Experimentation of Abstract Expressionism part 1

First 7 painting experiments

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For my series of experiments, I was influenced by the techniques of Jackson Pollock. Surrendering to yourself and flowing with whatever movement comes to you at the time. However, for these experiments I had to change one variable each time so see which methods worked best before I progressed in my work, therefore I had to remain somewhat in control of what i did.

Painting 1

• orange/red/yellow colours used

• sitting down on floor with paper in front

• brown/beige paper

• long consistent strokes

• wavy lines - vertical/horizontal

• no focus points

• acrylic paint

• brush only tool

• A2 paper

My first painting is a starting point to which I will base my experiments on. I decided to use red/orange/yellow tones as I usually opt for the blue/purple spectrum, and for the beginning of this project, I’m putting myself outside my comfort zone. I also thought with the paper being brown/beige, earthy colours might go better. As I was sitting down in front of the paper while painting, I feel that the movements are very restricted as I could only move in a few ways. The black streaks almost look like bars that the observer is peering into. Could it be the gates to hell? Could the colours be stereotypical connotation of fire?

Painting 2

• orange/red/yellow colours

• brown/beige paper

• moving around the paper

• circular strokes

• acrylic paint

• brushes only tool

• A2 paper

For my second experiment, instead of merely sitting in front of the paper I decided to try moving around it instead, and see how that would change the painting. This was the only variable I changed. The round circular movements which appeared seem to push the boundaries created by the rectangular paper. The movements could also represent some sort of task, perhaps making a cake? Washing a window? Stirring food?

Painting 3

• orange/red/yellow colours with blue added

• brown/beige paper

• moving around the paper

• brushes only tool

• curved strokes

• acrylic paint

• A2 paper

Painting 3, I added an extra colour to the palette, blue. I was worried in case it didn’t mix well with the other colours but I think in this experiment it worked quite well and I think that’s because I didn’t mix the blue too much with the other colours, so it stayed blue. I think the movements of the brush stayed quite curved in a single place rather than pushing the boundaries of the page. Perhaps because I was worried about the blue mixing, I restricted my movements so it became a case of filling in empty spaces rather than just following my own random movements. However, I think this piece still similar to the others I’ve done as it seems almost like a vortex or portal, due to the curved border.

Painting 4

• orange/red/yellow/blue

• brown/beige paper

• moving around paper

• brushes only tool

• acrylic paint

• A2 paper

• chalk added on top

At first, painting 4 was a bit of a disaster. As I feared in the previous painting, mixing the blue with orange/red/yellow colours resulted in an unpleasant mixture. However I saw this as an opportunity to experiment with adding other materials to my paintings, I chose to use chalk for this trial. Adding chalk definitely improved the painting, it helped soften some of the harsh brush strokes of the paint, however, oddly enough, I never thought the paintings looked harsh until this experiment.

Painting 5

• orange/red/yellow/blue

• white paper

• moving around paper

• brushes only tool

• A2 paper

• acrylic paint

• no additional materials needed

The aspect which I changed for painting 5 was the colour of the paper, I used white paper for this experiment. By changing the colour of the background it certainly brightens the colours which I used. All the previous paintings I think had quite an earthy feel to them as the colours weren’t as artificial as this one. The blue streaks I added didn’t have the same impact as they’re quite faded in the background of this piece. Like most of the other experiments, the circular movements caused by moving around the page have the appearance of breaking the restrictions of the page.

Painting 6

• orange/red/yellow/blue

• A2 paper

• white paper

• brushes only tool

• circular movements under splatters of paint

• acrylic paint

In painting 6, I kept the white paper, and continued with the movements around the paper resulting in the circular brush strokes. However I decided to add paint splatters on top of the painting, to see how that would affect it. I think it pushes the brush strokes to the background, so rather than looking into a portal or window like my other experiments, your eyes are drawn to what is on the first layer of the painting.

Painting 7

• orange/red/yellow

• A2 paper

• white paper

• curved movements

• sharp

• pallet knives only tool

For this painting I decided to change the tool I used to apply the paint. Instead of brushes, I used palette knives to see whether it would change the aesthetic of the painting. The movements of the paint appear to be sharper which makes sense, it’s more rigid, no longer flowing. The chaos that’s seen in all my paintings however, still remains in this experiment. Despite standing over the painting, I strangely did not feel the urge to move around the paper too much, hence why it has similar characteristics as my first painting.