In this unit you will learn about various forms of abstract painting and the artists who worked in these styles. You will explore the concept of the artist's intent and concept in creating abstract work. You will be responsible for learning the terms, the names of the artists and the art movements included in this section.
There will be questions on this content on the Final Exam.

EUROPEAN PRECURSORS experimenting with abstraction in painting

Picasso's "CUBISM". This painting is considered to be the first Cubist picture.
demoisselles_d'avignon.jpg
Pablo Picasso, LES DEMOISSELLES D'AVIGNON, 1907


matisse_red_studio.jpg
Henri Matisse, RED STUDIO, 1911




kandinsky.jpg
Wassilly Kandinsky, Composition VII, 1913

THREE ABSTRACT PAINTING ASSIGNMENTS:


  1. The Mark Repetition, Unity with Variation. Create a non objective painting by repeating a brushstroke (mark) all over. Create an area of interest by adjusting color and or value in an area of the painting. Artists: Alma Thomas, Joan Mitchell, Brice Marden, Jack Tworkov - see below
  2. The Grid: PATTERN, VARIETY, EMPHASIS. CREATE AN A-SYMMETRICAL COMPOSTION based on an irregular grid.
Color: Limited to a pair of complementary colors plus the use of white. Use a range of values.
Look at Sean Scully, Paul Klee, Mondrian, West African Kente Cloth.

SEAN SCULLY


Scully_at_Atelier.jpg
SEAN SCULLY



scully_drwg.jpg
SEAN SCULLY



gabriel.jpg
SEAN SCULLY, Gabriel





kente_cloth_2.gif
Kente Cloth, woven fiber,Ghana, Africa

KENTE CLOTH

kleeancient-sound.jpg
PAUL KLEE, Ancient sound, oil on canvas






Mondrian.jpg
PIET MONDRIAN, Oil on Canvas, 1921



mondrian-broadway-boogie-woogie-1921.jpg
MONDRIAN, Broadway Bogie Woogie




3.Abstract Landscape: . Bring in several photos of landscape or interior, or use a photo from the news paper (choose a color photo). The photo should have many elements in it, i.e. not just land and sky with a single tree. See examples below in the work of Richard Diebenkorn. Translate the photo into its most significant components, shapes, values, colors, lines, textures. The result should be abstract, preferably "non-objective". However when viewed next to the original picture, the reference and the reasons governing your choices should be clear. Produce a pencil sketch in value first. Submit the sketch and painting accompanied by the original photo. Please remember to put your name on each piece.

Size: 9"x 12" - 12" x 16".

Diebenkorn_horizon_1959.jpg

Richard Diebenkorn

DIEBENKORN INFO

diebenkorn_fig_ldscp.jpg






richard-diebenkorn-ocean-park-no-117.jpg
RICHARD DIEBENKORN, Ocean Park Series




300px-Richard_Diebenkorn's_painting_'Ocean_Park_No.129'.jpg


diebenkorn_ocean_park_140.jpg


ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM, an important mid-20th century American Modern Art movement that included many expatriot European artists who emigrated here during World War II. ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM

SOME PROMINENT AMERICAN ABSTRACT PAINTERS:

ALMA THOMAS ALMA THOMAS
ALMA THOMAS 2
RED ROSE CANTATA


Alma_Thomas_New_Galaxy_1970_jpg.jpg
ALMA THOMAS, New Galaxy, Oil on canvas, 1970










alma_thomas_complementary.jpg

alma2.jpg


==

JOAN MITCHELL
JOAN MITCHELL FOUNDATION

==



mitchell_grande-vallee-ii3.jpg
Joan Mitchell, GRANDE VALLEE series, 1983




joan_mitchell_1.jpg
Joan Mitchell




g130_mitchell_chord_VII.jpg
Joan Mitchell, CHORD VII



BRICE MARDEN
the-muses-brice-marden-1993.jpg
Brice Marden, THE MUSES, 1993



JACK TWORKOV

jack-tworkov_red.jpg
Jack Tworkov, CROSSFIELD I, 1968