Freedom of Drip Painting and the Likes

     When I think of the post modern art era, I think of abstract art that you either hate or love. The most common style of art is drip painting. Many people have said that they feel a profound amount of emotion coming from it by the use of colors that are being used. While I cannot feel any emotion from it, they are interesting to look at. Every time that I look at them, I will notice a new detail. I would first show off the art of Jackson Pollock to start off the discussion of drip paintings. Instead, I want to introduce all of you readers to Janet Sobel. She is thought the be the one that inspired Jackson Pollock and was actually the one who started drip paintings. The National Gallery of Art went on to say "Sobel would later be singled out by the critic Clement Greenberg as a direct influence on Jackson Pollock’s drip painting technique" (NGA Year Unknown). 

Janet Sobel, Milky Way. 1945, Enamel on Canvas, 44 7/8 cmx 29 7/8 cm.

  The painting while I feel does have depth in colors and could be seen as the Milky Way Galaxy, I focus on the different colors that are behind all of the soft lines and shapes. For a drip painting, it is my favorite but I would not personally own it. That being said, this style as a whole represents the freedom that artists had during this period. Though during the year that this was created, it was not so much post modern art era. 

Janet Sobel, Untitled. 1946-48. Mixed media on canvas board, 20 x 16 inch.

This painting is more interesting with the drips being placed around faces. Only a few colors were used in creating this layered drip on the figures but it obscures everything but their faces. What can be seen however is the embraces of the figures. The way that I interpret this painting is that the drips represent strings binding them together along with their own arms. That being said, who knows what the actual meaning behind it is. It could be something that the artist enjoyed adding to her paintings which were created in the New York area. 

    Now, to get to who is known as "The Father of Drip Painting," Jackson Pollock. The first painting that I am going to talk about is called Mural which was created in 1943 for a woman named Peggy Guggenheim for her New York townhouse. It is known as "Pollock’s largest work at nearly 20 feet long, and represents a major turning point in the seminal artist’s career and style" (NGA 2017). 

Jackson Pollock, Mural, 1943, oil and casein on canvas, 242.9 x 603.9 cm.

When I look at this painting, I see abnormally shaped people all over the canvas; their expressions are unreadable. I love the vibrancy of this painting, and it makes me feel like I am watching some celebration. 

Jackson Pollock, Yellow Islands, 1952, oil on canvas, 143.5 x 185.4 cm.

This painting is interesting because I do not understand why it was named what it was. Yes, there are little parts of yellow, but I do not see how they could be islands. It is thought to be painted on a black canvas with more black added than eventually other colors. I like how the black paint runs down the center, almost splitting the canvas. He created this by " lifting the canvas upright while the paint was still wet, allowing it to run" (Remer 2009). Seeing the little pops of color in all black and white is so interesting. Though I do not necessarily gain an emotion from it, it is still enjoyable to look at.

    Our last artist to be discussed would continue the trend of artists surrounding Jackson Pollock. The one that we are moving on to is Lee Krasner, who was once Pollock's wife. Krasner "established the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, an organization aimed at supporting a new generation of artists" (Lesso 2020).

Lee Krasner, Polar Stampede, 1960, oil on canvas, 96 x 162 3/8 in.

While it is not necessarily drip paint, to me, it is similar. There is this abstraction and use of colors to bring depth to the painting. When I look at this, I see trees covered in snow and ice as the sun is setting. It makes me feel calm. The pops of yellow/ brown color behind what I call the trees add a needed depth, making the rest stand out more in comparison. 

Lee Krasner, Shattered Light, 1954, oil on canvas, 86.4 x 121.9 cm.

This painting resembles different minerals and glass fragments seen under a microscope. When I look at it from that perspective, it represents knowledge to me. There are so many colors and different shapes that not just one area stands out but rather all of it. While I could not find the exact place where these were painted, I would love to know what her thought process was when painting them. 

    These paintings represent freedom in expressing themselves and pushing the boundaries of what is considered art. Art is determined by the artist and the viewers themselves. There is no perfect interpretation of any of these paintings, but they all stand out in their own way. 

 

Bibliography

Jackson Pollock’s “Mural,” www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2017/jackson-pollocks-mural.html. 

Janet Sobel, www.nga.gov/features/exhibitions/outliers-and-american-vanguard-artist-biographies/janet-sobel.html. 

Lesso, Rosie. “Lee Krasner: Pioneer of Abstract Expressionism - Thecollector.” TheCollector, 7 Jan. 2020, www.thecollector.com/lee-krasner-pioneer-of-abstract-expressionism/. 

Remer, Ashley. “Jackson Pollock Paintings, Bio, Ideas.” The Art Story, The Art Story Contributors, 1     July 2009, www.theartstory.org/artist/pollock-jackson/.