If you’re feeling a little bit Abstract at the moment, then invite a few friends over this weekend because its the perfect time for expressionism. That’s right pull out a paintbrush, mix a few drinks and let your creativity fling forth like Jackson Pollock.
If you are at all artistic, you probably know that this Saturday is the anniversary of the great mans death. So what better time for to launch a celebration of a man whose expressionism not only erupted on the canvas but also in life.
A leading force behind the abstract expressionist movement, Pollock’s best known painting, from his ‘drip period’ were nothing short of explosions of linear colour. In fact there was nothing about his life that didn’t burst forth; from the physical engagement with his materials, to gravity, velocity, and improvisation in his artistic process. You can get an idea of his methods in the video below which is taken from the biographical film made in 2000.
In fact, his work exploded prior notions of what art was, how it was meant to look, and how it was made. But he didn’t restrict this exuberance to his art, as his emotional volatility was often vented through marathon drinking binges.
Now we are not suggesting that you drink till you fall down – that would be wrong. Instead we encourage you and your closest friends to drink a little and let your emotional creativity burst out across a canvas.
We’re not talking about using a buttoned up easel but instead releasing the canvas, so you can fling the paint across the walls, the floors and even out in the garden.
As Pollock himself once said “Painting is a state of being.. .Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is.”
Design
Now Pollocks best known pieces consisted of flinging and dripping thinned enamel paint onto large un-stretched canvases that he laid on the floor of his studio. So why not do the same.
Now good quality canvases, especial large scale ones, can end up costing a fortune, so why not grab some painter’s canvas drop sheets and spread them all around.
We want you to truly release your inner Jackson Pollock and throw splatter and dribble paint to create unique works of art.
It really should go without saying that this could end up getting a little messy. While enamel paint is the best to drip and fling, it is not a paint that you are going to be able to get out of anything.
The trick here is to ensure that the drop sheets are securely overlapped, so none of the paint can get through and damage your floors, walls or lawn.
And if you have anything precious, move it to another room. It may not be a bad idea to get some disposable painters coveralls which you can buy in a 3 pack from Amazon and some disposable shoe cover booties, probably would hurt either.
Once everything is securely covered, then go to town. Once everything has dried, have a look at what you and your friends have created and if any of it looks interesting, why not cut those pieces out and frame them, cause there could be real art in them drop cloths.
Cocktails
If you hadn’t already realised it, one of the beautiful things about the cocktail world is that there really is a drink for every occasion. So you probably won’t be surprised that there is a Jackson Pollock Cocktail and another called Lavender Mist based on Pollock’s painting of the same name.
The Jackson Pollock Cocktail is Gin based and requires –
Ingredients
1.75 ounces gin
0.75 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
0.75 ounce simple syrup
1 tablespoon sparkling wine
3 drops of chilled basil oil to garnish
Instructions
Pre-chill a cocktail glass by placing it into the freezer for 5 minutes. Add 3 drops of the basil oil into the prepared glass and then set aside. Place the gin, grapefruit juice and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Vigorously shake the mixture for 35 seconds and then add the sparkling wine. Strain the mixture into the prepared cocktail glass and then serve immediately.
PIN ITThe Jackson Pollock Cocktail (left) & Lavender Mist (right)
The Lavender Mist Cocktail inspired by Pollock’s “Number 1 (Lavender Mist)”, is a delicate little number with Lavender Simple Syrup and Rosemary.
Ingredients
One sprig of rosemary, cut in half.
0.5 oz lavender simple
0.5 oz lemon
2 oz vodka
Instructions
Muddle half of the rosemary sprig with the lavender and lemon. Add ice and vodka. Shake and double strain. Take other rosemary sprig and lightly smack against wrist to release oils and float it as garnish.
Lavender simple recipe:
3 tbsp of lavender with 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Let the lavender sit in the mix for 24 hours before straining.
Food
When you are in the middle of a creative frenzy there’s really little time for food but if your guests do get a little peckish, then we recommend splattered pretzel rods. Don’t of course do these with paint but instead use the next best thing, chocolate.
Now drizzling can be done on pretty much any snack you want to serve such as cookies, macaroons or cupcakes. This thought this idea of creating drizzled Oreo pops was quite cool and different.
Music
Our musical selection this week is based on the companion CD to the blockbuster Jackson Pollock Retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. The compilation featured hot jazz tunes hand-picked from Jackson Pollock’s own record collection by the museum’s curators.
Ice breakers
- If you were ever curious about a restorer would touch up a Pollock painting
- Even the home of Jackson Pollock is having to restrict the number of visitors due to neighbour complaints
- 50 things you didn’t know about Jackson Pollock
- If you are travelling to Rome in October, there is an exhibition of Pollock‘s work
- MoMA gives an abridged explanation of Abstract Impressionism
