Emotion, expression, individualism, sponteneity, and freedom
became the subjects of these artists.

Instead of using visual subjects (a person, place or a thing)
these artists used ideas as their subject matter.


How do you draw an idea?

How do you paint an emotion?

How do you express freedom?

 

Artists shifted their focus to using pure art elements.

Color, line, shape, movement, balance, texture
became the focus of a painting or sculpture.

It is like putting together a variety of individual notes,
and beats in music to create a mood or to express an emotion.


Below you will see other examples of abstract art.
These artists focused on abstract or untouchable concepts
as a focus in their work instead of realistic subjects.

Your mission:

•Look at the works below and visit the links to the artist pages.
•Select the artist that you like most.
•Find out more about the artist by doing your own investigation
of the life and work of the artist.
•We will then get into groups and present the artists to each other.
•After that, we will have a debate about abstract art.

Is abstract art really art?

Be prepared to defend the work of your artist.
How would you defend the claim that this is not art because anyone can do it?
Can anyone do it?
How would you defend the claim that this is not art because it's not realistic?
How would you defend the claim that drawing a concept is not as important as drawing realistically?

Things to think about:

Why did the artist work in this style?
Did the artist study art for a long time before developing his or her style?
What was the artist's concept or main idea?
How did the artist use elements of art (line, color, shape, texture, balance, composition)?



This is a painting by the artist Jackson Pollock.

He used motion and drips of paint in his work.

What do you think this artist could have been feeling when he painted this?

Click here to learn more about the work of Jackson Pollock.

Click here to create your own Jackson Pollock Painting.


This is a painting by the artist Mark Rothko.

He used bands of color and color theory to create emotions in his audience.

How does this painting make you feel?

Click here to learn more about the work of Mark Rothko.


 

 

This is a painting by the artist Franz Kline.

What do you think this artist could have been feeling when he painted this?

Click here to learn more about the work of Franz Kline.


 

 

This is a painting by the artist Barnette Neuman.

What kind of mood do you think this artist was expressing?

Click here to learn more about the work of Barnett Newman.


 

This is a painting by Helen Frankethaler.

Describe the colors in this painting.

How do these colors make you feel?

Click here to learn more about the work of Helen Frankethaler.


 

This is a painting by Joan Mitchell.

Describe the types of lines that she uses.

What feelings do you think these lines describe?

Click here to learn more about the art of Joan Mitchell.


 

This is a sculpture by Henry Moore.

Describe the shape of this sculpture.

Would you say it causes tension or that it is a relaxing sculpture?

Click here to find more information on Henry Moore.


 

This is a sculpture by Louise Nevelson.

Describe what you see in this sculpture.

Do any of these objects that make up this sculpture remind you of anything in your own life?

Click here to learn more about Louise Nevelson.