CONTEMPORARY
ART MOVEMENTS
Contemporary Art
Definition
 Art produced at the present period in time; includes, and
develops from, Postmodern art, which is itself a successor to
Modern art.

Abstract Expressionism

 Action

Painting
 Color-field Painting



Optical Art
Popular Art
Minimalism




Performance Art
Earth Art
Photorealism
Neo-expressionism
Conceptual Art
Post-Modernism
The History of Contemporary Art
Pre-1945
 Emphasis on imitationalism;
realism
of
events, historical
figures, or religion
Post-1945
 Emphasis on formalism;
color and geometry
 Revolt
against previous
movements
 Documentation

Paris = center of art world

NYC = new center of art
world
 Europe
in disarray
after WW2
 Rise of Fascism in
Europe brought artists
to the US
Abstract Expressionism
 Mid 40s – 50s: 1st new style to
arrive
 Emphasizes abstract elements of
art instead of recognizable
subjects; Stresses feelings and
emotions
 Major Artists: Hans Hofmann,
Jackson Pollock, Josef Albers,
Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning
Abstract Expressionism
Action Painting
 Emphasized the spontaneous, physical
act of painting (dripping, splattering,
pouring, etc.)
 Major Artists: Jackson Pollock and
Willem de Kooning
Color Field Painting
 Color for the pure sense of color
 Has a calmer, almost spiritual quality
 Major Artists: Mark Rothko and Helen
Frankenthaler
Shimmering
Substance (1946),
by Jackson Pollock
No. 61 (Rust and
Blue) (1953),
by Mark Rothko
Optical Art
 Mid 50s – 70s
 Uses scientific knowledge of
vision to create optical illusions
of movement, relying on the
careful manipulation of the
elements and principles of
design
 Major Artists: Bridget Riley,
Victor Vasarely, MC Escher
Movement in Squares (1961), by
Bridget Riley
Pop Art
 Late 50s – 60s
 Artists portrayed images in
pop culture and mass media.
 Began in Great Britain and
spread to the US as a
reaction against Abstract
Expressionism; it’s playful and
iconic, not psychological and
spiritual.
 Major Artists: Roy Lichtenstein,
Andy Warhol, and Claus
Oldenburg
Campbell’s Soup I (1968), by Andy
Warhol
Minimalism
 Late 60s – Present
 Artists sought absolute
simplicity, using a minimum
of art elements: shape or
color.
 Hard-edge paintings:
emphasis is on crisp,
precise edges
 Major Artists: Frank Stella,
Donald Judd, Ronald
Bladen, and Dan Flavin
Harran II (1967), by
Frank Stella
Untitled (1967), by
Lorser Feitelson
COLOR SCHEMES &
PSYCHOLOGY
History of Color in Art
Baroque Period (17th century)

Natural color palette with
few bright colors, other than
red and gold
Impressionism (19th century)

Brighter more vivid colors
used to capture emotion
Post-Modernism (20th century)

Contemporary artists push
the limits of color use
Color Scheme: Monochromatic


One hue with its tints,
shades, and tones
ExampleBlue with tints, shades,
and tones
Color Scheme: Analogous


Colors next to oneanother on the color
wheel (usually either
warm or cool colors)
Example:
Red, red-orange,
orange, yellow-orange
Color Scheme: Complementary



Opposites on the Color
Wheel
Examples:
Red & Green
Red-Orange & BlueGreen
Create contrast when
placed in a composition
next to one another
Color Scheme: Triadic


Formed by three equally
spaced colors on the
wheel
Example:
Red-orange, yellowgreen, blue-violet
Color Scheme: Split-Complementary


Uses a base color, and
the two colors adjacent
to its complement
Example:
Red-orange, green, blue
Color Scheme: Neutral

Black, white, shades of
gray, and sometimes
brown


Brown can be created by
mixing two
complimentary colors
Can be considered
earthy
Color Psychology
Definition:
 Scientific study of how color effects one’s
mood
Warm Colors:

Appear inviting
Cool Colors:

Appear to recede
Color Psychology
RED
ORANGE
Color Psychology
YELLOW
GREEN
Color Psychology
BLUE
VIOLET
Color Psychology: NEUTRALS

WHITE


Clean, innocent, pure,
holy
BLACK


Darkness, death,
mourning, despair,
questionable
character
GRAY


Neutral, unnoticed,
somber, practical
BROWN

Earthy, dirty, crude
COLOR MEDIA
Color Medium- Acrylic Paint

What is it?




Fast-drying paint containing
pigment suspension
in acrylic polymer emulsion.
Water soluble, but become
water-resistant when dry.
Wide range of viscosities
(thick, medium, thin body)
Can resemble other types of
paint, or have its own
characteristics
Color Medium- Acrylic Paint

Acrylic Surfaces



Canvas is the best to use
Avoid surfaces with oil or wax
(paints won’t adhere); avoid
surfaces that may warp due to
the moisture
Gel Media


Used to broaden the technical
capabilities and results of acrylic
paints.
Can alter consistency/thickness,
reduce gloss, adhere things to the
canvas, etc.
Color Medium- Colored Pencils

What is it?
Tubes of wood with an inner
core of clay. Instead of
graphite, a dye coloring
agent is used.
 Used to create detailed
drawings that require
precision; good for fine
detail, implied texture,
linear perspective, etc.

Color Medium- Colored Pencils

Techniques

Layering- creating depth
and new colors by applying
undertones first

Burnishing- applying heavy
layers of pencil until the
tooth of the paper is
completely filled in and the
colors look blended
together (use colorless wax
blender or white)
FIGURE DRAWING
Figure Proportions

The height of an adult is
approx. 7.5 heads high

Mass is represented with:

Trapezoids in front views:

Ovals in side or ¾ views:
Figure Drawing Techniques

Spine-Mannequin Technique

Helps the artist maintain accurate
scale and proportion by plotting
points and adding form

Gesture Drawing

Using quick motions to
capture the essence of the
figure’s pose