The Rebellious Curator

Lavender Mist by Jackson Pollock 1950

I'm pretty sure that I have talked about this painting before, but I think it bears writing about again since I  speak to so many people who dislike this style of work. 

This painting was created by New York Abstract Expressionist artist Jackson Pollock. The colours are blue, pink and grey overlaid with a tangle of black and white streaks of paint. The dense pattern creates a sense of energy and movement, but also evokes a quieting meditative feel. Those who have seen it in person claim that it vibrates with energy but has an unusual calming effect at the same time. Pollock painted this by laying a large canvas on the floor, then dipped brushes in paint, and flicked them on the canvas with large whole body gestural movements. He then dripped cans of paint, and splashed and splattered more layers of lines and streaks to create depth. Pollock was very deliberate with every streak and drip of paint and claimed, "there is no accident." I have attempted this technique by laying a canvas on the floor dripping streaks of paint, and I can attest that it is difficult to achieve a cohesive, pleasing composition. Pollock had a sophisticated sense of colour juxtaposition and a keen eye for relative composition that executed clean, sensible abstract imagery.