Joan Mitchell
Joan Mitchell (1925 - 1992) was an American Abstract Expressionist artist. She is one of the few female artists recognized as a member of the ABEX movement where she began exhibiting her paintings in NYC during the early 1950s and throughout the duration of her lifetime. Her artworks were expansive, ambitious and intuitive often using multi-panels painted on unprimed canvas with expressive brushwork. Inspired by landscape, nature and feeling Mitchell created meaning and emotional intensity in her artworks through an almost unconscious practice of painting with gesture and color.
Workshop
In this two-part activity we first sketch a drawing by layering colors and lines inspired by artist Joan Mitchell’s artwork as a study and then move on to a painting using the same intensity and expressive energy.
PART 1:
1. Choose as many as colors as you like that represent what you are feeling today
2. Using either colored pastels, pencils or crayons and some paper begin to draw by layering color & creating lines (or gestures) based on your feelings
3. These drawings can be quick, intense and chaotic OR slow, calm and cool (of course anywhere in between too) depending on your mood
4. Draw as many ‘studies’ as you like
PART 2:
1. After drawing we will move on to painting using paper, paint, brushes and some water (to dip & clean our brushes)
2. Check in on how you are feeling and choose the same or different colors that you used in your drawings
3. Using paint this time, layer those colors and create lines or gestures with your brush to make an abstract expressionist painting inspired by Joan Mitchell and by channeling your own special energy & emotions!
Materials
Newsprint or any paper
Colored Pastels, Pencils or crayons
Paint & Brushes
Water
Follow Up
What were your feelings today before you started the project?
What colors did you choose for your drawing? For your painting?
How did it feel to express yourself through drawing and/or painting?
What do you feel now when you look at your finished drawing and painting? How does that feeling come across to others?
Did you have fun creating abstract artwork? What do you think abstract means? What do think abstract expressionism?