Abstract 
Expressionism


A 1940s New York city based movement made up of 
artists expressing themselves with their brushes 
with splashes of paint on canvases, 
that put New York on a globally 
recognised scale in the art arena.


 Strongly defined by earlier art movements combined into one major one, as the name suggests this movement was a mixture of "expressionism" and "abstraction".

 Expressionism being a movement that spanned from 1905  til about 1933, hailing art legends that produced artworks like " The Scream classed with famous names with the likes of Edvard Munch, Vincent Van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner to name a few.

- Expressionism believing in portraying the artist's emotions and experiences and represented through the artwork was also divided by sectors much like abstract expressionism. (theartstory.org, 2017)

 - Abstraction was a term defined as a random depiction that does not represent what reality is but rather what it is made up to be presented in the form of shapes, marks as well as colours. (tate.org.uk, 2017)

 Classed under two categories, Abstract expressionist artists believed that paint could be applied on canvases either using the:
  • Action Painting method or the
  • Colour Field painting technique

Action Painting characteristics were loose, marks often looking as if they were spilled, normally seem in linear angle like compositions. This was practised by De Kooning and Pollock amongst others that produced random energetic textures.

 Colour Field Painting characteristics were flat coloured composition almost always potrayed in the form of a large soft-edged shape, where colours would tend to shine through and have an almost soft glow when viewed. This style was adopted by Rothko, Newman, and Reinhardt who were also highly influential to the movement.



Some artworks from the movements


Figure 1: Title - number1, 1950, lavendermist, Jackson Pollock
source:http://emptyeasel.com/

Figure 2, Mark Rothko
Red on Maroon 1959, source: tate.org.uk
Figure 3, Jackson Pollock, 1956, source:.Jackson Pollock/art
Figure 4 - Willem de kooning, 1955,
source: emptyeasel.com

Art Analysis Old Versus New
source: tate.org.uk

Old

A painting by Frank Stella titled 
Hyena Stomp, 1962 

This composition consists of lines and shapes filled with different flat and vibrant colours layed our forming a square. The strips of colour resemble as if they are leading towards the center of the canvas but the planes are somewhat shifted, making them not join up to the middle as a normal composition.

Characteristics of Abstract Expressionism are evident in the fact that this composition is random and there is not clear, or logical sense to the placement as well as offset of the planes shifting from the center.


Why it works The random flat colours arranged and combined onto the composition almost compliment each other and give a sort of repeated hypnotysing effect that is pleasing to look at. Even with the shifted center this compostion still works well and was successfully constructed.


source: pinterest.com
New
artwork by a 

CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT LANDSCAPE ARTIST

Kimberly Conrad uses the Abstract Expressionism movement to show her emotions in an abstract way using the action painting method. The composition consists of random coours overlayed with drips and splatters of brightly coloured and dull paint. This piece has hints of greens, intense blues, reds and all sorts of in between colours.

Why it works: The artist took time to compose their composition as it reveals the characteristics of an Abstract Expressionist movement piece. the use of brush strokes and angles creates a rough simulated texture that leads the viewer along the painting.






References

 Figure 1 Jackson Pollock
http://emptyeasel.com/2007/08/14/the-abstract-expressionist-movement/

 Figure 2 Mark Rothko
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/abstract-art

 Figure 3 Jackson Pollock

www.Jackson Pollock/art-favorites.html

Figure 4 Willem De Kooning
http://emptyeasel.com/2007/08/14/the-abstract-expressionist-movement/
Paint Splatters
https://pixabay.com/en/painting-spray-brush-paint-1914133/

 Expressionism
http://www.theartstory.org/movement-expressionism.htm

 Kimberley Conrad
https://kimberlyconradfineart.com/about

 Kimberley Conrad Painting
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/211809988694921494/

 Abstract Art
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/abstract-art

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