Painting and Understanding Abstract Art Paperback – July 31, 2010

There are so many exciting exercises to practice applying fundamental principles of abstract art and provide the basis from which one can overcome a creative block. The original art of the author is gorgeous - especially his use of colors. The section on color theory is presented differently from many other books and useful for developing a greater understanding of the interaction of pigment colors.

Many books I've read on understanding and painting Abstract art fall short on either the "how" to take a concept (you need to start somewhere, right?) and move it from the artists brain into a painting that successfully employs the elements of color, design, rhythm and repetition OR the author gets bogged down intellectualizing about color theory and ends up confusing the reader..While Lowry's book gives some good exercises on developing and painting abstract art, his approach to color theory is laborious and WAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY to analytical for the average painter. There are other, more practical approaches to color theory that don't over intellectualize the process (try Michael Wilcox and Stephen Quiller to name two) and get you moving paint around on the canvas quicker. What might have made a good book, lost me completely when he loaded up with a complex series of 3-dimensional charts that were complicated and confusing trying to explain his approach to understanding color. Overall the book was a disappointment.

Wonderful book, it is helping me understand and appreciate abstract art. I am a beginning acrylic painter, there are some great ideas in this book to inspire you in your projects.

One of the best books I’ve seen.

A very succinct explaination on abstract art - provides use of colour, shapes, composition of themes and more importantly how to interpret abstract art. Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in abstract art, a book not just for the painter but also great if you are a collector of abstract art.  Painting and Understanding Abstract Art

Chose the 5 star rating because I think this book is a great piece of work regarding Abstract Art. I would highly recommend this book to students trying to understand Abstract Art. I have used it during art classes and to self understand Abstract Art. Great book.

This book has lot of information for abstract artist ,i really found interesting had lot of ideas how to work with abstract.

I love this book and I am enjoying the projects and it is helping me understand what abstract art is.

I bought this book as I wanted to see whether abstract art was something I could enjoy doing myself. I really enjoyed this book because the writer not only explains comprehensively the salient points of this type of art but also provides you with exercises that weren't as intimidating as I initially thought. His writing really encourages you to have a go and indeed I am just "in the flow" now which is so exciting. The book is such a good reminder that art isn't always about copying but using your imagination which is perhaps more satisfying and artistic.

I thoroughly recommend this book, especially as I had very little knowledge or understanding of abstract art. I am really pleased with this purchase and I am certain that I will be referring to the book regularly, for both inspiration and to undertake the useful exercises offered throughout.

This book has done exactly what I hoped it would, that is help me to a better understanding of abstract art, both in viewing andexecution. The book explains the history of the genre and the artists involved moving on to examples of some of the artists with exercises to try in each particular style giving examples he has done. The majority of his own work is done in pastels but does not detract from the usefulness of trying them in the preferred media. I would recommend this excellent book to anyone interested in learning more about abstract painting in a straightforward no waffle way.

I am currently studying for a fine art degree and have found this book to be a good and practical introduction into the World of Abstraction. Beautifully illustrated and concisely written with lots of suggestions as to how you may explore abstract painting in your own work.

John Lowry manages to unravel the mysteries of abstract art, and gives a step by step approach to how to move from representation to abstraction. I have read many books about abstract art, but this is the only one I have come across so far which gave me some "ah-ha" moments.