Why does jackson pollock paint

By the mids, Jackson Pollock introduced his famous 'drip paintings', which represent one of the most original bodies of work of the century, and forever altered the course of American art. At times the new art forms could suggest the life-force in nature itself, at others they could evoke man's entrapment - in the body, in the anxious mind, and in the newly frightening modern world.

To produce in Jackson Pollock's 'action painting', most of his canvases were either set on the floor, or laid out against a wall, rather than being fixed to an easel. From there, Jackson Pollock used a style where he would allow the paint to drip from the paint can. Instead of using the traditional paintbrush, he would add depth to his images using knives, trowels, or sticks.

This form of painting, had similar ties to the Surreal movement, in that it had a direct relation to the artist's emotions, expression, and mood, and showcased their feeling behind the pieces they designed. There was a reviewer a while back who wrote that my pictures didn't have any beginning or any end. He didn't mean it as a compliment, but it was. In addition to the 'drip and splash' style, the All-over method of painting, is also one which is tied to Jackson Pollock, and many of the artworks he created.

This art form avoids any clear and distinct points of emphasis, or any identifiable parts within the canvas being used to create the piece.

The designs and images which were created using this style of painting, really had no relation to the size of the canvas that was worked on; the lack of dimensions, and disregard for size of the drawings, were some unique features which this form of art captured. Many of the pieces which Jackson Pollock created following this style, required him to trim or crop the canvas, in order for the image to fit in, and to work with the overall features of the art. Pollock's radical methods and growing reputation quickly caught the attention of the mass media.

In August , Life magazine ran a feature story posing the question: "Jackson Pollock: Is he the greatest living painter in the United States? In , at the height of the artist's career, Vogue magazine published fashion photographs by Cecil Beaton of models posing in front of Pollock's drip paintings. Although this commercial recognition signaled public acceptance - and was symptomatic of mass culture's inevitable expropriation of the avant-garde - Pollock continuously questioned the direction and reception of his art.

At the peak of his fame, Pollock abruptly abandoned the drip style. In this large studio Pollock created the paintings that would make him famous. During these years Jackson Pollock started to paint in a completely new way. He created art that was very physical. In fact, his method is sometimes called "action painting". Most artists painted on a surface that stood upright or vertical.

But 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. This "dripping" method allowed him to make energetic works. 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. Videos of Pollock painting show this process, which looks like a painterly dance.

Unlike other artists, Jackson Pollock did not plan the way he wanted his paintings to look. Many artists plan their works by making small drawings before painting. Pollock developed what he called a "direct method," applying the paint directly onto an empty canvas.

He painted by following his immediate thoughts and emotions. Pollock combined careful movement with exact color and line. Though his paintings appear accidental, they required careful control. Here is a recording of Pollock describing his way of painting. It was taken from a movie the British Broadcasting Corporation made about the artist in nineteen ninety-nine. As Pollock said, he wanted to create art that was a visual representation of the motion and energy of his "inside world.

He answered that if you wanted to see a flower, you could go look at a real one. He said that what interested him was not outside objects. Pollock's works were both praised and criticized. His paintings were in several shows in galleries in the middle nineteen forties.

However, Pollock did not produce his fully abstract "drip" paintings until later. Some art critics said this was one of the best shows of the year and that Pollock was one of the greatest painters in America. Others did not understand his work. One critic said that Pollock's art showed chaos -- complete disorder without any method. Today, Pollock's works sell for millions of dollars. But only one painting sold at this show. It was a famous work called "Lavender Mist".

A little while after moving to his new place, Pollock would start what became the world-renowned technique of pouring paint instead of using the conventional paintbrush. This style of dripping paint earned him the name of "Jack the Dripper. Pollock first started using his technique in at the Siqueiros workshop. However, it became his primary method of painting almost ten years later.

By , he started making thick-layered paintings that received mixed reviews from his critics. His admirers thought the new form of art was very compelling and fascinating. His critics defined his paintings as chaotic and senseless. He started getting a lot of attention due to many art shows. In August of , Life magazine exposed his work to the nation and gave him the reputation as one of the leading painters of the time.

The increase in Pollock's fame coincided with his abstinence from alcohol for almost two years. This was the time when he painted some of his best work. In his farmhouse, he created his paintings by circling the canvas and dripping paint instinctively without really thinking too deeply about it.

He referred to his style as " direct painting " and stated that it was similar to American Indian sand painting. Pollock said his technique was a way to express himself and what he was experiencing and feeling.

His style was controversial during his time and still remains so, receiving many different kinds of interpretations. This has been the main reason why his art is still admired by the public, even though the public's taste in art has changed with time. Pollock changed his style once again in , when he started painting abstracts of human and animal forms.

He also started using mainly black paint instead of a variety of color that his earlier paintings showed. This can be seen in his painting Number 7 Number 7 This change in his style was not received well by his admirers.

Some people believe this may have caused him to return to alcohol. His drinking problem lasted for the next five years. However, his art changed again and some of his old characteristics returned.