Jackson Pollock

Expressionism" is a kind of art that expresses feelings and thoughts. Abstract Expressionism is art that shows emotions and ideas through non-representational

forms.

What do we know about Jackson Pollock?

• Jackson Pollock was a famous 20th century abstract painter, who revolutionized the world of modern art, with his unique abstract painting techniques.

Early life • Paul Jackson Pollock was born on January 28, 1912 in Cody, Wyoming.

• His father, LeRoy Pollock was a farmer, and his mother Stella May McClure was a fierce woman, with artistic ambitions.

• He was the youngest of five brothers.

Early life

• When he was little, Pollock's family moved around the West, to Arizona and California.

• When Pollock was 8, his father left the family, and Pollock's older brother, Charles, became like a father to him.

• Charles was an artist, and he was considered to be the best

in the family. He had a significant influence on his younger brother's future ambitions.

• While the family was living in Los Angeles. Pollock enrolled in

the Manual Arts High School, where he discovered his passion for art.

Can you find on the map the places where Jackson Pollock lived?

In 1930

• In 1930 when Pollock was 18 years old, he moved to New York City to live with his brother, Charles. He studied with Charles's art teacher: “Thomas Hart Benton” a painter.

• Pollock spent much of his time with Benton who became like the family that Pollock felt he never had.

• Jackson Pollock and his brother

Love and Work

• In 1941 , Pollock met Lee Krasner, a contemporary artist.

• Krasner and Pollock married in October 1945.

• Around that time, Peggy Guggenheim an art collector began expressing interest in Pollock's paintings. During a meeting that she had with a painter called Pete Norman.

they commented that :

“ Pollock’s art was

possibly the most

original American

art they had seen”.

The "Drip Period"

• Pollock's most famous

paintings were made during this "drip period" between 1947 and 1950.

• In 1949, he became the best-paid painter in America.

What does “DRIP” mean?

• To fall in drops.

His technique

• His method is sometimes called "action painting". Pollock put his large canvases on the floor, so that he could move around all four sides of his work. He also used very liquid paints, so that he could easily drop the paint onto his canvases.

• His paintings are explosions of curving lines, shapes and colors. In his art you can see every movement that his arm made. You can see how he had to move his body around the canvas.

Downfall and Death

• The fame was not good for Pollock. He became dismissive of other artists.

• Pollock's art also became darker in color. He abandoned the "drip" method, and began painting in black and white, which proved unsuccessful and a depressed period.

Legacy

• In August 11, 1956, Pollock has a car accident and died.

• A year after his death, Pollock was given a memorial retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, with frequent exhibitions at both the MoMA in New York and the Tate in London. He remains one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

LET’S WATCH A VIDEO

LET’S PAINT

How to paint like Jackson Pollock

MATERIALS:

• A cardboard lid

• A paintbrush or plastic teaspoon.

• Liquid paint.

What to do?

• Put a piece of paper inside the cardboard lid.

• Choose the color that you like best.

• Dig the teaspoon in the pot and drop the paint on the picture.

• Create shapes as you want.

A COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITY

• Now that we know how to

paint like Jackson Pollock let’s make a big mural.

• Let’s go to the playground.We need a big space to paint and have fun.

• We are going to divide the class into groups.

MATERIALS

1. A long piece of white paper.

2. Liquid paints of different colours.

3. A syringe.

THE QUIZ

1. When was Jackson Pollock born?

2. Was he the oldest of his five brothers?

3. What Art school did Jackson Pollock enrolle in?

4. Can you name the places where Jackson Pollock lived?

5. In 1930 How old was Jackson Pollock?

6. In 1930 Where did he study?

7. When was the “Drip Period”?

8. His method is sometimes called:

a) Slow paintings. b) Action painting. c) Great paintings.

9. When Did jackson Pollock die?