JACKSON POLLOCK

AMERICAN PAINTER PAINTED ON HUGE CANVASES SO HE COULD USE HIS WHOLE BODY POURED AND SPLATTERED COLORS ON CANVAS, RATHER THAN USING A PAINTBRUSH

ONE OF HIS LARGEST CANVASES IS 9 FEET TALL AND 17 1/2 FEET WIDE

Born in Cody, Wyoming 1912 Studied painting in Los Angeles and was introduced to the art movement known as Surrealism Surrealism: a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members. Surrealists used the unexpected and absurd humor in their art and literary works. An example.....

THE ELEPHANT CELEBES

He had 4 brothers - all artists! It was said his childhood was not fun and he was very angry. He lost his index finger at 4 years old. He could not draw but could paint. When he was 18 he moved to New York with his brother and enrolled in the Art Student League

At 23, during the Great Depression, he was employed by the Federal Art Project. Funded by the Government to keep artists working, otherwise we might lose a generation of artists. Began therapy with a Jung analyst. He was described as moody and turbulent due to alcohol abuse. The need to express one's inner feelings was believed to be a result of Pollock studying himself with his therapist.

AT 33 HE PAINTED HIS FIRST WALL SIZE WORK CALLED A "MURAL". THIS IS HIS PAINTING BREAKTHROUGH INTO A TOTALLY PERSONAL STYLE.

At 33 he married Lee Krasner, a modern artist

After WWII American artists took the lead in establishing an original and powerful style called Abstract Expressionalism. Pollock is regarded as being one of the the first to begin this movement. It was uniquely American. It was probably the last style that could be described as native to any country, for with post- war global communication international Art was created.

The recognition of this new American style shifted peoples opinions from Paris being the center of creative art to New York being recognized as the creative center.

No longer bound by European influences, the American artist employed new materials, synthetic paint, unprimed canvases. Most of all these new works showed the artists PERSONAL expression be the primary concern. Express yourself! It was emotional, bold and basically abstract - hence Abstract Expressionism. (abstract means forms not drawn from the recognizable world)

For Pollock the new painting had no subject matter. Each work was highly individualistic. There was no singular center of interest to focus on, rather a regular rhythm or pattern across the canvas. This "action" painting has graceful, swirling lines or violent ones, until the surface is patterned in whirling movement.

HE BEGAN "ACTION PAINTING", USING HIS WHOLE BODY. IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL SINCE NO ONE WAS PAINTING THAT WAY.

HE USED COMMERCIAL HOUSE PAINTS IN BROWN, BLACK AND WHITE. HE DID NOT PAINT AN IMAGE, JUST ACTION AND EMOTION CONVEYED IN HIS ART.

At 44 he died in a car accident. His art never brought him any wealth while he was alive. After his death in 1956, a painting that he did in 1950 and sold for $1500 was bought by the National Gallery of Art for more than 2 million dollars.

55 years after his death he is considered one of the "masters of Modern art" because he is the first to do the Technique that he did. Non-traditional Used new materials and paints Different style - action. CHANGED MODERN ART