Art Deco, more a style in architecture and illustrative design, also took the western world by storm. It found new ways to articulate facades, changed the classical proportions of living spaces, and brought a feminine elegance to public environments. Posters, newspapers and books were festooned with Art Deco flourishes and the revival of dark and mystical folk-lore themes. New techniques in stained glass, ceramics and architecture meant that more novel things were being made, being bought and being used. The government-supported economic boom of the 1920s resulted in thousands of Art Deco artisans being engaged to decorate buildings that were erected during that time, to the degree that some you can only ever see from the top deck of a bus as you tour the streets of New York.

Before we define what it is, let’s talk about representational art.

Representational art is one of the types of “Visual Arts” that tries to accurately portray things we see. When you look at a realistic painting of a flower or a historical battle, you’re looking at representational art.

This style dominated European art for centuries, especially with the rise of the Renaissance values of perspective and form. It became a foregone conclusion that art would try to look realistic. In the 15th to 19th centuries, all the greatest European artists worked hard to master and discover techniques of representation.

But that isn’t the only way to depict something — and you don’t even have to depict anything at all! That’s where abstract art shines. It tries to portray abstract ideas or to show something in a new, non-realistic way.

While there was an explosion in Western abstract art in the 20th century, many cultures had already experimented with abstraction long before. A few examples of historical abstract art include:

1. • Islamic art
   • Chinese art from the Tang Dynasty
   • Southwestern Native American art

In some cases, these cultures used entirely abstract, geometric figures, like Islamic art. Others played around with depicting the real world in abstract ways, like some Tang dynasty artists. Still others combined abstract shapes and abstracted images of real world creatures in their designs, like many Southwestern Native American styles.

So, to summarize, if a work of art deals in abstract ideas or portrays real things in strange and non-representational ways, it is abstract art.

In the West, abstract art came out of the Impressionist movement of the 19th century. These artists, like Claude Monet, were breaking down what they saw into simpler colors and lines — that is, they were getting the mere “impression” of what they saw.

The post-impressionists pushed things further by the turn of the 20th century. Artists like Vincent Van Gogh were moving further and further away from what they saw and into how things felt. These pioneers inspired others like the Cubists and the Fauvists who went even further into abstraction.

The Cubists threw away with traditional ideas of perspective and linear time, leading to many of the masterpieces of Pablo Picasso. The Fauvists like Henri Matisse, meanwhile, were focusing on surprising color choices. They would still paint scenes, portraits and landscapes — but the colors were not representational, like purple skies, blue hair and other unexpected colors.

As we can see, these painters were all part of a long journey out of representational art. That’s how strong a hold it had on European sensibilities. It took generations of masters choosing to go a little further into the wilderness of abstraction before purely abstract work could be created.

But after the breakthroughs of the Cubists and Fauvists and others like them, European artists were ready to fully embrace abstraction. Artists like Wassily Kandinsky began going wild, pursuing expression without direct representation. By the 1920’s, abstract art was off to the races.

Over the course of the 20th century, many new names arose. Mark Rothko painted large fields of color. Barnett Newman played with powerful yet simple compositions. Jackson Pollock flung paint on a canvas to capture his vision.

When looking at an abstract work on the wall — like the above canvas print “Safe and Sound”, one of Carmen Guedez’s best selling abstract art featured on the Overstock website, you’ll be confronted with details, but it might not “look” like anything. That’s okay!

Original abstract art will still create interest on the canvas, you just have to open up to your real feelings. How do the colors work together? Where does your eye land first? Does the painting make you feel anything or think of anything? After you look long enough, some paintings will begin to look like something — a bizarre landscape or maybe a portrait. Moreover, abstract paintings can even bring a calmer feel, good energy to a room, and be a personal healer during stressful times.

There are a few things you can do to get your bearings when looking at a work whether it is an abstract wall art on canvas, sculpture, or any other visual medium. A few tips to help you get started:

1. • Don’t “try” to understand it, let yourself absorb the feeling of the painting
   • Begin to ask yourself questions, like how it makes you feel or what it reminds you of
   • If you know other work by the same artist, ask yourself how this piece is similar and different

These make for helpful jumping off points, but the ultimate test is whether or not you like it.

With some artistic talent, you can create a simple acrylic abstract art. You can find many videos online just by searching “DIY Abstract Art”. If painting is not one of your skills, there are many places you can find artwork, from galleries and art fairs to online ecommerce portals like online marketplaces or artist websites.

In fact, we are lucky to live in a time with so much art available. But that produces its own problem. Because with so much available to buy, how do you pick?

Finding great pieces can be a wonderful adventure with the right attitude and tools. And if you keep your tastes and budget in mind while navigating all the different marketplaces, you are sure to find that perfect work of art for you.

But while the internet might make research easier, it’s far from the only way to do it. Going to art museums or galleries near you is a rewarding way to spend your time and helps by showing you art in person — the best way to view it.

You can also find large format art books in any library or local bookstore. These books will often have interesting information on the artists and insights into the technique, materials, and styles being employed.

With your tastes sharpened, it is time to think strategically about how you’ll spend your money. It is always good to set out a budget. This can help you keep your love for art within your means.

For collectors working on a smaller budget or just starting out, fine art prints of abstract paintings can be a great place to start. These are less expensive, and with the high quality paper and inks available today, they can make a great impression.

Prints, such as posters, canvas, acrylics, and even on metal and wood, are especially helpful if you have a limited budget.

If you are looking to have works of art that might sell for as much if not more than you bought them for, you’ll want to be careful about the prints you purchase. If you want them to retain and appreciate in value, be sure to always buy limited edition prints. These will come numbered and with paperwork proving provenance. Because they are limited to a certain number of prints in a run, you know how many prints like yours exist in the world.

Alternatively, open edition prints are available at a great value to the customer. These can be printed over and over again by the artist, so the number of prints just like yours can’t be guaranteed, and that is just fine.

In contrast to a flat print — that is manufactured in large quantities, original paintings are more expensive and more as an investment because they are created directly by the hand of the artist. They are one-of-a-kind pieces you won’t find anywhere else. These works provide a more engaging and enriching experience and require to have a bigger budget.

Once you’ve purchased the artwork, you now bring it into your living space. While the journey of buying it is over, you still need to know a few things to keep your art looking great.

Poor handling and care for art is a great way to lose value in your piece and potentially ruin it completely. While it isn’t difficult to do it the right way, it’s almost impossible if you don’t know how.

If you own an abstract art print or canvas, proper handling and care includes:

1. • Hanging out of direct or excessive indirect UV light, or covering in UV resistant glass
   • Keeping out of humid areas, like bathrooms or basements
   • Keeping work at a constant temperature, around 70 degrees
   • Dusting with soft brushes and gentle strokes
   • Keeping above zones where children or pets might cause damage
   • Washing your hands before touching, and wearing cotton gloves if at all possible
   • Keeping away from harsh chemicals
   • Never stacking work when moving, instead covering in plastic, cushion, and place in rigid containers
   • Educating any movers who might not know how to handle your piece

As you can see, many of these require just a little bit of added thought when choosing where to hang your piece. Be especially aware when making a big move, though. These are often stressful times where details get swept away because we are so anxious to get things done — but moves are a major risk for works of art.