Jackson Pollock

Artist report by Kate Hilburn

Biographical Facts

 Jackson Pollock was born January 28, 1912, in Cody, Wyoming,

U.S. and died August 11, 1956, in East Hampton, New York.
 He was a leading painter in the movement known as abstract
expressionism. (Also referred to as “action painting”)
 Pollock was born and raised in Iowa as the youngest son of five.
 He enrolled in Arts Students League in New York were his brother
was studying.
 Lenore "Lee" Krasner was an American abstract expressionist
painter who was married to Jackson Pollock.
 Jackson created the ‘drip-and-splash’ style. (In modern times it is
known as splatter painting)
 Pollocks parents were Stella May and LeRoy Pollock
 Pollock used synthetic resin-based paints called alkyd enamels.
 In 1937 Pollock began psychiatric treatment for alcoholism
 Jackson Pollock died of a traffic collision

Interesting facts

 Pollocks unusual way of working earned him the nickname ‘Jack

the Dripper’
 Marks from big splotches and bold lines to thin streaks and
splatters are a record of the movements Pollock made as he
painted.
 Pollock created his paintings by laying canvases on the floor and
then dripping paint all over them. People who saw him painting
said it looked like a dance.
  He gave into stealing food and gasoline during the Depression. He
lacked the money to return home for his father’s funeral.
 Pollocks real first name was Paul.
 For one summer Pollock worked as a lumberjack.
 One time he knocked down a wall to make a room large enough
to fit a 20-foot canvas.
 He got expelled from two high schools.
 There was a film made about Pollock staring Ed Harris.

Gallery

Mural- 1943 Lavender Mist Number 5- 1948

(Number 1)- 1950

Convergence- 1952 Autumn Rhythm- 1950 The She- Wolf- 1943

My thoughts about the work

 At first, I thought Pollocks work was very simple, but then I

realized a lot of detail has to come into play to make the piece
flow.
 Pollocks work shows color very nicely because of the variations of
splatter color.
 I find it interesting that many of Pollock Pieces are titled as
numbers and not real names.
 His artwork also shows space through the scattering of the paint
spots.
 I think it is very cool that Pollock created the form of art splatter
painting.
 Pollock had his own sense of style in his artwork and I think it is
really cool that he chose to be unique.
 Jackson also displayed texture because some of the splatters are
more raised than others.

Sources

 https://www.jackson-pollock.org
 https://artlistr.com/jackson-pollock-6-interesting-facts/
 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jackson-Pollock