Tagging Abstracts

Thanks for this, Abbie. It is interesting that you say not to put a story with it - I have been doing some abstract light painting images lately and I see things in the images so I have titled them what I see - maybe I should rethink this approach?

some tags I have used if they fit the image:
concept,graphic,pattern,unique,artsy,funky,vibrant,texture,bright,retro,traditional,colorful,vintage,composition,pop,textile,pop art,expressionism,creativity,contemporary,creative,antique,unusual

I say not to if there is no story to match

If you actually do have a story then awesome.

I am adding yours to the top post, MANY thanks

I would never put a convoluted story for an abstract because people interpret the art through their own lens. I don't want someone to see something that reminds them of their first balloon ride, then they read my description and I put in it that it is my interpretation of a fish and just like that I lost a buyer....

Yes, and that's the beauty of abstracts :-)

So, I have not actually put a story with my abstracts, just a title of what my eye sees in them and then in the description area I explain why I see what I titled. Hopefully that does not define a convoluted story. :)

I agree with Sharon, I would rather a person see what they see, so I am going review my descriptions.

Intuitive art ... I have been horrible at writing descriptions for anything I posted over the years on FAA so I am working on that even for abstracts. I just refer to colors, etc. There is not much of a story. I used to be a pretty creative writer but lost that ability over the years.

More: symmetrical and asymmetrical, swirly, circular, scribble, mark making

The tags are great! Thanks for this Abbey.

Do you think the same holds true for "Surreal" art?

Along with shapes that you recognize, major colors.

Abstracts are both a pain and more freeing to add keywords too. Its not as restrictive because its subjective. But you have to put something in or no one will find it.

I don't know how many really read the descriptions. There are so many who ask where is this located, even though that is the second thing I say. Or that its a photo and they think its a painting. But I don't sell too many abstracts, because i'm not really known for them. I like abstracts that have tangible shapes to them already.


----Mike Savad

This obviously caught my attention since this is a daily struggle to keyword my abstract art, so thanks for this reference, Abbie. As most artists here also know how helpful mykeyworder.com is, one must still provide the (abstract) title or prompt for mykeyworder to work, which can be a challenge in itself, and then weed through all of the choices since many may not really apply. I often find myself manually entering keywords as I think of them anyway, but it is also a great reference.

Thanks for the hashtags as well, that's always another challenge. Understanding the difference between keywords and hashtags is important.

Even more, I struggle with descriptions since many of my works are happy accidents, and I don't really want to put that in a description. They are usually short and as descriptive to the best of my ability, but what do you really "describe" without re-hashing tags and keywords (no pun intended). They typically end up a bit generic or general.

Sometimes I make up a story like this one:

https://pixels.com/featured/final-gateway-david-manlove.html

Here is an example of one of my recent artworks and it's keywords:

https://pixels.com/featured/school-david-manlove.html

droplets, water, liquid, blue, white, curves, motion, movement, current, eddy, swirl, life, swimming, ocean, sea, depth, organisms, swarm, fish, ecosystem, ecology, digital, graphic, background, wallpaper, shapes, color, design, art, illustration, abstract, growth, wave, mixture, stir, smooth, aroma, textures, evolution, concept, blobs, aqua, dynamic, fluid, flow, vibrant, watercolor, science, blend, liquefy, mist, direction, nature, mobile, space, dew, conceptual

Sorry for this rather lengthy post but I wanted to express all of this here. Hope that's ok.

It is said abstract is the toughest to describe and keyword, well I agree because it is so subjective. But it is my thing and I try to improve as I go. I have learned almost everything I know from this forum believe it or not. ;-)

surreal is a whole new ballgame. I will have a research for you

I am going to add some of yours to the top post, David.... Excellent, thank you

Cathy, yours also

Thank you, this is very helpful. Sometimes I get a comment that includes an interpretation -- keyword -- that I had not thought of. So, I go back and add that to my list.

Example: someone said they saw 'umbrellas' so I added that to my list; it was something I had not seen.

Thanks Abbie!

Thanks! I always struggle with tagging the abstract pictures.

Jim

unexpected
unreal
uncanny
odd
weird
surreal
beyond reality
surrealism
surrealistic
contrasting
extraordinary
ideas
imagination
imagined
dreamlike
perspective
subconcious
expressionism
expression
dream-like
impossible
questioning
mind
confusion
unreasonable
challenge your mind
pure
non rational
rebel
philosophical
irrational
poetic
revolutionary


#surrealism #art #surreal #surrealart #artist #contemporaryart #artwork #digitalart #collage #painting #abstractart #illustration #drawing #modernart #collageart #arte #abstract #photography #artoftheday #darkart #fineart #surrealismo #photoshop #artgallery #design #portrait #visualart #psychedelic #psychedelicart #creative #expressionism #sketch #graphicdesign #surrealist #digitalcollage #collageartist #oilpainting #weirdart #trippyart #trippy #lowbrowart #surrealistart #acrylicpainting #blackandwhite #ink #collageartwork #imagination

Some more suggestions would be
colour, color, colorful , colourful , multi-color, multicolor, multi-colour, multicolour,

Thank you for this!

Wonderful lists, thank you!

Sometimes I will also add the name of the colors translated to another language, like blanco or azul.

thank you Abbie

Thank You Abbie these lists are what I was asking from Santa 🎅

Thanks, Abbie, I'll be editing today!

I also add any shapes in the abstract:

Circle, Square, T, L, cross, horizontal, vertical

And feeling from colors/design

Calm, exciting, meditative, energetic, warm, sensual

Carlin! I thought of adding that and then didn't!! I am rushing in here, dealing with tickets AND getting ready for Christmas here LOL I keep forgetting things

I will add it now!!!

Rafael, Happy Christmas LOL

Abbie, another thank you for these suggestions :-)

You are most welcome!

thank you! this is so helpful!
One question, are keywords and tags the same here in FAA? and how can you input a two-word tag?
thank you so much!

My understanding is just put the two words between commas eg

,digital art,

thank you so much!!!

Bumping this so I can add it to my follow this discussion list so I can find it when I need it.

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions! It was very stressful to find keywords for abstract art. What a great thread!

Thanks Abbie and smart for the comments regarding adding phrases that the viewer 'saw' in the work. Everyone has their own interpretation and that is relevant too.

thank you ... this was very helpful!!!

Bumping this up

I usually title my abstracts based on my vision but I add in the description that it is what I see and I encourage the viewer to change the title based on their response and feelings. The list of tags is excellent and good advice.

Thank you so much! Tagging can be very difficult at times...especially with abstract and multimedia!!

Thank you for bumping. Great info!

This is great, thank you!!

Thank you Abbie for the great words that can be used for Abstract work. Since I modify my images using various means, I call my works as Interpretive Art. I like to change coloring, lighting, exposure, saturation, tinting using imaging tools.

Michael at View Finder Arts.

I have this thread bookmarked and use it a lot!

hint...

This is great. Thank you!

Thank you for these tags, Abbie!!!

Thank you !!!

Thank you!

*Bump*

Thanks Matthias!

I have a question about the use of the term abstract.

I have tagged some of my images abstract landscape, or abstract whatever the thing is that is abstracted. Now when I search for abstract, everything with the combination of the words comes.

Now I am guessing it is best to use the word abstract ONLY on abstracts?

Yep

LOL I was afraid you would say that! Thank you Abbie.

Here are some of my usual keywords I use for my portrait format Creative Photography:

abstract, creative, angles, architectural abstract, bright, colorful, cubism, cubist, painted, pillar, pillars, beam, beams, structural, architectural, energy time, motion, avant-garde, portrait, bending, unique, light, intentional camera movement, bold, light painting,

Nice Douglas! Thank you!!

Thank you so much, Abbie and all you guys!

I'm here just a few months, but I can suggest some keywords which I usually use for pictures in landscape world:

landscape, landscape design, landscaping, garden, gardens, gardening, park, natural, nature, garden light, sculpture, sculpture garden, pond, lake, natural pond, bio pond, forest, flowers, leaves, trees, bushes, bonsai, baroque garden, statues, stairways, garden bench, garden seat, garden path, pathway, flora, fauna, extraordinary, botanical garden, tropical garden, reflection, reflection garden, terrace, roof garden, lawn, grass, water, waterfall, renaissance garden.

I hope it will be useful for someone! :)

thanks abbie