Art Masterpiece: Composition, 1946 by Jackson Pollock
Pronounced: Jackson PAUL-ock
Keywords: Abstract Expressionism, Action Painting, Color, Line and Rhythm
Abstract Expressionism - A school of painting that flourished after World War II until the
early 1960s, emphasizing an artist's liberty to show attitudes and emotions through
nontraditional ways.
Action Painting - the process of making art, often through a variety of energetic techniques
that include dripping, dabbing, smearing, and even flinging paint onto the surface of the
canvas.
Color - an element of art. The hue, value and intensity of an object. The primary colors are
red, blue and yellow: every color except white can be created from various blending of these
three colors.
Line - an element of art; a continuous path of a point as it moves across a surface. A line can
vary in length, width, direction, curvature or color.
Rhythm - regular repetition of lines, shapes, colors or patterns. The arrangement of parts of
an artwork that make it seem to have a special beat or repeated movement.
Grade:
2nd grade
Project:
Abstract Mural
Meet the Artist (5 min):
• Jackson Pollock (1912) grew up in Arizona and California but moved to New York City in 1930
to live with his brother, go to art school and study painting.
• By the 1940’s he had developed a process for which he became famous, by pouring,
splattering, throwing and dripping paint onto flat canvasses that he laid on the floor.
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To him, the important part of his art was how he did it. He liked to call his work ‘Action
Painting’. He wanted people to see and feel the energy he used when he painted. His goal was
to fill his paintings with movement, color and energy. Sometimes the paint created beautiful
and colorful shapes, other times - there were no shapes at all.
When a painting has no recognizable or natural objects in it, it is called Abstract. When
abstract art represents a lot of emotions and feelings it is called Abstract Expressionism. Jackson died in a car accident in 1956. He was 44 years old.
Today people still recognize his work and the original style he created.
Discussion (10 min):
• How does this painting make you feel? Why does it make you feel that way? Do you think the
artist felt that way?
• How many different colors do you see?
• Pick a line in the print. Is it possible to follow it through the painting? (It’s hard to tell
where it starts and stops)
• Do you think Pollock planned out his art?
• Do you think Pollock used a brush to paint? (Not usually) What tools did he paint with and
where does it look that way? (He used a paint brush to drip and spatter paint, and would
manipulate the paint sticks, trowels or knives, sometimes obtaining a heavy impasto).
• Why do you think he called his style of art ‘action painting’?
• Do you think he had fun making his art?
Project: Abstract mural
Project Materials:
White butcher paper, 2 - 15’ lengths for each class
Tempera paint, (need 5), purple, red, blue, yellow, black,
Squeeze bottles with lids
Paint brushes, the long ones with black stiff bristles (for dripping paint)
Other items for spattering and manipulating the paint; popsicle sticks (or tongue
depressors), toothbrushes, straws, yarn
5oz Dixie cups for paint
Black Sharpies
Parent Letters
Newspapers
Masking tape
Rubber bands
Messy Art Day Note
Advance Preparation:
Cut white butcher paper into 15’ lengths
Mark sections of paper with pencil. Draw a line lengthwise down the middle of each sheet,
then make lines from one side to the other every 2 feet. Roll up, place rubber bands
around and mark with the teacher’s name.
Copy Parent Letters and cut apart
Copy Messy Day Art notes (with date filled out) and give to teacher to send home the day
before the project
Process (30-40 min):
• Teach the Artist Bio inside class, then give the students detailed instructions on what they
will be doing outside.
• While the one volunteer is inside teaching 1 to 2 volunteers need to be outside setting up
during class before the students come out.
• Lay the butcher paper on the sidewalk over newspaper and tape all of it down. Make sure
that you can walk all around, but out of the main walking path if possible. Once painted, it will
take quite a while to dry.
• Have all the paint ready to go (4-5 colors). One color in the bottles for squirting, one color
for the paintbrushes to be dripped, one for the straws for spattering, etc.
• Students should be brought out in groups of 4-5 to work on the mural.
• The others can work on the Jackson Pollock word search.
• Lead the first group of students outside.
• Using a black sharpie, have them write their name on the bottom section of their square.
• If necessary, demonstrate how to paint using the different gadgets.
• Assign the students a color and let them paint within their section. Encourage them to paint
with emotion like Pollock and drip, spatter, etc.
• Next, let them switch colors.
• Give them about 5 minutes to paint before you escort the next group out.
• Parent Letters should be left with the teacher or placed into their art portfolios.
When finished and dried, display the artwork as one large mural. When it is ready to be returned to the students, cut the mural into smaller squares (along
the lines already drawn), glue the Parent Letter to the back and put into their art portfolio.
Clean up:
Throw paint cups away. All brushes, gadgets and tools need to be washed out thoroughly
and dried, ready for the next class. Store all brushes and paint bottles upright with lids
closed tightly. Thank you for taking good care of our supplies!
Jackson Pollock
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ABSTRACT
EXPRESSIONISM
POURING
ACTIONPAINTING
JACKSON
RHYTHM
ART
LINE
SPATTERING
CANVAS
MOVEMENT
TEMPERA
COLOR
MURAL
THROWING
DRIPPING
POLLOCK
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MESSY ART DAY
Date:
Please dress accordingly or bring an old shirt to cover your clothes!
MESSY ART DAY
Date:
Please dress accordingly or bring an old shirt to cover your clothes!
MESSY ART DAY
Date:
Please dress accordingly or bring an old shirt to cover your clothes!
MESSY ART DAY
Date:
Please dress accordingly or bring an old shirt to cover your clothes!