The term "contemporary art" usually refers to any art produced after World War II. Contemporary painting styles are more diverse than they have ever been, and today's painters have a virtual lack of boundaries that define what is acceptable.
Listed below are a number of different contemporary styles. Most paintings are rendered in a synthesis of two or more styles. Use the ideas below and find your own unique style.
Realism
Realism can be broadly applied to anything that is depicted realistically, although "realism" as a movement often refers to the depiction of human subjects in a realistic manner. Subjects in these paintings are not posed and are not usually exhibiting dramatic behaviors--instead, they are simply doing the things they do in everyday life, often in settings that are not at all extraordinary. Most often these subjects are humble or subtly displaying their true humanity.
If you are seeking inspiration for this type of painting, look at the works of Edward Hopper. Choose photographs of friends, family or even strangers. It is best to choose subjects that seem unaware they are the subject of a painting or photograph. Paint the subject as it exists in space, in an everyday setting, doing something commonplace. Try to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.
As an alternative, try making a painting utilizing the hyper-realism of Chuck Close. Paint a portrait, large, up close and as realistically as possible. Use grids and careful planning to make the painting as realistic as a photograph--if possible, even more realistic than the photograph itself.
Abstract and Non-Representational
Abstraction is the breaking down of an object into simpler or specific, basic parts. Abstraction in painting can take many forms and is often confused with non-representational art, which literally is art about art, representing nothing but art.
An example of a non-representational painting would be the drip paintings of Jackson Pollock, while an example of abstract art would be the cubist paintings of Pablo Picasso. The difference between these two styles is that Picasso often painted pictures of things (people, scenes, objects), and Pollock's drip paintings were simply paint dripped on the canvas.
To complete an abstract painting, choose a subject--whatever subject that makes sense to you. You could be painting a still life, a landscape or a portrait. Depending on the degree of your abstraction, the final product may not even seem representational of the original subject. Now, study your subject. Break the subject down into its more basic parts. You may choose to focus on the organic qualities of your subject, or the harder and more angular edges. After completing a few studies of your subject, begin your painting on canvas. Use the abstraction to call attention to the parts of your subject that may be unnoticed or under-appreciated.
To complete a non-representational painting, choose your colors, your canvas and begin. You may or may not have an idea in mind when you start your painting. You are not painting an object, you are painting to paint. Allow the experience of painting itself to override your instinct to create something tangible and realistic.
Expressionistic
Expressionistic paintings are expressive of emotional states through use of paint strokes and color. These paintings are often dramatic, gestural, textural and vibrant. Expressive painters may paint in a primitive or juvenile manner to complement their use of vibrant color. The paintings may be abstracted, distorted, flattened or realistic.
Like an abstract painting, expressionistic paintings begin by simply picking a subject--any subject. Instead of breaking the subject down into simpler parts, when you paint it you'll be using gestural brush strokes and expressive colors. The final product will be a visceral and intense experience for the viewer. Expressionistic paintings are not dainty or timid.
Multimedia
A multimedia piece is any piece that combines two or more mediums. Painters may combine different types of paint or paint with other materials. For example, a painter may stretch a shirt on stretcher bars, paint a landscape on the shirt, pierce the image with safety pins, glue barrettes to the surface and call it "multimedia." In this way contemporary painters can truly stretch the limits of art. With the right resources and talent, artist can make anything they can conceive of. Artists who create multimedia pieces must research the materials they use, and they must be capable of handling the materials properly. For example, an artist using oil paint on a cloth surface that has not been primed (such as the shirt in the example just given) should be aware that oil paint will eventually cause that material to deteriorate.
Begin a multimedia image by deciding on a subject--and collecting data, facts and insights about that subject. Multimedia images have the ability to be multidimensional. These paintings can be as clever as you can make them. Gather materials that are related to the subject of the painting--or materials that stand in contrast to the painting. Remember to keep the image balanced and design. Multimedia paintings are fun while presenting a special kind of challenge.
