Art Appreciation
[Date]
Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock was an extremely influential American painter in his time, and created
some very unique works of art which are very popular today in abstract expressionism. He
studied art at the Art Students League under Thomas Hart Benton in 1930, and continued to craft
his skill. During the years following art school, Pollock was hospitalized for his alcoholism.
During that time part of his rehabilitation was to continue to paint, which helped him to recover
and solidify his artistic skill. Soon after, Pollock would be in New York receiving a commission
from Peggy Guggenheim to create Mural which propelled his fame.
Pollock was known for his “drip” paintings which made his art very unique in the style
the art was created. Another name for this style of painting that made him so popular, was called
“action” painting. Pollock explains his style in a quote from him that states “My painting does
not come from the easel. I prefer to tack the un-stretched canvas to the hard wall or the floor. I
need the resistance of a hard surface. On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more part of
the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the
painting.” (Jackson Pollock, 1956)
Struggling with alcoholism for most of his life, Pollock died in an alcohol related
accident while driving his vehicle in August 1956. His estate was cared for by his wife, Lee
Krasner, who was also a great artist herself. Pollock created several pieces of art that were
already famous, and his death propelled his works even further. His most famous work and also
the most expensive, was No. 5, 1948 which sold for a reported 140 million dollars.
, While visiting the Dallas Art Museum for research on this project, I was able to attend
Jackson Pollock “Blind Spots”, which were works of art that were a departure from his usual
colorful pieces. These were mostly black and white and were some of his lesser known creations.
They displayed some of the darker overtones that more than likely matched what Pollock had
inside at the time they were created.
One of the many works of art that he created was Number 7, 1951 which was
from enamel on canvas and might reflect some of the pain that Pollock was experiencing at the
time, hence the darker tones with black and white predominately. It would suggest that his
depression at the time were expressed through his work. However, there were also many that
were some of his earliest works, which displayed the great drawings he created as well. Jackson
Pollock was one of the greatest American artists of our time who will be sorely missed.
[Date]
Jackson Pollock
Jackson Pollock was an extremely influential American painter in his time, and created
some very unique works of art which are very popular today in abstract expressionism. He
studied art at the Art Students League under Thomas Hart Benton in 1930, and continued to craft
his skill. During the years following art school, Pollock was hospitalized for his alcoholism.
During that time part of his rehabilitation was to continue to paint, which helped him to recover
and solidify his artistic skill. Soon after, Pollock would be in New York receiving a commission
from Peggy Guggenheim to create Mural which propelled his fame.
Pollock was known for his “drip” paintings which made his art very unique in the style
the art was created. Another name for this style of painting that made him so popular, was called
“action” painting. Pollock explains his style in a quote from him that states “My painting does
not come from the easel. I prefer to tack the un-stretched canvas to the hard wall or the floor. I
need the resistance of a hard surface. On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more part of
the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the
painting.” (Jackson Pollock, 1956)
Struggling with alcoholism for most of his life, Pollock died in an alcohol related
accident while driving his vehicle in August 1956. His estate was cared for by his wife, Lee
Krasner, who was also a great artist herself. Pollock created several pieces of art that were
already famous, and his death propelled his works even further. His most famous work and also
the most expensive, was No. 5, 1948 which sold for a reported 140 million dollars.
, While visiting the Dallas Art Museum for research on this project, I was able to attend
Jackson Pollock “Blind Spots”, which were works of art that were a departure from his usual
colorful pieces. These were mostly black and white and were some of his lesser known creations.
They displayed some of the darker overtones that more than likely matched what Pollock had
inside at the time they were created.
One of the many works of art that he created was Number 7, 1951 which was
from enamel on canvas and might reflect some of the pain that Pollock was experiencing at the
time, hence the darker tones with black and white predominately. It would suggest that his
depression at the time were expressed through his work. However, there were also many that
were some of his earliest works, which displayed the great drawings he created as well. Jackson
Pollock was one of the greatest American artists of our time who will be sorely missed.
