In the typical mixed bag art exhibit, the typical viewer runs quickly past the occasional abstract painting to get to the next small scale, charming landscape or seascape. Why? Because, as a result of years of real-world conditioning, the viewer expects to see things that are familiar and recognizable. Sunlight playing on sand dunes and sea grass is familiar. Perhaps a rendition of the Sandy Hook lighthouse is comfortable to behold. These images are easy to digest. Understanding an abstract painting might prove too much of a challenge to one's imagination!

Often a viewer resorts to saying "I don't know what I'm looking at." The answer to this is simple - you are looking at a painting, just like that depiction of the lighthouse is a painting. It's not necessary to lay down rules for looking at an abstract work that are different than those for looking at something more realistic.

Fundamentally, looking at an abstract painting (and for our purposes here this means a painting that is non-representational) is no different than looking at any other painting. Let's use a landscape as an example, because many abstract works have a basis in landscape painting. In a traditional landscape, there is usually a "way into the picture" - maybe a path or road or river. There are those recognizable objects - rocks, trees, fences. There is a sense of space - some things are in front of others, other things behind. Often there is some indication of a horizon.

Let's apply these guidelines to abstract work. Where is the way into the picture? It may not look like a road, and there may be more than one point of entry. What are the objects? Whatever they are, they may not look like anything you see around you, but think about what makes an object an object. Solidity. Differentiation from the space around it. Sound familiar? Next, examine the space. How is a sense of depth and dimension achieved? Does the painting depict many planes or does it occupy a shallow space? What is your eye doing once it is inside the painting? Does it travel around, exploring interesting places? Does it shoot off the edge unfettered? Finally, how does the painting make you feel as you study it? Is it exciting? Serene?

Finally, probably the most important single criterion of a successful abstract painting is that it rewards repeated viewing. As often as you behold a piece of sophisticated, well-resolved abstract art, you will always find nuances that you hadn't noticed before. It will continue to intrigue you and bring you back for more.

It is hoped that the basic guidelines discussed here will begin to help the viewer in his understanding and appreciation of abstract painting.