No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock
Abstract expressionist art--or action art, as it has also been called--is defined by its emphasis on emotional or spontaneous content not based in reality. Abstract expressionist art gained its popularity in the 1950s as a backlash against rampant McCarthyism. Many artists found themselves victims to the Red scare for the perceived political ideologies represented in their work. Abstract expressionism allowed artists to create without fear of being accused of sympathizing with communists. It also further promoted the idea of "art for art's sake" and the belief that the spiritual or unconscious mind could be further explored through the creative process. Abstract expressionism has continued to today, and is a style of art that is within the reach of the beginning artist.
Instructions
Abstract Expressionism Made Easy
1. Learn as much as you can about the abstract expressionist movement by studying the work of other artists. By understanding the ideology driving the movement, you can better emulate the well-known artists of the time. The beautiful thing about abstract expressionism is that there is no "standard" look or feel. Each artist expresses him- or herself differently. The wide variety of materials and techniques used to create abstract expressionist paintings makes it a highly flexible style that can convey the ideas and emotions of the artist without strict adherence to a set of guidelines. Popular abstract expressionist artists to research include Jackson Pollock, Willem De Kooning, Hans Hoffmann, Helen Frankenthaler and Barnett Newman.
2. Gather your art materials and prepare your workspace. Most early abstract expressionist paintings were done on canvas with oil paints, but there are no hard-and-fast rules governing the types of materials that can be used. Acrylic paints have vivid colors and are easy to clean with rubbing alcohol; watercolors have more subdued colors but can be used on inexpensive papers and can be cleaned up with water; cardboard can be substituted for canvas; or pastel chalks can be used. The possible combinations are endless. Try incorporating found objects like glitter, bottle caps, string or glass. Application tools can be varied as well. While many artists used traditional paintbrushes, others used sticks, string, hair, spoons, knives or other implements to apply pigment. Jackson Pollock, for example, was well known for dripping paint onto the canvas from the cans and tubes it came in.Before painting make sure to cover any exposed surfaces near your work area with a drop cloth or other covering to avoid damage. Keep clean up materials such as water, paint thinner, or rubbing alcohol near by and work in a well ventilated area.
3. Plan your image and start painting. It's a common misconception that abstract expressionist paintings are totally spontaneous and require no artistic talent. While they do convey a sense of spontaneity and are often highly emotionally charged, many abstract expressionist works are very large, making the need for planning out the image beforehand all the more important. When planning the image, determine in advance the materials you'll use to create the image, what the image should convey to the viewer, the color combinations you'll be using, the size of the image, and what the image will represent to you personally. Once you have a firm idea of how the image should look, start painting.
