American Abstract Expressionism
Cross-Curricular – Art and Social Studies Grades 7–12 Lesson plan and artwork by Edwin Leary, Art Consultant, Florida Description Directions This project deals with the infusion between Art History Teacher preparation: and Art Making through American Abstract Expressionism. Gather examples of artists that dominated this movement, American Abstract Expressionism is truly a U.S. movement that display them in the Art Room with questions of: Who uses emphasizes the act of painting, inherent in the color, texture, organic forms? Dripped and splashed work? Why the highly action, style and the interaction of the artist. It may have been colored work of Kandinsky? Why the figurative aspects of inspired by Hans Hofmann, Arshile Gorky and further developed DeKooning? by the convergence of such artists as Jackson Pollack, William With the students: DeKooning, Franz Kline, Mark Rothko and Wassily Kandinsky. 1 Discuss the emotions, color and structure of the displayed Objectives artists’ work. Discuss why American Abstract Expressionism is less about • Students can interactively apply an art movement to an art 2 process-painting. style than attitude. • This art-infused activity strengthens their observation and 3 Discuss why these artists have such an attachment of self awareness of a specific artist’s expression. expression as found in their paintings yet not necessarily found in more academic work? Lesson Plan Extensions 4 Gather the materials and explain why the vivid colors of Apply this same concept of investigation, application and art Fluorescent Acrylics were used, and what they do within a making to other movements or schools of art. For example, use painting. The juxtaposition of primary colors can infuse into Cubism, Fauvism, Impressionism, Dada, Pop Art, etc. a secondary-tertiary color under certain applications.
www.saxarts.com | Phone: 1-888-388-3224 | Fax: 1-888-388-6344 Materials 9-403293-705 Sax® Canvas Sheets, Cotton Duck, Primed/ea., 18"x24" Rheotech Acrylics 9-1371292-705 Rubine Red 9-1371267-705 Bright Yellow 9-1371273-705 Phthalo Blue 9-1371268-705 Burnt Umber 9-1371269-705 Carbon Black 9-1371277-705 Titanium White 9-1371297-705 Fluorescent Green 9-1371287-705 Fluorescent Magenta 9-1371286-705 Fluorescent Orange 9-1371285-705 Fluorescent Yellow 9-403535-705 Sax® Platinum Medium, 5 Apply canvas sheets to art work surfaces with masking tape. Quart These sheets can easily be removed for drying and storage. 9-1367756-705 Liquitex® Free-Style™ 6 Recreate the theme of an American Abstract Expressionist Artist. Brushes, 4-Set 7 Using the larger brushes or painting knives, apply layering broad 9-411600-705 Sax® Golden Taklon Acrylic strokes, working from background to foreground, lighter colors Brushes, 6-Set to darker colors. 9-410850-705 Royal® Jumbo Brushes, 8 Intuitively add additional paint application and always evaluate 2" width, 4-Set work as progress is being made. 9-408928-705 Complete 5 Knife Set 9 The use of the Platinum Acrylic adds a reflective tint to primary- 9-244689-705 Shiva® Artist’s Paintstik® secondary-tertiary colors. It also can produce results as an Oil Color Sets, 12-Color Set expressionistic medium alone. 9-440816-705 Shiva® Artist’s Paintstik® 10 Let paintings completely dry. Oil Color Sets, 6-Color Set 11 Artist’s Paintstik® can be applied as a final calligraphic element to outline, indicate movement or highlight a certain area. 12 Do not apply Gloss Medium, Tempera Varnish, etc., as it tends to mask the brightness-effects of the Fluorescent or luminous qualities of the reflective Platinum Medium. 13 Curate the painting with: Title, name and date. National Standards Content Standard #1: Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes. Content Standard #5: Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others