Combining Geometry And Abstract Elements In Digital Artwork

Like many other people, I enjoy artworks that include elements of geometry. I also like artworks that employ abstract elements in their compositions. But can these two different elements work together successfully within a single artwork? The visual appeal of combining geometry and abstract artworks lies in the intriguing contrast they create. Geometric shapes, with their clear lines and defined forms, provide a sense of order and stability. When placed against an abstract background, these shapes stand out more prominently, drawing the viewer's eye and creating focal points within the artwork. The abstract elements, on the other hand, add depth, movement, and emotional resonance to the piece. This combination allows for a rich interplay between structure and spontaneity, making the artwork both engaging and thought-provoking.

Mixing geometric shapes with abstract backgrounds is a well-established practice in the world of art. This blend has been explored by many modern and contemporary artists who seek to balance the precision of geometry with the fluidity and spontaneity of abstract forms. Artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, and Kazimir Malevich have famously incorporated geometric elements within their abstract compositions, creating visually striking and intellectually stimulating pieces. The juxtaposition of structured shapes against chaotic backgrounds offers a dynamic visual experience and highlights the versatility of these two styles.

Being a fan of Kandinsky's work, and geometric influenced art generally, I recently decided to try combining elements of geometry and abstraction into a digital artwork. Starting with a simple monochrome image created with Stable Diffusion (see below) I used Studio Artist 5.5, a digital artwork program, to create the geometric and abstract elements.

This is the start image for the artwork, a simple graphic style monochrome vector illustration portrait of a woman wearing a hat. The clean background and black and white shapes would make selection and masking of these image elements easier when placing the respective sections of the artwork into position.

The final image (shown below) was created with Studio Artist 5.5. A combination of circles and squares were used for the geometric elements covering the hat, face and body, while the background was replaced with a series of chaotic lines using a variety of different colours. To start, I added a series of pale grey close packed circles on a dark grey background to sections of the hat, and a mix of different multi coloured close packed circles to additional parts of the hat, along with the eyes, nose, mouth and hair. I decided to use a set of pale grey squares for the remaining parts of the face, to give both a complimentary and contrasting look to the grey and coloured circles used for other parts of the head and hat. The circles used for the lower part of the image were larger in size than those used for the hair and hat, to add more variety of scale to the composition.

To finish, I used the Studio Artist MSG editor to create a suitable abstract background comprised of two layers. Firstly, a set of mixed diagonal streaks were added to all of the background, with a blur filter added to soften the effect towards the edges of the image. Secondly, a series of dense multi coloured chaotic lines were overlaid on the diagonal streaks layer, covering a mostly circular shaped area around the portrait figure.

When completed to my satisfaction, I saved the Studio Artist work as a png file, and subsequently did some minor editing with an image editor to correct brightness, contrast and colour.

The final image is certainly different to the monochrome start version. Overall, I find these types of images particularly appealing because there are so many different elements to discover and observe in the composition. Whether its the clearly defined shapes and clarity of the geometric elements in the portrait figure, or the chaos of the background, one could spend a considerable time observing this image to take in all it has to offer, but still come back on subsequent occasions and discover something new. And that to me is the beauty of these type of artworks, always offering something else to observe and discover.

As for the best-suited rooms for displaying geometric and abstract artworks, these pieces tend to fit well in contemporary and modern spaces. Living rooms, offices, and galleries with minimalist or eclectic decor can benefit from the bold visual impact of such art. The clean lines of geometric shapes complement modern furnishings, while the abstract backgrounds add a layer of complexity and interest. Additionally, these artworks can also work well in more traditional settings, where they provide a refreshing contrast and a contemporary touch.

Final image, created with Studio Artist 5.5

For anyone interested, this image is available for purchase from my Fine Art America store, as prints and greeting cards among other things.

#digitalart #geometry #geometricart #wallart #philippreston