+Warm-Up

How would you classify this painting?

What do you think this is a painting of?

Would you paint something like this?

Do you think this is art?

Why? or Why not?

Earth and Green1955Mark Rothko

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Early Rothko Self Portrait

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Non-Objective Art

Non-objective art does not contain a recognizable subject. Rather, the artist manipulates the elements of art by using the principles of design.

One thing to remember about non objective art is the time period. Non-objective art really began in post war America, at a time period where there was so much emphasis on subject matter.

+Why do people create non-objective art?

Abstract expressionism

Abstract expressionist artists continue to use the formalist and expressionist techniques used by the expressionist artists.

Instead of using a recognizable subject matter to illustrate their emotions, abstract expressionist artists are purely creating a visual representation of what is within.

For example: Instead of painting someone who looks sad, they were attempting to paint what they felt sad looked like.

Helen FrankenthalerNature Abhors a Vacuum, 1973Acrylic on canvas, 103 x 112 inches

+Characteristics of abstract expressionist work.

Emphasis on use of elements and principles.

Typically very large scale paintings.

With just a few exceptions, there are no recognizable subject matter. (non-objective)

Abstract expressionism began here in America and is credited with putting New York in the center of the art world.

+Color Fields

Stemmed from abstract expressionism, most of the early color field painters were prominent abstract expressionists.

Color field paintings are typically in simple shapes, stripes, targets, simplistic natural shapes and detach color from a description of a subject, and instead use color as a subject on it’s own.

SpreadKenneth Noland1958

+Prominent Artists

Jackson Pollock

Mark Rothko

Helen Frankenthaler

Frank Stella

+Jackson Pollock

January 28, 1912 – August 11, 1956

Was an accomplished painter, and is best known for his Abstract Expressionist drip paintings created between 47 and 50.

The most prominent and well known Abstract Expressionist painter.

Action Painting- style of painting in which paint is spontaneously dribbled, splashed or smeared onto the canvas, rather than being carefully applied.

Jackson Pollock, Lavender Mist,1950

Going West, Jackson Pollock

Pollock wanted an end to the viewer's search for figurative elements in his paintings, and so he abandoned titles and started numbering the paintings instead. Of this, Pollock commented: "...look passively and try to receive what the painting has to offer and not bring a subject matter or preconceived idea of what they are to be looking for." Pollock's wife, Lee Krasner, said Pollock "used to give his pictures conventional titles... but now he simply numbers them. Numbers are neutral. They make people look at a picture for what it is—pure painting.

+Mark Rothko

September 25, 1903 – February 25, 1970

Rothko was a pioneer in the art of color field painting.

Though Rothko is an Abstract Expressionist painter his style differs greatly from the erratic drips and splatters of Pollock.

For Rothko, these blurred blocks of various colors, devoid of landscape or human figure, let alone myth and symbol, possessed their own life force. They contained a "breath of life" he found lacking in most figurative painting of the era.

Mark Rothko, No.61, Rust and Blue, 1953

+Helen Frankenthaler

December 12, 1928 – December 27, 2011

Initially associated with Abstract Expressionism her career was launched in 1952 with the exhibition of Mountains and Sea.

She introduced the technique of painting directly onto an unprepared canvas so that the material absorbs the colors.

Using this type of painting created a water color look but utilized oil paints heavily diluted with turpentine. A disadvantage of not priming the surface is, the paint eventually begins to discolor and rot the painting.

Round Trip, Helen Frankenthaler, 1957

+Frank Stella

May 12, 1936-still alive

In addition to painting, Stella’s work also includes a wide array of prints and sculptures.

Stella’s Color Field paintings incorporate focus heavily on line and shape, as well as color.

Stella is also a pioneer and one of the only artists known for his shaped canvases.

Firuzabad, Frank Stella, 1970

+Your non-objective objective.

Using the paper given, create a collage which utilizes your elements and principles, your goal should be to emphasize one or two specifically.

Your collage should not incorporate recognizable images or words.