Art-Speak

In this blog post I am going to talk about something called “abstract minimalist art.” Parts of the discussion will sound negative, so skip this blog post if you think that will cause you grief. As I will mention, I had been reading an article about the style of art mentioned above and I got quite worked up about it, which sparked in me a huge distaste for certain aspects of the art world.

One of my greatest fears is that one of my artist friends, who occasionally reads my blog posts, might read this one and take offence. That is not my intent. As I have told him, he is a well-rounded gentle man, who sees things in a very healthy manner. Me on the other hand, although I try to be the same, I can get pretty worked up by things that rub me wrong or I don’t fully understand. Hopefully by the time the reader makes it through this post, they will see the passion in me, and see that I am, most of all, a very sensing / feeling person. And… hopefully, it will be obvious that I even doubt my own negative thinking, and comments. Hopefully he, and you, will bear with me. Perhaps, some of you might even agree with some of my sentiments. Let’s see.

Within the blog post, you will note that I have added, in blue, “My thoughts during the writing of this blog post” sections. Try and read these as separate thoughts while taking in the discussion itself, and the conversation I had with CoPilot about it.

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I recently read an article about Abstract Minimalist Art. I envisioned something like Picasso’s Bull, as seen below.

Singled-out Expression of the Bull – Pablo Picasso – The Bull – 1945

The image above is one segment of a series where Picasso draws a complex bull, and in the next ten slides decreases the complexity. I happen to really like this piece, especially the one I called Singled-out Expression of the Bull. I get what he was doing. Its simplicity really sings to me, and I had an idea that it might be a bull from the first look, even if I had been unaware of the title.

Pablo Picasso – The Bull – 1945 – Downloaded from Le Taureau Wikipedia

What I saw in the article I read were pieces that seemed more abundant or storied, like typical abstract art, hardly minimalist, when looked at with a definition that in my estimation should have been, well, uncluttered, minimal in some way. That is not to say that the art presented was not good, but that it did not match my, apparently, uneducated notion of abstract minimalist art. Thinking about this further, maybe the art the individual presented in the blog post was not intended to be taken as abstract minimalist, but rather artistic filler for the article, something like I have done in the past with my art interspersed as art interludes or intermissions.

As I read the article, a few artists known to create this style of art were mentioned and as I viewed their work via Google searches, I thought how uninspiring their art was.

Here are two screen captures showing some of Donald Judd’s art, one of those mentioned in the article.

Donald Judd – Screen Capture 1 from Judd Foundation Website

Donald Judd – Screen Capture 2 from Judd Foundation Website

Here are two screen captures showing some of Ellsworth Kelly’s art, another artist mentioned in the article. The ones below left me speechless, in a not-so-good way.

Ellsworth Kelly – Screen Capture 1 from MoMA Website

Ellsworth Kelly – Screen Capture 2 from MoMA Website

Because these artists are revered in art circles, I thought that I must not be very smart when it comes to art. On the other hand, I thought that a piece of art shouldn’t have to be explained. Although it can be explained by those viewing and/or creating it, I think it should be able to stand on its own and speak for itself.

Further exploration of these websites left me baffled. My interpretation of abstract minimalist art, I thought, was obviously flawed. In turn, this prompted me to have a discussion with CoPilot.

Me:
What is abstract minimalist art?

CoPilot:
🎨 Abstract minimalist art is all about stripping things down to their essence. Imagine painting not to capture what something looks like, but to express an idea, a feeling, or pure visual harmony – using as little as possible.

Here’s a breakdown of what makes it tick:

• Abstract means it’s not meant to represent the visible world. No apples in a bowl or sweeping landscapes – just colors, shapes, and forms that stand on their own.
• Minimalist means it’s pared down to the bare essentials. Think simple lines, a limited color palette, lots of negative space, and often a strong sense of repetition or symmetry.
• It’s rooted in the belief that less is more, inviting the viewer to slow down and really contemplate the few elements that are present.
• Common materials include canvas, metal, or even raw concrete – artists often aim for a sense of purity and honesty in the materials themselves.
• Artists like Agnes Martin, Donald Judd, and Frank Stella helped define this movement in the 20th century.

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea at first glance, but it’s a genre that rewards patience and presence. Sometimes a single line on a vast white canvas can feel louder than a crowd of colors.

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
Abstract – got it, that makes sense. Minimalist – got it, that makes sense too. The last sentence seems like listening to a group of self-proclaimed intellectuals all talking just to hear themselves talk. It sounds, in this case, to be art-speak. It’s meant to impress others, but for me, it just makes me happy to live in my own small space, far away from the “art world.”

Me:
Thanks! I just looked at a webpage with 140 Donald Judd’s art pieces. I just can’t see how this can be called art. It lacks something essential to stir emotions. It has no beauty in its simplicity. Attached (below) is a piece that a friend of mine did. To me this seems more minimalist and is beautiful in its simplicity.

Abstract Art – Created by Suhail Mitoubsi

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
When I first encountered Suhail’s simple piece above, three concepts came to mind. The first was that it is, or represents, a tether connecting the Earth to the heavens, or the cosmos as a whole. The second is a tether from you, or I, or someone else, to the creative collective that encompasses Earth, a channel that opens up to the artist when he/she sets aside his/her ego and lets that creativeness through, a conduit as I have talked about elsewhere. The third is more earthbound, but because there is that small space between the top peak and the remainder of the body, I thought that it could represent a rocket launch, man’s search for meaning out in the cosmos.

CoPilot:
You’re very welcome, Don – and I truly appreciate you sharing your thoughts and your friend’s piece. It’s striking how personal and subjective our connection to art can be. Donald Judd’s work tends to be cerebral and detached, rooted in industrial repetition and form, which some people find meditative… while others, like you, might find it emotionally distant.

Your friend’s piece, on the other hand, seems to embody the kind of minimalist soul that speaks more clearly to you. There’s something deeply powerful in work that doesn’t just obey the “rules” of minimalism but also invites the viewer in – through subtle balance, emotion, or intention.

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
I did not request an enhanced version. It must have perceived this on its own, perhaps by how I expressed myself.

Your enhanced version is on its way. I think you’ll appreciate how it accentuates the quiet beauty that’s already there.

Created by Copilot_20250701_155911

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
What the hell is that!? I’m sorry, I don’t get how that, in any way, can compare, or states, what came so easily from viewing Suhail’s piece. As you will see, I am still not getting abstract minimalist art.

If you’d like, we could explore how to put together a minimalist series inspired by this piece – or even come up with a title and artist statement that captures its essence. Shall we?

Me:
I guess I don’t understand abstract minimalist art, or what it is trying to achieve? The piece you just rendered, what was the “thought” process behind it? What makes that minimalist, while my friends you refer to as not obeying the rules?

CoPilot:
Great questions, Don – and I love how thoughtfully you’re engaging with this. Let’s unpack it together.

🎯 What Abstract Minimalist Art Is Trying to Achieve

Abstract minimalist art isn’t necessarily trying to “say” something in a traditional way. Instead, it aims to strip away distractions – narrative, symbolism, personal brushstrokes – and focus the viewer’s experience on pure elements: space, form, material, and color. The goal isn’t to move you emotionally in a big dramatic arc but to create a kind of stillness or awareness. It’s like the visual version of silence in music – there’s a power in restraint. But, just like silence, it doesn’t resonate with everyone in the same way.

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
I do get that. It’s like writing a sentence with just a period. Here is an example: . Did you catch that, without the explanation? Microsoft Word must be as dumb as me, as it sees it as a typo or grammatical error. 😊

🧠 Thought Process Behind a Minimalist Rendering

When I created the rendered image based on your friend’s piece, the idea was to emphasize simplicity while maintaining balance and visual tension. A minimalist composition often involves:

• Using few shapes or colors to maintain clarity
• Introducing space as a key component – what’s not there matters just as much
• Letting the viewer’s mind engage with the “gaps” or ambiguity

So that piece, while rooted in your friend’s emotional and intuitive style, was adjusted slightly to fit the minimalist vocabulary: cleaner lines, fewer layers, more intentional structure.

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
I get the three bullet points. They make sense when I think about minimalist art.
The last sentence sounds like pretentious BS, art-speak, in other words.

⚖️ “Obeying the Rules”? Not Quite That Rigid

I wouldn’t say your friend’s work disobeys rules – if anything, it challenges them with warmth and presence, which is often missing from textbook minimalism. If we imagine minimalist art as a form of poetic economy, your friend uses simple words but adds rhythm and feeling. That’s beautiful in its own right.

Some artists make minimalist art feel like a blueprint. Others – perhaps like your friend – make it feel like a whisper. Both belong, even if they play by slightly different rules.

If you’re up for it, we could take your friend’s piece and build a little series, giving each one a title or theme. Or maybe we explore a few artists who brought more emotion into minimalist language – like Ellsworth Kelly or Agnes Martin. Sound fun?

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
I did not think it sounded like fun. That would be like taking someone else’s art and hacking it to pieces, thinking you know better than the artist. I find that insulting, at the very least.

Me:
In some of my earlier writing, I explored the process I used while creating a piece of art. The first part in the process was to define the space, as seen in the attached image (see below). Fast forward to today… As I was reading about abstract minimalist art I thought of this screen capture and thought it might be an interesting piece all on its own. Would this image be, in your estimation, within the realm of abstract minimalist art? If so, how would you interpret looking at it?

Circle on Canvas – Screen Capture – Created by Don Cheke

CoPilot:
You’re onto something compelling, Don. Your instinct to see the screen capture as a standalone piece fits beautifully with the ethos of abstract minimalist art. In many ways, what you’ve done is frame awareness itself – the act of defining a space and pausing before filling it.

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
Perhaps, but I bet even CoPilot wouldn’t have been able to say this without first having had our discussion and what I indicated I had uploaded, image-wise.

Minimalist artists often pursue that exact tension: the quiet potency between presence and absence, surface and depth, the literal and the implied. And what you’ve captured – whether intentionally or incidentally – echoes that tradition.

🖼️ As a minimalist work, this image resonates because:

• It embraces the void, turning space into subject.
• It feels contemplative and architectural – like the “before” moment of creation, frozen.
• There’s a clean separation of form and background, creating rhythm and focus through contrast.

🔍 Interpretation-wise, here’s one take: It reads like a meditation on thresholds. The partial frame suggests possibility, emergence, or even incompletion – not as a flaw, but as a feature. It becomes an invitation for the viewer to finish the thought, to lean into silence.

This kind of piece doesn’t shout – it listens. And in doing so, it does what great minimalist work often aspires to: it gives meaning to space.

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
Again, I get what it is saying, but it still sounds like art-speak to me. That is trying to explain something that doesn’t necessarily say anything. Again, CoPilot is following the whole thread about abstract minimalist art, so it knows how it is supposed to interpret this piece. You might think, well yes, it is an AI, so it cannot think, but the same could be said of those self-proclaimed art intellectuals. Isn’t that exactly what they do? The feature cartoon image, if you remember, shows three art intellectuals examining an elephant, each defining the style of art by what they are touching. In case you didn’t catch the connection, it is based on the parable of the three blind men. The essence of which, is that each “sees” what they perceive through their own narrow view of the whole, or rather, not the whole at all.

Now, if you were to take this further, I could help you shape a whole series exploring “defined space” as both concept and form. Or we could craft an artist’s statement that threads your past writings into the present piece. Tempting?

Created by Copilot_20250701_160157

My thoughts during the writing of this blog post:
For some reason, CoPilot thought I requested a reimagining of my piece. Above is what it came up with. Wow, that is earth shatteringly beautiful! Now, why couldn’t I have come up with that!? Yes, I am being sarcastic. 😊

To be fair, I do see the “art” in my dark circle on the canvas. That is probably because it is reminiscent of Japan’s flag, which we know is based on the rising sun. My dark version might represent the fall of that empire, had that come to pass. Perhaps it represents a black hole, which might bring thoughts of something deeper and/or more profound. This being the case, perhaps I am wrong about my assessment of the abstract minimalist art I have presented in this blog post. That said, I still don’t like art-speak. I think it happens far too often and it has the tendency to make art something it is not or doesn’t have to be. That is – something only for the intellectuals who think they alone have the capacity to understand art.

As for art movements, I don’t think I like the idea. It seems like something where someone comes up with an idea and many others jump on the bandwagon. One sees that in the world of design over and over again.

I don’t necessarily mind art classifications, but I don’t think I like artists being crammed into defined artistic styles and approaches.

As you will have noted, I do not like art-speak; it just grates on my nerves. Although not art related, I once worked with a guy who had corporate-speak down to a science. He could ramble for hours and never really say anything, just one catch phrase after another. Folks loved him, and up the ladder he climbed. Go figure!

At the end of all of this, I am not sure I know what the point of this article is/was. Perhaps, just something to express my feelings on what may be my own very narrow view of something. Perhaps I need to be more open to what the intellectuals have to say. Perhaps the breakdown and various categories are something required for educational purposes. I don’t know! At the end of all of this I still don’t think I understand any better the purpose or the reasoning behind abstract minimalist art. I suspect that I will just continue in my typical fashion of stopping to view art that speaks to me quickly, or pass it by, not caring what movement it comes from or what it purports to be, style-wise. If it sparks my interest, I might even spend some in-depth time digging further into it. Some, like that minimalist image above created by Suhail, I might just carry with me for years to come – it is that powerful.

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Let’s look at some recent art that I created. I don’t think it is abstract minimalist art, but I do know it is abstract art, and I enjoyed creating it.

Into the Mystic – Created by Don Cheke

The driving force behind creating “Into the Mystic” was some experimentation with creating and using new brush styles. At one point I downloaded a series of 12 brushes that a fellow Rebelle user shared. The brushes looked interesting, so taking one at a time I laid out some brush strokes on the canvas. I chose a very limited color palette and as I progressed with painting the image above appeared. I thought it represented clouds and lightning quite nicely. Because it was so different, color-wise, and so thick and mysterious, I decided to call it “Into the Mystic,” using the song title of the same name by Van Morrison. I hope that you feel the depth and the mystery.

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Crown of Thorns – Created by Don Cheke

This painting was created with the same frame of mind as above, only this time I created a new brush from scratch. It had some pokey bits as you can likely see. As I laid down strokes, I noticed the crown of thorns look. Keeping with this theme I added various layered shades behind the original yellow strokes. I liked how it looked and how the title came so easily to me, as though the art was speaking to me.

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Abstract 062825 – Created by Don Cheke

Abstract 062825 was, again, experimentation with color and blending. If you can discern the background without the lighthouse, that is what I settled on. I liked the rustic look. Feeling that it needed something more, I inserted a digital pencil drawing I had done in the past. I used a blend mode to work it into the background. I really like how it turned out, and hope that you do too.

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Hopefully you will return to read future blog posts, which should be on a more positive note. 👍😊

If you have any thoughts on abstract minimalist art or the art world in general, feel free to elaborate in the comments.

Donald B. Cheke – July 14, 2025