Abstract Expressionism The Art of Jackson Pollock & Mark Rothko

What art had been - Portraiture & Landscape Before this era, art was generally an accurate depiction of people and nature. Artists painted portraits and landscapes or scenes from history or mythology. Art may have challenged the viewer, but it always “looked real.”

Inspired from abroad Modern European artists who began experimenting with non-traditional styles (ex. Dali, Picasso, Mondrian) inspired the American artists and the Abstract Expressionist movement (aka The New York School)

What is Abstract Expressionism? Based in the 1940s & 1950s New York City Abstract Expressionism was a reaction to the terrible events of World War II A “fresh start” Lines, shapes and forms are not meant to show reality, rather they show spiritual and emotional ideas Artists used different styles, but all tried to use their art to understand humanity For Abstract Expressionists, the authenticity or value of a work lay in its directness and immediacy of expression In abstract expressionism, how you apply the paint is as important as what you paint.

Jackson Pollock Born in Wyoming Public Works of Art project during the Great Depression Gestural abstraction Mark Rothko Born in Latvia Easel division of the Public Works of Art project during the Great Depression Chromatic abstraction He wanted the large scale of the art to create a feeling of intimacy

Jackson Pollock Action painter Drip Method “all over” painting Edge to edge, corner to corner Conveys action Convergence, 1952

Mark Rothko large-scale, open structure paintings Paint was applied in thin layers of color Several vertically aligned rectangles set within a field of color Number 10, 1950

It’s Your Turn… The Abstract Expressionists have reminded us that the things we experience shape our identity. Your time at May Watts has shaped you. Now that your years at Watts are drawing to a close, let’s take a minute to think about the impact of this school on the person you are today. Divide your paper in half. On one side write down specific events or memories you have about your time at Watts or the friends you’ve made. On the other side, write down all of the feelings you have – good or bad – about your time at May Watts. (Try to think about all of the years you were at this school.) Select your color palette – choose 3 to 5 colors that will help accurately convey the experience. Use the flip side of the paper and create your own Abstract Expressionist piece. Remember – abstract means lines, shapes, and feelings…not literal drawings.