How to Reproduce Jackson Pollock's Style
Jackson Pollock is an American artist who popularized abstract painting. He broke the traditional style of painting on an upright easel. Instead, Pollock preferred to be able to move around the painting and do his popular "drip" technique. He would sling, hurl, throw and drip his paint. How did it turn out? Try it yourself. This article will show you how to reproduce Jackson Pollock's style.
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Things You'll Need
- Long paint brushes or wooden spoons
- Large unstretched canvas, at least 6 feet by 6 feet
- Industrial coating paint (alkyd enamels) in several colors
- Small buckets
- Large tacks or nails
- Hammer
- Tarp or old sheets
- Turkey baster
Instructions
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Set up your canvas. Jackson Pollock didn't use easels, stretched canvases and stools to sit and paint. Instead, he preferred to nail his canvas to the floor or a wall. Depending on the size of your canvas, you should do the same. Pick a wall or floor with plenty of space that you can walk around in. Tack or nail your canvas in all four corners. For more support, add two or three more nails or tacks between the corner ones. Don't add too many or you'll buckle the canvas.
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Grab your spoon or long brush and a can of alkyd enamel paint. Stir the paint up to give it liquidity. If you choose to mix colors, pour the paints into a bucket and mix them until you're satisfied with the tone. If you purchased quick-dry alkyd enamel paint, stir fast because you're going to have to work quick.
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3
Use a brush, spoon or even a turkey baster and start painting. Experiment first by dipping the tool into your chosen color and allow it to drip onto the canvas. Use your whole arm, not just your wrist. Jackson Pollock was known as an "action" painter, so you're going to use your body more than you normally would. Make about three lines of drips.
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Pick a different color. This time, instead of dripping your paint onto the canvas, give it a toss. Dip your tool into the can, step back two or three feet, and toss your paint onto the canvas like Jackson Pollock often did. Do this two or three times.
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Pick a different tool. Dip the tool into another unused color and set it on the canvas. Count to three and step away from the canvas as far as you can without lifting the tool off the canvas. Count to three again and move your tool as fast as you can across the canvas, trying to maintain contact. This will probably result in a wobbly stroke energized by your movement and gravity resistance. Jackson Pollock liked to use gravity as an additional painting tool.
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Continue to use different paint colors, tools and movement techniques to add paint to the canvas.
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Tips & Warnings
Try different painting tools combined with the different techniques. You will most likely get a variance of strokes and styles. Just continue to let your body do the work, not just your wrist.
Cover any unused paint cans with a lid to prevent quick drying of the enamel-based paints.
Resources
- Photo Credit Paul Bright
