How to create art like an Abstract Expressionist!

Welcome! Sometimes when people look at modern art they think, “My cat could paint that!” as seen in this Ted-Ed video. Yet, when those same people try to create abstract art they quickly realize it’s not as easy as it looks!

This blog post aims to help beginners explore abstract expressionist in a less intimidating way! It features a guided tutorial for beginners to create an original composition in the style of abstract expressionism. This lesson encourages artists to work in a spontaneous manner exploring the feeling behind expressive mark making. Throughout the process, artists are taking risks with mixed media and making on-the-go decisions involving the elements of art and the principles of designs. The goal is to reach a successful, layered, and expressive composition.

What is abstract expressionism? Abstract expressionism was a post WWII art movement that explored a variety of innovative mark making techniques and art materials. Abstract expressionists were more concerned with the emotion that the art process evoked rather than representing a recognizable imagery. Some notable abstract expressionist artists included Jackson Pollock (known for his heavily layered “drip” paintings), Mark Rothko (known for his large color field paintings), Helen Frankenthaler (known for her unique soak stain method), and so many more! If you are interested in learning more about the history of the Abstract Expressionist movement, check out this comprehensive overview from MoMA.

Recommended Materials List:

• A large paper taped down to a large piece of cardboard. We used 18″ x 24″ thick poster board.
• Black gesso and gesso brushes
• White acrylic paint, or a can of white house paint
• Paint palettes
• Liquid watercolor
• Paint markers
• Oil pastels
• Hot glue
• collage materials (old books, magazines, newspaper, ads)
• white glue
• Acrylic paint
• A wide variety of mark making tools, such as scrapers, daubers, rollers, and more!

STEP ONE:

Tape down your large paper to a larger piece of cardboard. This helps to prevent warping, encourages mobility while working, and prevents a mess!

Next, cover your surface with a layer of black gesso. If you wish, you can add a bit of white paint and explore some visible brushstrokes in your gesso.

STEP TWO:

Once your black gesso is mostly dry, begin exploring a variety of mark making tools with white paint. Some fun tools to use include: stencils, scrapers, paper towel rolls, combs, sponges, toy tires, necklaces, strings, sticks, texture rollers, and much more!

*TEACHER TIP* You can set up “stations” with different mark making tools at each table and do a rotation every few minutes.

STEP THREE:

Once the white paint is dry, explore adding “stains” of liquid watercolor. Consider how the colors make you feel as you paint, mix, and blend them onto the surface.

STEP FOUR:

The next step is to challenge yourself to create LAYERS in your abstract expressionist work and continue to explore a variety of mark making techniques. The next few steps will show some recommended layering techniques, which do not have to be completed in any particular order 🙂

One layering technique is commonly referred to as “push the pebble.” Simply, take a paint marker and push the pebble around the canvas to create unpredictable, tangled lines. Props to whoever came up with this (feel free to let me know who you are!). This technique really helps to feel spontaneous in the mark making process.

STEP FIVE:

Put a glob of acrylic paint on the surface and use a scraper to pull the paint with big expressive ACTION across the canvas. If you don’t have any textured scrapers, old plastic gift cards work great!

STEP SIX:

Turn your surface vertical and explore dripping, spritzing, and/or splattering paint onto your canvas.

STEP SEVEN:

Add collage elements to your composition from torn magazines, books, and/or newspapers. Use white glue to adhere to the surface. Explore adding liquid watercolor on top to add coloration to the collage.

STEP EIGHT:

Once dry, explore adding dry media onto your surface to create more controlled lines. Some materials that work well include oil pastels, chalk pastels, paint markers, and more.

STEP NINE:

Use a hot glue gun to add some texture to your composition!

STEP TEN:

At this point, your composition is becoming heavily LAYERED! It is recommended that you take a moment of reflection. Take about ten steps back from your artwork and consider the following:

What emotion/mood/vibe is your composition evoking? How can you further develop this?

Is there a specific color scheme developing?

Do you see any hidden images you wish to further develop?

Is there a point of emphasis developing that you can further enhance?

How can you build contrast with the use of bright whites or dark black shadows?

STEP ELEVEN:

One of the hardest decisions with an abstract expressionist composition is determining when the painting is complete. In this tutorial, I finalized by pushing the highlights and shadows throughout with white paint and black oil pastel. I took a step back, and it finally felt complete. Continue to develop your composition until you have the conclusive sense.

Some artists may wish to consider turning their finished work into a diptych (two panel) or triptych (three panel) composition. This can add an interesting touch to your work, as seen here by artist Sophie Y and Camille S.

My advanced 8th grade artists completed this lesson in about 5 class periods. The results were exceptional, and I loved reading their artist statements at the end of the project. It was so interesting to see the messages and emotions the process evoked in them. Many students were very in the “flow” while working and there was a lot of appreciation for the spontaneous, experimental approach that many students aren’t as used to in a structured class.