10.1 Action Painting

Action Painting revolutionized art in the mid-20th century. It embraced spontaneity, using energetic gestures to create abstract works. Artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning poured, dripped, and splattered paint on large canvases, breaking free from traditional techniques.

This approach embodied the spirit of Abstract Expressionism. It emphasized the artist's physical and emotional involvement, turning the act of painting into a performance. Action Painting reflected post-war anxieties and the search for new forms of expression in a rapidly changing world.

Techniques of Action Painting

Dynamic Application Methods

Top images from around the web for Dynamic Application Methods

• 

  Jackson Pollock, Number 10, 1949 5/12/18 #mfaboston #artmu… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  1993 - 'Fathers must die', abstract-expressionist painting… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Jackson Pollock, Number 10, 1949 5/12/18 #mfaboston #artmu… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  1993 - 'Fathers must die', abstract-expressionist painting… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

Top images from around the web for Dynamic Application Methods

• 

  Jackson Pollock, Number 10, 1949 5/12/18 #mfaboston #artmu… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  1993 - 'Fathers must die', abstract-expressionist painting… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Jackson Pollock, Number 10, 1949 5/12/18 #mfaboston #artmu… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  1993 - 'Fathers must die', abstract-expressionist painting… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

• Action Painting involves applying paint directly onto canvas using energetic and spontaneous gestures without preconceived plans or sketches
• Artists employ dripping, pouring, and splattering techniques to create abstract compositions capturing the immediacy of the creative process
• Large-scale canvases laid on the floor allow artists to move around and interact with the painting from all angles
• Unconventional tools (sticks, trowels, artist's hands) contribute to unique textures and marks characteristic of Action Painting
• Rapid application of paint and embracing chance effects embody the artist's physical movements
• Layering of paint and creating intricate webs of color build depth and complexity in compositions

Compositional Strategies

• Emphasis on spontaneity leads to dynamic and unpredictable compositions
• Artists often work without preliminary sketches, allowing the painting to evolve organically
• Balance between controlled and chaotic elements creates visual tension and energy
• Use of negative space and uneven paint distribution adds depth and movement to the work
• Overlapping layers of paint create complex color relationships and textures
• Scale of paintings often exceeds traditional easel size, enveloping the viewer's field of vision

Gesture and Improvisation in Action Painting

Physical Expression and Movement

• Gesture serves as a direct expression of the artist's emotional and physical state, translating inner impulses into visible marks
• Artist's bodily movements become an integral part of the artwork, with the canvas recording actions and energy
• Scale of Action Paintings requires full-body engagement, transforming painting into a performative and physically demanding process
• Rhythmic arm movements and whole-body gestures create sweeping lines and dynamic forms
• Artists often move around or on top of the canvas, approaching it from multiple angles
• Physical engagement with the painting process leads to a sense of immediacy and presence in the final work

Spontaneity and Intuition

• Improvisation allows artists to respond intuitively to the evolving composition without adhering to predetermined plans
• Spontaneous nature emphasizes the importance of the present moment, capturing immediate thoughts and feelings
• Dynamic interplay between gesture and improvisation creates rhythm and flow within the composition
• Artists often work in a state of heightened concentration, similar to jazz musicians during improvisation
• Embracing accidents and unintended effects as part of the creative process
• Continuous dialogue between artist and emerging composition guides the work's development

Philosophical Underpinnings of Action Painting

Psychological Influences

• Action Painting rooted in automatism, derived from Surrealism, aiming to bypass conscious control and access the unconscious mind
• Psychoanalytic theories, particularly Carl Jung's, informed belief in art's power to reveal and explore the collective unconscious
• Serves as a form of catharsis, allowing artists to externalize and process internal conflicts and emotions
• Explores the relationship between conscious intention and unconscious impulses in the creative process
• Reflects the concept of "flow state" in psychology, where artists become fully immersed in the act of creation
• Challenges traditional notions of artistic skill and control, emphasizing intuition and spontaneity

Existential and Phenomenological Connections

• Philosophy of existentialism influenced Action Painting, emphasizing individual freedom, authenticity, and lived experience
• Reflects post-World War II zeitgeist, embodying themes of anxiety, freedom, and search for meaning in a rapidly changing world
• Emphasis on process over product aligns with phenomenological approaches to understanding human experience and perception
• Explores the nature of human agency and free will through the act of spontaneous creation
• Challenges traditional notions of artistic representation, focusing on the direct experience of creation and viewing
• Embodies the concept of "being-in-the-world" through physical engagement with materials and space

Impact of Key Action Painters

Revolutionary Techniques and Styles

• Jackson Pollock's "drip painting" technique revolutionized painting approach, freeing artists from traditional methods
• Willem de Kooning's aggressive brushwork and integration of figurative elements expanded Action Painting vocabulary
• Franz Kline's bold, black-and-white compositions explored the expressive potential of gesture on a monumental scale
• Helen Frankenthaler's soak-stain technique influenced the development of Color Field painting
• Lee Krasner's layered, rhythmic compositions demonstrated the potential for sustained improvisation over time
• Robert Motherwell's use of bold forms and calligraphic gestures bridged Abstract Expressionism and European modernism

Cultural and Artistic Influence

• Public performances and demonstrations, particularly by Pollock, transformed perceptions of the artist's role and creative process
• Critical and commercial success legitimized abstract expressionism and established New York as the new center of the art world
• Influence extended beyond visual arts, inspiring developments in avant-garde music, dance, and performance art
• Techniques and philosophies pioneered paved the way for subsequent movements (Color Field painting, Happenings, Process Art)
• Emphasis on individuality and personal expression contributed to diversification of artistic styles in latter half of 20th century
• Action Painting's focus on process and materiality influenced the development of installation art and earth art