#Abstract Figurative Art

[zehpeh]

"IN THE SHADE" - acrylics/ink on watercolour paper (+digital) - February 2024

[teravarna0]

The Different Types of Figurative Paintings

Before we jump onto discussing the different types of figurative paintings, let’s take some time to understand the meaning of figurative art. This art form traces its history to more than 45,500 years ago. The oldest figurative art was discovered to be paintings of warty pigs in a cave in Indonesia. This art form has been developing since then and has emerged in different forms across the world. 

What is Figurative Art?

Figurative art is any art that represents the real world object. It is derived from real object sources and is sometimes also known as figurativism. This form of art caries strong references of the real world, mainly including human figures. While it can also depict animals or other real-world subjects, human figures are a common subject in modern figurative art.

Another common trait to identify this form of art is to see if the subjects depicted in the art composition are identifiable or not. If you can easily identify the subject of a painting and name it, then it is probably a figurative artwork.

Types of Figurative Paintings

Now that we are familiar with the meaning of figurative art, let’s take a look at the type of paintings that are most common in contemporary times as part of figurativism. As it is such a vast concept, you will realize that it encapsulates various different genres of art that are also figurative at core.

But before we get started, remember that we cannot segregate any form of art based on textbook rules. Hence, some of these may feel like artworks that could fall in multiple categories upon slight changes. In that case, feel free to identify them with what type feels most obvious or relatable to you.

Portrait Figurative Art

Portrait is any type of figurative art that has a human or animal figure as the main subject of the painting. These figurative artworks have very little to no focus on the background or the surrounding of the subject. A portrait painting can be of an individual subject, dual subjects or even three or more. In that case it comes a group portrait figurative painting. In some cases, when artists create their own painting, or sculpture, it becomes a self-portrait form of portraiture. 

Landscape Figurative Painting

These type of figurative paintings place emphasis on a place more than the living beings present in that space. While there is no textbook rule that prevents living subjects from being a part of a landscape figurativism, the emphasis is always more on the scenery.These figurative paintings can include architectural paintings, seascape paintings, cityscapes or even forests or a water body or other natural or man made structure. For example, a painting of a mountain is a landscape and thus by default figurative painting.

Still - Life Figurative Art

When you paint or depict any non-living object whether in the form of painting, sculpture, or even photograph, it is still-life. This type of figurative paintings include all artworks that do not consist of any type of mobile objects. For example, flowers. While they are living, they are not mobile and remain still. Hence they fall under the category still-life. Similarly, if you paint a fruit basket with different fruits, it is a figurative painting of still-life objects. These paintings are not so commonly created in modern figurative art, but they were once extremely popular during older days. However, since it represents a real  world object, it is a type of figurative artwork.

Abstract Figurative Art

Now if you are confused seeing this category called abstract figurative art, then don’t be. It is a rather new development in figurative painting genre and has slowly been gaining popularity worldwide. People often get confused about how can a painting be both representational i.e. figurative and non-representational i.e. abstract at the same time, But when you start experimenting with exploring different genres of art, you realize that it is possible to do it. 

As the name suggests, figurative abstract art is a combination of two different schools of art. For example, if you see a painting of a human, but their features are not very clear and you can only see a featureless face, just defined by shapes and colors, with no eyes or mouth or nose, then it is probably an abstract figurative art. This school of art focuses on combining two different genres to create a new contemporary style of figurative painting. It would essentially carry some bits of representational objects and remaining bits of non-representational objects. 

Explore Figurative Art with Figurative Art Competitions

While there are numerous ways to learn figurative art, one of the easiest ways to learn it is by participating in any figurative art competition. These competitions are focused on discovering artists who have a thorough understanding of this subject. Hence,if you participate in such competitions, you will not only discover a plethora of figurative paintings, but you will also learn its nuances, figurative painting techniques, and its basic to advanced features in  order to become a better artist.

[the-paradigm-web]

[my-eclectic-nature]

https://denisesilva.art/angels-from-the-field-collection/

[e9art]

why should i stay here when there is so much more interesting

AI assisted digital collectible art by e9Art using Disco Diffusion v5.7, Photoshop, et al. May 2023

[legoff72]

25

[spoopdeedoop]

magic (8 ball) mike

[autoneurotic]

westbury hill horse

[jareckiworld]

Krzysztof Kiwerski — The Sage IV (acrylic, canvas, on board, 2007)

[fuskida]

"If I don't then I'll fall apart" 2022 artwork by Hanna Lee Joshi

[teravarna0]

The Different Types of Figurative Paintings

Before we jump onto discussing the different types of figurative paintings, let’s take some time to understand the meaning of figurative art. This art form traces its history to more than 45,500 years ago. The oldest figurative art was discovered to be paintings of warty pigs in a cave in Indonesia. This art form has been developing since then and has emerged in different forms across the world. 

What is Figurative Art?

Figurative art is any art that represents the real world object. It is derived from real object sources and is sometimes also known as figurativism. This form of art caries strong references of the real world, mainly including human figures. While it can also depict animals or other real-world subjects, human figures are a common subject in modern figurative art.

Another common trait to identify this form of art is to see if the subjects depicted in the art composition are identifiable or not. If you can easily identify the subject of a painting and name it, then it is probably a figurative artwork.

Types of Figurative Paintings

Now that we are familiar with the meaning of figurative art, let’s take a look at the type of paintings that are most common in contemporary times as part of figurativism. As it is such a vast concept, you will realize that it encapsulates various different genres of art that are also figurative at core.

But before we get started, remember that we cannot segregate any form of art based on textbook rules. Hence, some of these may feel like artworks that could fall in multiple categories upon slight changes. In that case, feel free to identify them with what type feels most obvious or relatable to you.

Portrait Figurative Art

Portrait is any type of figurative art that has a human or animal figure as the main subject of the painting. These figurative artworks have very little to no focus on the background or the surrounding of the subject. A portrait painting can be of an individual subject, dual subjects or even three or more. In that case it comes a group portrait figurative painting. In some cases, when artists create their own painting, or sculpture, it becomes a self-portrait form of portraiture. 

Landscape Figurative Painting

These type of figurative paintings place emphasis on a place more than the living beings present in that space. While there is no textbook rule that prevents living subjects from being a part of a landscape figurativism, the emphasis is always more on the scenery.These figurative paintings can include architectural paintings, seascape paintings, cityscapes or even forests or a water body or other natural or man made structure. For example, a painting of a mountain is a landscape and thus by default figurative painting.

Still - Life Figurative Art

When you paint or depict any non-living object whether in the form of painting, sculpture, or even photograph, it is still-life. This type of figurative paintings include all artworks that do not consist of any type of mobile objects. For example, flowers. While they are living, they are not mobile and remain still. Hence they fall under the category still-life. Similarly, if you paint a fruit basket with different fruits, it is a figurative painting of still-life objects. These paintings are not so commonly created in modern figurative art, but they were once extremely popular during older days. However, since it represents a real  world object, it is a type of figurative artwork.

Abstract Figurative Art

Now if you are confused seeing this category called abstract figurative art, then don’t be. It is a rather new development in figurative painting genre and has slowly been gaining popularity worldwide. People often get confused about how can a painting be both representational i.e. figurative and non-representational i.e. abstract at the same time, But when you start experimenting with exploring different genres of art, you realize that it is possible to do it. 

As the name suggests, figurative abstract art is a combination of two different schools of art. For example, if you see a painting of a human, but their features are not very clear and you can only see a featureless face, just defined by shapes and colors, with no eyes or mouth or nose, then it is probably an abstract figurative art. This school of art focuses on combining two different genres to create a new contemporary style of figurative painting. It would essentially carry some bits of representational objects and remaining bits of non-representational objects. 

Explore Figurative Art with Figurative Art Competitions

While there are numerous ways to learn figurative art, one of the easiest ways to learn it is by participating in any figurative art competition. These competitions are focused on discovering artists who have a thorough understanding of this subject. Hence, if you participate in such competitions, you will not only discover a plethora of figurative paintings, but you will also learn its nuances, figurative painting techniques, and its basic to advanced features in  order to become a better artist.

[the-paradigm-web]

@adrianodevincentiis

[my-eclectic-nature]

https://denisesilva.art/for-the-love-of-cats-collection/

[internationalemeteorologie]

Anne Magill

Storm. 2022

[legoff72]

[ex0skeletal-undead]

Two-Body, oil painting by Kim Jakobsson