper, Pastel
Early 2000s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Gesso, Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Watercolor
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Tempera, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor, Wood Panel, Color Pencil, Graphite
Artist Comments
Emerald grasses sprawl into the distance of an open landscape. A peaceful scene as the sun rises. Trees stretch into the gradient sky drawing the eye to a flock of birds flying free. "I find that getting away to the country offers a quiet and peace that lends itself to times of reflection and meditation," shares artist Posey Gaines.
About the Artist
Using flowing watercolors, artist Posey Gaines creates atmospheric, high-contrast landscapes developed mostly from intuition. He often starts a piece by simply putting paint to paper and then decides on the elements to bring the composition together. He draws on memories of places he has lived and reference photos taken on road trips to arrive at the final serene and eye-catching view. Posey says that from a young age artistic inspiration has touched everything he's done in life. He plays the piano, the guitar and the bass guitar, writes poetry and wrote a book. Posey first discovered watercolor in the 1970s while auditing art classes at East Central College near his home. Over the years, he's honed his skills attending workshops and watching DVDs. Today, he enjoys painting from a tidy home studio while listening to music. True to his well-rounded personality, when he’s not making art, he works as a web developer.
Words that describe this painting: landscape, morning, sunrise, nature, quiet, hike, sky, clouds, desert...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor
Mid-20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Archival Ink, Watercolor, Gouache, Archival Paper, Pencil, Color Pencil
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Gouache
20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
1940s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Graphite
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Enamel
Early 2000s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, India Ink, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
1950s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Charcoal
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Ink
20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Pencil
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Archival Paper, Graphite
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1950s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Laid Paper, Charcoal
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor, Gouache
Mid-20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Gouache
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Pencil
1960s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Mixed Media
Mid-20th Century Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Pencil
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1970s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor, Gouache
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Found Objects, Ink, Gouache, Pencil
1990s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Encaustic, Watercolor, Archival Paper
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor, Archival Paper
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Rag Paper, Pen
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Archival Pigment
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Ink, Paper, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Watercolor
1910s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Pastel
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Poplar, Gouache
1930s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Graphite
1980s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Watercolor, Archival Paper
1970s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Oil Pastel, Watercolor
2010s Abstract Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Paper, Oil