11 - Abstraction

Abstraction is the simplification of natural shapes to their base character. Details are ignored as the shapes are reduced to their simplest terms. However. since no painter can get every last detail on canvas, most painting can be argued as being abstract. The abstraction and simplification can vary from artist to artist and still be abstract.

This cover of Fables is a form of abstraction. Here the details of the tiger and the woman are simplified to more basic shapes (notice the shape of the tigers head is almost a circle) This is a light form of abstraction but abstraction nonetheless.