Abstract Expressionism: Painting with Music

Part 1: The History of Abstract Expressionism

While the nineteenth century saw its share of strife and change within the art world, the era that followed brought with it more evolution.  Art became less concerned with visual reality than the artist’s inner vision.

For this unit we will be inspired by the Abstract Expressionist artists and their free application of paint in which the creative process is more important than the end product.  

For this project we will:

• Study a brief history of Abstract Expressionism

• Introduction to Russian Expressionist, Wassily Kandinsky

• Practice sketching in the style of Abstract Expressionist artists

Your homework assignment: Complete your reflection worksheet

Abstract Expressionism: Painting with Music

Part 2: Elements & Principles in Abstract Expressionism Paintings

It is Important to review the importance of Elements & Principles in understanding Abstract Expressionism Art

………….(review the following slides)

For this unit we will review the  elements and principles and its importance in application when painting a purposeful abstract expressionist painting. 

For this project we will:

Revisit your handout from Part 1: and include elements and principles vocabulary to describe your favorite image.

Your homework assignment:

Complete the Time to Reflect slide: Revisit your handout from Part 1: and include elements and principles vocabulary to describe your favorite image.

Abstract Expressionism: Painting with Music

Part 4: The Kandinsky Effect: Drawing with Music

As human beings, we experience a range of moods each and every day. From happiness to sadness, anger to stress, we always find ourselves in some sort of mood. We often turn to music to find ways to express these emotions. Studies show that there is a direct correlation between music and mood and that “the music we listen to affects our psychology”

For this lesson we will:

• Draw to music of different moods.  Through our quality of lines and shapes we draw with music will further prove the powerful point that music, in and of itself, truly expresses and impacts mood. 

• Choose 8-10 compositions from drawings in exercise 1 by outlining them in sharpie, using your mat frame or ruler and cutting it out with scissors.  Don’t forget to write the emotion on the back of each composition. 

Your homework assignment: 

Write the emotion on the back of each composition. 

Abstract Expressionism: Painting with Music

Part 5: Color Psychology: How Colors Influence the Minds

The psychology of color is based on the mental and emotional effects colors have on sighted people in all facets of life. There are some very subjective pieces to color psychology as well as some more accepted and proven elements. Keep in mind, that there will also be variations in interpretation, meaning, and perception between different cultures.

For this lesson we will:

• select and write on the back of each composition drawing (from Part 4 Exercise:Drawing with music), the top three colors that match the mood of the drawing. 

• Use oil pastel to render each composition drawing.

Your homework assignment: 

8-10 composition drawings from Part 4 Exercise: Drawing with music, rendered with color matching the emotion.  

Abstract Expressionism: Painting with Music

Part 6: Building our Masterpiece

Time to put all our hard work together in creating an original Abstract Expressionist art work.

For this lesson we will:

• Build a canvas

• Prime a canvas

• Use the grid technique, as well as marking and mapping to transfer our drawing on our canvas

• Paint by mapping out color

• painting three dimensional shapes