SAINTANDREWSCHOOL

Abstract Expressionism    Germany, C.1905 to 1940's 

Abstract Expressionism or abstract expressionism - A painting movement in which artists typically applied paint rapidly, and with force to their huge canvases in an effort to show feelings and emotions, painting gesturally, non-geometrically, sometimes applying paint with large brushes, sometimes dripping or even throwing it onto canvas. Their work is characterized by a strong dependence on what appears to be accident and chance, but which is actually highly planned. Some Abstract Expressionist artists were concerned with adopting a peaceful and mystical approach to a purely abstract image. Usually there was no effort to represent subject matter. Not all work was abstract, nor was all work expressive, but it was generally believed that the spontaneity of the artists' approach to their work would draw from and release the creativity of their unconscious minds. The expressive method of painting was often considered as important as the painting itself.

(http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/a/abstractexpr.html)

 

ARTIST: http://www.biography.com/people/lee-krasner-37447

Lee Krasner

Krasner's parents were Russian Jewish immigrants who fled to the United States to escape anti-Semitism and the Russo-Japanese War. Krasner was the youngest of six children, and the only one of her siblings to be born in the United States. When she was 14, she enrolled at Washington IrvingHigh School in New York City, where she was able to study studio art. When she graduated from high school in 1925, Krasner was awarded a scholarship to attend the Women's Art School of Cooper Union. Following her graduation from Cooper Union, Krasner pursued yet more art education at the illustrious National Academy of Design, completing her course load there in 1932.In 1937, while she was still working for the WPA, Krasner decided to pursue more art training at the 8th Street atelier run by renowned German artist Hans Hoffmann. Through her exposure to Hoffmann's modernist theories, her formerly naturalist paintings and drawings took on a cubist approach and reached a new level of sophistication. Her involvement in the New York art scene extended to include political causes. To this end, Krasner joined the American Abstract Artists, which afforded her more opportunities to exhibit her work as a burgeoning young modernist painter. Krasner's association with Hoffmann's atelier lasted through 1940.In the early 1960s, Krasner was living back in Manhattan when she nearly died of a brain aneurysm. After a two-year recovery period, Krasner returned to refining nature-inspired works. In 1965 she had a retrospective solo exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in London, later followed by a solo exhibition at the Whitney in 1975. In the late 1970s she took another stab at collage work.Krasner died of diverticulitis on June 19, 1984, in New York City

 

 ARTIST WORK:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATERIALS:

cookie sheet, 3 pieces of 9"x 12" paper, tempra paint, variety of brushes, spoons, marbles, straws, ipod, 3  very different types of songs.

 

INSTRUCTIONS / PROCEDURE: 

http://www.ehow.com/info_8790929_kids-abstract-expressionist-project.html

1. Place paints into small bowls and put drawing paper on a cookie tray. 

2. Play one of your songs, just listen to the music without being disturbed. When the song has finished start it again but this time begin painting.

3. Using all the tools at your disposal begin your work.

4. You may splatter, brush or drip your paint. Do things like dropping marbles into the paint and use spoons to pick up the marbles. Then roll marbles around the paper to create abstract expressionist paintings. Lift up the cookie trays to move the marbles all over the paper. Drop paint from spoons to add paint splatters to art pieces.

5. Repeat this process two more times while listening to your other songs. Make sure you write down which song you were listening to when you painted each picture.

6. When 3 works have been completed allow to dry. When dry mount all three works on a single sheet of tag board.

7. Finally, write a 250 word description of your work, why did you choose this era, what was most difficult about completing the project, what was most enjoyable about working on the project, in what ways does your project fit into the era you chose. Type your paper in "Arial font 14", Give your work a title, 

 

EXAMPLE: