10 Most Popular Modern Painting Styles

       
  The ART is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

 

Popular Modern Styles of Painting

Modern art was a reaction to the rigid style set by traditional French institutions. Modern styles emerged starting in the 1860s  and continued through the 1970s. This type of art refers to styles of painting that eschewed realism and past traditions. Instead, its focus is on experimentation with various materials and styles. The following are some of the popular styles that reflect the spirit of the modern art movement.

1. Abstract Art

Abstract art refers to a style of painting that does not use figurative reality as a reference. Instead, the artist alludes to their subject and reduces it to a simplified form. Colors and shapes are used to portray emotions and the landscape of one's inner world. 

2. Surrealism

Surrealism is a modern painting style that juxtaposes various images together to give a startling effect. The images are often illogical and have a dream-like quality about them. Surrealist paintings emphasize the subconscious. Among the popular Surrealist painters are Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Valentine Hugo, Joan Miro, and Toyen.

3. Conceptual Art

Conceptual art is a modern art style where the artist believes that concept is more important than artwork itself. Many conceptual artists believed that while they conceived the work, it is completed by the viewer. In fact, many types are only a set of instructions. It is rare to find this type of art to just be a painting, as it often incorporates elements of sculpture and installation. Marcel Du Champ, Yoko Ono, Yves Klein, and Robert Rauschenberg are some famous conceptual artists.

4. Pop Art

Pop Art paintings occurred as a reaction to abstract expressionism, which mid-1950s British artists believed was art that was far-removed from daily life. Pop Art revolved around mundane subjects like comic books, advertising, celebrities, and other objects found in the everyday. It was a return to realism and representation in art. Prominent artists in this field include Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann, and Wayne Thiebaud, among others.

5. Photo realism

From the name itself, a photo realist painting is one that looks as realistic as a photograph. This is done by taking a picture of the subject and then painting it. Photo realism is an art movement influenced by pop art, and it ran counter as a reaction to abstract expressionism. Unlike abstract art or conceptual art, photo realist painting has to be done by an artist who possesses advanced technical ability to capture the realism of the photograph onto canvas. Famous photo realist painters include Glenn ray Tutor, Robert Bechtel, Tom Blackwell, Don Eddy, and Cindy Wright, among others.

6. Hyper realism

Hyper realism is an advancement of the photo realism art movement. Artists use high-resolution cameras to take photographs and paint them on canvas. Compared to photo realism, however, hyper realist paintings have exaggerated shadows and inanimate objects display life likeness, even though they do not normally possess these qualities. Hyper realism focuses on a false "super" reality. The following are some of the popular hyper realist painters: Robert Bechtel, Richard Estes, Bert Monroy, Duane Hanson, and Charles Bell, among others.

7. Minimalism

Minimalism is an art movement that is, as expected, characterized by simplicity. Minimalist paintings strip down the subject to its very essence. Instead of energy-filled self-expression as is the hallmark of abstract expressionism, minimalist art, on the other hand, paints only what the artist believes is necessary. Some of the more famous minimalist painters are Barnett Newman, Kashmir Malevich, Piet Mondrian, and Frank Stella's.

8. Futurism

Futurism is a painting style that concerns itself with subjects like the technology, speed, violence, and the future of the world. It concerns itself with the depiction of man's triumph over nature. This movement rejects the establishment and praises originality. To recreate this level of emotional dynamism on canvas, futurist paintings adopted the cubist style of painting where they deconstruct subjects into geometric figures to show movement. David Burl-yuk, Aristarkh Lentulov, Fortunato Depero, and Gerardo Dottori are just some of the well-known Futurist painters.

9. Impressionism

Impressionism is one of the earliest modern painting styles that originated in Paris, France. It is characterized by thin brushstrokes and an emphasis on the depiction of light. Impressionist artists often painted outdoors to capture the sunlight and color of their subjects. In the 1870s, Impressionist paintings were considered radical because they did not paint according to the rules. Famous impressionist painters include Claude Monet, Pierre - August Renoir, Camille Pissaro, and Armand Guillaumin, among others.

10. Fauvism

Fauvism is an art movement that occurred sometime after impressionism. While impressionism retains a somewhat realistic representation of the subjects, Fauvist paintings focus on strong color. Artists employing this style have wild brush strokes and highly simplified subjects. Among the popular Fauvism painters are Andre Derain, Henry Matisse, Charles Camoin, and Maurice Mari-not.

Shopping for Modern Paintings on eBay

Instead of shopping at the nearest art gallery for a modern painting, consider going to eBay to peruse its wide selection of modern paintings. These are artworks that are sold by art dealers and artists all over the world. Just type the style or subject that you are looking for in the search box. For example, type "abstract pig painting" and you find numerous depictions of the animal in many forms. If you are looking for a particular artist, you can type the name; for instance, by typing "Claude Monet paintings" if you are a fan of his work. This turns up originals, reproductions, and paintings that are inspired by this famous artist's style.

Another easy way to look for modern paintings on eBay is to go to the Art category, choose Art from Dealers & Re sellers, and then click painting. If you want to look for art sold by the artist himself, search Direct from the Artist.  Clicking any of these categories gives you additional filtering options to help sort items based on region, condition, medium, subject, style, dimension, and many more. After deciding on the artwork, make sure that you review the seller's feedback and rating as well. The best sellers should have a rating of 99 percent and above.

Conclusion

Art is a great way to dress up a room. It can also be a good investment depending on the market conditions. When choosing the kind of art one intends to buy, it is helpful to be knowledgeable about the various modern painting styles. Abstract art, for instance, is a wide field with many sub-styles. These modern painting styles are just the tip of the iceberg as the art world is wide and varied. One of the best places to purchase modern paintings is online, as sellers from around the world offer their original artwork or artwork by known names.