Abstract art is just one of the many styles of painting.
Painting is an art form with a history spanning thousands of years. It is the process of using paint or pigment to convey emotion, express ideas or for simple aesthetic purposes. There are different styles and techniques associated with painting, each of which uses different approaches to portray an image or put forth an idea.
Pointillism
Pointillism is a very distinctive style of art in which tiny dots are applied to a surface in a pattern to create an image. The artist uses a combination of primary colors to create secondary colors on an image. For example, applying dots of blue and yellow over one another creates a field of green grass. This style of painting is an extension of Impressionism. The most notable works of Pointillism are "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat and "The Windmills at Overschie" by Paul Signac.
Impressionism
Impressionism began in the late 19th century in France. In this style of painting, artists use small strokes of primary colors to replicate reflected light on natural images, such as landscapes. This art form is known as optical realism because of the importance light and movement plays in the paintings. Claude Monet produced some of the most famous Impressionistic works, including "Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies". Edgar Degas' "Dance Class" is another famous work done in this style of painting.
Pop Art
Pop Art refers to an art movement and style that originated in the England in the late 1950's. In this style of art, images of popular objects from mass culture--such as comic strips, advertisements, supermarket goods and other commodities-- create interesting paintings. These objects are either painted in an isolated manner or with a variety of other popular objects. The purpose is to contemplate the nature and origin of the popularity of the objects. Pop Art's intention is a parody of popular culture. Andy Warhol is one of the most famous Pop Artist's. His works, "Campbell's Soup" and "Marilyn Monroe" are some of his most well-known works. Other notable Pop Artist's include Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Indiana.
