Jackson Pollock...

No 5

Jackson Pollock (1912-1956)was an American 'action painter' and abstract expressionist. In his early career he was a figurative and realist painter depicing rural scenes but was introduced to the use of liquid paint in 1936 by the Mexican muralist David Alfaro Sequeiros. He began painting with his canvas laid out on his studio floor and later developed what he called his 'drip' technique. It is commonly referred to as an all over painting. With this he managed to free the line. He challenged the very notion of traditional Western techniques of easle and brush stroke. He examined Native American sand paintings and was influenced the Mexican muralists who helped develope his all over 'drip' painting style. Japanese calligraphy was important as well the contemporary beat poets and musicians, reflecting an urban landscape and sensibility of the 1950's. He often descriped his paintings as not a picture but an event and saw himself with music in a dance within his creations. He sought a greater liberty in abstract painting that defied the conventions of traditional styles by laying down his canvas on the floor to approach it from all angles. His 'dance was more like a 'performance'using his whole body in the process rather than just hand and wrist...