We challenge you to:

Create an abstract design.

Let's see what you come up with!

While we know we are going to get some stunning artwork, we also want to encourage beginners. If you are new to Inkscape, feel free to keep it simple.

Multiple entries are welcome, and please do stick around for the chat!

All abilities are invited to get involved. The complexity of your entry is down to you.

Please post your finished artwork below. 

IMPORTANT: If you would like to know what you could do to improve your artwork, add the phrase to your comment: "Brutal Feedback" --- only for those with nerves of steel!

All entries to be submitted by 31 January 2023.

Please do spread the word!
#inkscapechallenge

Instructions/Information

• To submit your artwork, scroll to the bottom of the page and while logged in, click the paperclip (bottom-left) to upload your image, add a description in the text box (optional) and click "Submit Reply".
• If you'd like to post work-in-progress artwork, create a thread in the "Work in Progress" section of the forum, and post your images there, with the title "January 2023 Create an abstract design WIP - [your artwork title]" (you are welcome to ask for help there if you get stuck). When finished, post the final graphic to this thread.
• There are no winners. These challenges are intended to inspire, to encourage you to share your work and to build a supportive community.
• You're encouraged to discuss and offer feedback/constructive criticism to others, but please be respectful.
• Most importantly, be creative, give your best, and have fun!

We look forward to seeing your entries!

Challenge entries (so far)

Second experiment applying torn edge filter to mostly random shapes. The first experiment was too simple.

Nice work, Algot.

Hi. My eyes are still bothersome and my health and energy is still quite weak.

Still. I wanted to add some images for this challenge.

What came to mind. was shapes "flirting" with one another.

Happy 2023 everyone.

@AlgotRuneman Very bold. First prize for the early bird!

I gave no warning for this challenge, as I was slow on getting this banner started (It was my second attempt too). I'm better with the traditional than the abstract, but I thought it might be a bit of fun for everyone.

@ken10001000 I'm sad to hear you are still struggling, but pleased you popped by. I should have known you'd like this challenge. Great to hear from you! If I had to replicate your artwork I, literally, wouldn't know where to start. Thanks for a great entry!

Thank you. Pacer, for your kind words.

For those interested. This tutorial shows the idea I used for the shared images above.

Have a great day and week.

https://inkscape.org/forums/tutorials/a-process-to-creste-unique-shapes-using-pattern-along-path-effect-option/

@ken10001000 Ken, good to hear from you. I hope you are getting better little by little. Best regards and happy new year.

What a fun challenge, thank you.

My first submission is inspired bu the work of the French painter Delaunay, well, I started by viewing some of his paintings, then... It was a good opportunity to work with patterns (which i didn't really use before) and the filters.

Thank you, Marcos, very much.

Same "method" as above. I used a single capital letter A and came up with this result.

Very beautiful and creative  Caradjine. Thank you for sharing this.

Nice image, @Caradjine Thanks for sharing-

Hi. First of all, happy new year to all of you. While I think of something, I share this piece that I made some time ago and is in my Inkscape gallery. I must say that it has some post-pro with Gimp.

Powerful and so good, Marcos. Thank you and a Wonderful and Happy Nzew Year to you as well.

Again, I largely used the same process as I shared above. Plus some clipping. I trust you can distinguish the two individual birds in the multicolored  variations. "He Makes All Things New."

I'm using these challenges to try to explore features I have used, but not explored. Cloning is one of those features, I've tried for quick duplication of a shape, but have not really gone beyond that. Today's submission is a step toward understanding the deeper potential for the cloning tool.

10x10 row and column
two circles, different colors
one triangle, yellow
one star, blue

rotation randomized to 45%
opacity 20%, blur 45%
scaleX and scaleY 45%

Each clone grouping grouped and manually manipulated to be approximately overlaid.

@ken10001000 Thanks for sharing, Ken. I especially like the third image. Nice, @AlgotRuneman The cloning tool offers a lot of possibilities.

With music as a common thread, this is what came out.

Eye opening and creatiive!

I trust this counts as something abstract, as I started with a doodle and made the characters from it in this image. I first made the horse like portion and then some other character spewing out "wisdom". After that. I thought of the imagination words.

@mrks9 (Your first entry) I remember seeing that pic I think. Very abstract and interesting. Thanks for sharing.

(Your second entry). Looks very finished. I like both versions... Looks like it would make a good book cover or music album cover. Great entry, Thank you.

AlgotRuneman

I'm using these challenges to try to explore features I have used, but not explored

I agree, its good to doodle freely and explore ideas and tools. It takes the pressure off and provides more options, improving workflow when working on more structured pieces. Thanks for sharing your process!

I don't use many of Inkscape's tools... Working on abstract banners (which I am not strong) forced me to improve techniques and tools which I normally avoid. These tools may start to be used in future banners and artwork.

@ken10001000 I really like your colourful birds. It's a nice effect. I like how you explore the different tools and put them to work.

ken10001000

I trust this counts as something abstract

Yes, I think it does. Either way, this challenge is for experiments and your style definitely qualifies as experimental. Keep 'em coming! :)

@Caradjine I like your design, especially the sparkle. I haven't seen that effect before, but I can see that technique having many applications. Thank you for a great entry!

Thanks to @Ken10001000 for inspiring this abstract effort. I had used the Extensions version of pattern along path, but not the Path Effects one. There  is clearly rich territory to explore!

My unfortunate attempt at something abstract. I call this "Flicking paint".

Algot, this is unique work that attracts my eyes. Thank you.

Pacer, I truly like your "paint". I wish I had your sparkle for color and imagination. Keep "flinging" out your good stuff. Thank you, too.

I played around and came up with the red thing and colored it, using the bucket tool and some filters.

I have 2 titles for this ... "I have never been this way before"' and "Not on The Map". Let us keep exploring.

@AlgotRuneman @ken10001000 Fantastic. It's always fun to play with shapes in Inkscape with all the possibilities offered by path effects and extensions. @pacer I like the image. It would have also worked for the motion challenge as it has a very nice feel to it. Thanks for sharing 👏

I know I have nutty (different ?) ideas.

This is "Ducks in Love". An abstract romsnce.

What is going on at the pond near you? And does it quack you up?

"A STAR IS  T-O-R-N.

Used filters  and blending.

Anonymous Awards.

You never know when they are given.

Hello. An abstract greeting card. Plus, it's what all the vectors are saying... "Let's Keep In Touch",

@mrks9 I really like Screen Visions. The idea of shapes escaping the screen is cool and creative. The slight touching and wrapping of those abstract forms is interesting and creates a feel of gravity and weight to your image. I also like how you combined the shapes with smaller, detailed structures. Just like you did in your previous images as well.

exposed

Just tried to create something new, something interesting by experimenting with inkscape. Most of the images where trash, but this one I like the most. The concept: I started creating point-symmetric forms and then I broke parts of that symmetry to make the image more interesting, more organic. I used the extension color randomize to experiment with colours for the shapes I intentionally wouldnt use.

@pacer I like those flying blobs😊 each one is slighty different instead of just copy and paste. I would have chosen another background colour though. I think the grey makes the blobs colours appear a bit dull. White or black would emphasize the colourfulness and "happiness" of those blobs🎨

@ken10001000 Anonymous Award 01, 02 are amazing! I love how all those lines organically, wildly outline those simple cubes. Almost seem like visible force fields. Really interesting images👍 I prefer 02 because there is a sense of confrontation in it🤷‍♂️

Thanks, @mako-gfx I love your image! I really like the papercut effect in the center. And the shapes, you can see some order in the chaos. The colors and wave patterns in some pieces accentuate the image. Great work, thanks for sharing 💯

One more. Will probably take a break for days.

I am seeing some beautiful artwork. Just sorry I'm not keeping up with your entries.

mako-gfx

Most of the images where trash, but this one I like the most.

Stunning! You have a good eye for seamless designs. Much of what I experiment with for the banners is never shown as a fair bit just doesn't make the cut. I think it is knowing when it's wrong and when it's right that builds the artist. Great entry, thanks for sharing!

@ken10001000 Some really interesting experiments and your latest is a gorgeous display of colour. I would like to see you experiment with colours more (but do take a break if you need it)! Thank you for sharing!

I have called this Abstract Facade.

Pacer. You requested some more "color".

So, here is "Ah. Shucks". What could be more abstract than blue corn?

Okay, this is motival poster of sorts. For Inkscscape users and life in general.

@mrks9
Simply brilliant. I am amazed at the variance of complex ideas you can come up with on the spot. Great entry Marcos!

@ken10001000 Good colour combo! Love the corn! And your heart is in the right place too! Thanks for the entries!

Thanks, @pacer. For this challenge there are no preconceived ideas, the first strokes are paving the way 😄

@mrks9 Abstract Facade reminds me of cubistic paintings, because the windows are clearly drawn in perspective but the flat brick patterns remind me of pavement shown from above. Also great work on cloths. The cloth-shadow on the right side looks realistic, the cloth-shadow on the left looks wierdly out of perspective. Almost like the cloth is pinned to the bricks😊

Cursed_Game

Using Path-Effect "Interpolate Sub-Paths" I experimented with creating ribbons-shapes intersecting each other and how to achieve that.
After some shading combined with testing filters (Chalk and Sponge) I got the idea of giving the shadow-areas a "dark dimension" look, which alters
the colours but also the prominent straight lines of the ribbon. I also put a lot affort in the ribbons tilts and perspectives to create a sense of vertigo.
When I chose the golden material for the shading I decided to add dollar signs and the balls to give some abstract meaning to the image.

"ESCAPED". Avery mininslistic abstract  result today.

Questioning what has been restrained versus what has been "put out there".

Malte K. P-o-w !!! Stimulating work. I really like this. Thanks.

Getting closer to the about screen contest, so time to get used to the 750/625 px format. 

Here is a simplistic approach -generated by a custom filter.

(It's part of the previous month's mountain series.)

abstract mountains of ink

Ok, another variant -pushed beyond the limit.

The juggedness is not intentional on my end -yet cannot be helped currently due to hard-wired limitations.

@mako-gfx Beautiful and very polished. You have a flair for this kind of artwork.Your color work and compositions are clearly a natural skill. Great entry!

@Lazur I like this last one a lot! Is this also using filters? I could see these (your latest two) used in surface patterns for print. Thanks for sharing!

@mako-gfx I love it, it's a fantastic image. Although the meaning of the dollar sign escapes me.

Still working with painters, here the Russian painter Malevitch, for inspiration, I made these landscapes. First I designed it in shade of green and brown, then I thought to use them as wallpaper, so I made a blue version with some changes. The idea was to work with the gradients that Malevith used too in some of his paintings.

Actually, I use both as wallpaper, they give different vibes.

Seeing eye to eye.

@Caradjine I like the second one. The composition is much more balanced and sky and landscape are easier to distinguish. I also like the contrast between the round hill and the spiky shapes. Maybe try to use a more abstract style for the trees e.g. triangles or circles with a tribe to make it better fit the overall painting🎨😊

@ken10001000 interesting composition and colours. Are those dark spikes indications of the tip of a pencil? To me it looks like it is😊

@mrks9

Gold-> Money (Darkness->Poverty)

Balls->Game

Game+Money->Gamble -> Luck/Bad Luck

the rest is up to the viewer😊

This one is "Open Wide The Windows

".

Malte K, I like the "pencil idea" you see. Yet my original idea was two bird like things seeing eye to eye. I am happy that folks can see and discover different views with abstract art. And, of late, I like bolder colors to get our attention.

@mako-gfx I get it, great idea.

"Til the Cow Came Home".

Just what did happen after then?

@ken10001000

Jumped over the Moon and had some moonshine.

Thanks, Lazur. You made me smile and I need the humor, too. After they had the moonshine, was it a "cow-ah-sock-ee" ride?

Not sure. Could picture a honking ride with a ford instead of a cowahsockee:

https://openclipart.org/download/293937/honk21.svg

Great one. Lazur. And I guess since the cow came back, they no longer say "don't have a cow",, so they could worry some more.

Earlier today Lazur made his funny comments about a cow and moonshine. Well his humor triggered me to make something from that. So, here is my Abstract Suspense Novel graphic. Thank you, Lazur.

"Sitting in The Garden". An experiment of using odd strokes, the paint bucket tool, a few colors. Trying to resemble an old school illustration style.

Sorry for my recent craziness here. Playing with Inkscsoe has been like mini-therapy with me as I adapt to my health issues.

This one is "Abstract Emotions".

@ken10001000 It is great to hear Inkscape work is therapeutic for you. It clearly also satisfies the varied itches of this group of illustrators. This month's challenge is exciting to follow.

On this 15th day, I'm not sure if I'm winding down or up or merely spinning. (maybe just spiraling out of control)

@ken10001000 I totaly agree: Its wonderful to hear that creating your art works as a therapy for you. Its one of the great ways to create art! keep going!😊🎨 However I posted some thoughts about posting images in the chitchat-forum relating to all participants in the challenge.

I called this one " Stockpiled pieces"

All,

here is my entry.  As a kid  I did this art 'projects' where i would draw squiggles then color the gaps. So I did that.

Sunhear

"In the Water". Bears? Fish? My imagination?

Made a crude abstract and ran it through Trace Bitmap.

@ken10001000 A cute hamster with red paws eating a yellow bat sitting in a pool with looking at an abstract painting👍

@mrks I like the wavy effect working as reflections but also as clouds in the image. The shapes remind me of skyscrapers of which some are tipped over in the foreground. I also like the rose accents you combined with the brown/golden areas in the final version. 👍

@mako-gfx Thanks. That effect is achieved by using the interpolate and motion extensions. Then I put it on the top of the image and used the Dodge layer mode. Next I used the eraser tool to get some effects.

Another bear in mind. "Catch of the Day".

"Musings of an Abstract Mind". I noticed a strange message in the word ☆ abstract ☆.

(If this is not suitable for audiences here, please remove it.)

Inspired by Ken Wilson's BS tract.

Clever, Algot. Thank you.

Dome_Two

I created a kaleidoscope based on the wikipedia article about kaleidoscopes. This image is the result of adding fills to random areas of the kaleidoscope mixed with the idea of an abstract sunset. Unfortunately I had to stop working on the image because inkscape became too laggy because of the filters and count of so many single elements. 😲🤷‍♂️

@mako-gfx The image is amazing, thanks for sharing 💯🤯

Decorative scribbles on a vase.

Abstract expressions ... that I go through, several times a week.

I saw this interring pattern on the bottom of my mug. thought it was interring so i drawled it,  it some how oddly satsfying.

My little abstract piece is called "Is That What You Want?" Perhaps there is a better question to be asked. Or, it depends on who the ☆ you ☆ is that is being asked.

Chinese vibes
I translated my name into Chinese and then I came up with the idea of making an abstract background using the pencil tool in clipboard mode and also using pattern along path.Everything is vectors. There are a couple of elements that represent Nature,the bird-shaped spots and the vertical lines that would be bamboo. For the last image I used Gimp to enhance the color and add a small relief effect.

Another excellent graphic, Marcos.Thank you for sharing this fine work.

@ken10001000 Thanks, Ken, glad you like it. I've enjoyed this challenge more than I thought I would 😄

"The Fisherman". According to his audience ...

The "lines" have been cast,

The tales have been told,

The fisherman keeps reeling them in,

And it never gets too old.

Nice. Your imagination has no limits, Ken 😉

Thank you. Marcos.

Abstract Wood Engraving. Of sorts. Also called "Love B-E-A-R-S   All Things".

mako-gfx

I had to stop working on the image because inkscape became too laggy because of the filters and count of so many single elements.

Sorry I didn't catch this earlier. I have had this issue in the past with banners. There is a dirty work around, if it interests you?

Inkscape lets you create bitmap copies of selected objects (select anything and Edit > make bitmap copy). By utilising these and hiding vector layers during the creative flow, you can stop the lag. When finished, remove the bitmap layers and show the vectors,--- Most of the lag seems to be from rendering many layers nd filters, so by converting groups to a single bitmap layer, you speed everything back up.

Great work btw. If it is this good unfinished, I'd love to see you finish it!

 

Hello. Over the course of an hour. The idea came to me to make an abstract  comic of sorts. Here is "A Moral Story".

It has some intended humor and the 7 panels which make up the story are not any standard size.

I trust it will please and entertain someone.

Hi everybody,

there are a lot of very nice pictures. Seems that this theme have been inspiring.

Ken Wilson, I lovre your universe! Marcos, I am jealous of your skills :) Malte K, your sci-fi artwork (at least, I understand it like that) is stunning. And I like how you play a=on words Algot.

So my two last submission for this month.

First, I have been inspired by a photo of the pyramid of Gizeh: pretty basic shapes with filters.

For the second, the Isle of the Death inspired by the famous painting by Böklin. The goal was to made it only using rectangles and nothing else to give the volumes. Most are flat, except the sky and the water for which I added filters.

@Caradjine I loved that idea of synthesizing a painting. Nice work 👏

Timeskip

Concept: Take a clock face as an easily recognizable symbol and turn it into a mysterious, wierd image. If you look closely you can see its just multiplied clock faces

on top of each other🙃

A result of experimenting with grayscale and "determined" to find some pleasing result. Reminds me of a super hero theme. I later made the blue'ish variation.

 "Determined".

I actually did this "Mediocre Man" before doing the "Determined" piece. I guess being mediocre never satisfies.

@mrks9 Decorative Scribbles is interesting to look at. The fine curves combined with the warm colours remind me of of security patterns an bank notes or finger prints😊 whish there were no distracting lines on top of them, to focus more on those interesting patterns. My opinion🙃

Chinese Vibes: without reading your instructions I interpreted the background as bamboo. Great idea, nicely executed👍 It perfectly fits the Chinese Letters. This time I prefer the inkscape version of the image because its more naturall and the black letters fit nicely to the black brush strokes🎨

@ken10001000

Mediocre: I REALLY like this one👍 Great composition. Interesting how one frame transforms into another. My title suggestion: Framescape🙃 (Frame+Escape)

,in my walking. In my waiting, in my driving. May I see more than just what is in front of me. "Seeing More".

Abstract Purchase. And even worse, they took it home and put it up for all to see.

This will be my last entry for this challenge. Some of the fizzle and sizzle has slipped away.

I truly enjoy all the entries shared, the creativity, the skills and the inspiration. Keep them coming.

@ken10001000 answer: You only see what you draw your attention on. To me its really that simple. Its most obvious when sometimes I am able to change my mindset👨‍🏫😀 Then suddenly you "see more"

A great and simple way of putting things and our family way we process our lives and behavior towards ourselves and one another, Malte K. We all "pay" for something with our time and effort and heart expression. Value is personal and given and received.

Thank you Marcoz.

Well, it was not my last submission finally. As soon as I saw this painting by the French painter André Devambez (there is a retrospective of his artwork in Paris at this moment, I don't know if I'll be able to visit it, though), it thought to make the same with it that I did for the Isle of the Death. Here it is: the devil driven out of church for which I only used flat rectangles and nothing else. I remember having visited an exposition in the Centre Pompidou ages ago in Paris, where it was explained the process of the cubism. That is the beginning :)

To be honest. I am sad that nobody here commented anything on my last entry🤷‍♂️ 

@mako-gfx

I am sorry that I have not commented on your latest artwork. I do try to go through recent entries and comment, but I have recently had periods of absence from the forum due to my involvement in the about screen contest administration etc. I am hoping to resolve this after the contest.

Your artwork is high quality, as always. I take it that the graphic depicts time travel?

I cannot speak for others, but as you mentioned in the chit chat, it is easy for messages and artwork to be missed in the mountain of comments.
We all enjoy your artwork and this is no exception. I know how it feels to work hard and hear nothing from others, but don't take this as a reflection on the quality of your work or others' enjoyment of it. Please keep it up.

@pacer: Thank you so much for your kind answer! ☺