The Inspiration of Abstract Expressionism on Abstract Comics by Kristin Flowers

The

Inspiration Abstract

Abstract

Expressionism

Comics

Abstract comics, to most people, are elusive in their content. Comics are usually defined by text and pictures formalized on the page, creating a sequence in which the viewer can follow what is going on in the storyline. To u n d e r s t a n d a b s t r a c t comics, we must first understand what abstract is. Abstract comics, to most people, are elusive in their content. Comics are usually defined by text and pictures formalized on the page, creating a sequence in which the viewer can follow what is going on in the storyline. To u n d e r s t a n d a b s t r a c t comics, we must first understand what abstract is. A c m p e i c C a l b

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t i a l s , t o a v e r y f e w b l o c k s , d ’ A v i g n o n w a s n o ts t my el ia zn i t n g ip t a ri tn i t co u t o r e p r e s e n t a n y l a r p e r s o n . P i c a ss so om , e - i n h i s a r t , w a s s t r i v t i h n i gn g t o u n d e r s t a n d b o t h st i hd ae t s w oa f s a r t : t h e f i r s t b e li en sg s “ at hn ed i d e a l c o i n c i d e n c e l eo sf s o b j e c t a n d r e p r e s e n nt aa tt ui or a n l” a n d t h e s e c o n d “ t i hs et i cc o. ”m Ha en y n er e- p p l e t e a b s e n c e o f e rd r e s e n t a t i o n v a l u e g. l” e c Ft o t h i s o n e p a i n t i n g ,t h Pe i cp ar so -s o c r e a t e d 8 0 9 p r f ee l si sm i i o- n n a r y s t u d i e s , o b v ai ol u as pl -y t h o r o u g h l y c o n s i d pe r r oi an cg h e v e r d e t a i l o f t h i t so pp aa i i nn t t - i n g . H e e x p l o r e d i nc go ma pn od s i t i o n a l p o s s i b i l i ct ri ee as t ia nn gd h o w t o a b s t r a c t t a h re t f ti og t o u r e , i n f l u e n c e d b y a ka en A nf r i c a n a r t e x h i b i t ah eu nh i aq du e s e e n , t o g e t t o h ip sl a f c i en -a l n st c o m p o s i t i o n , n o t e md e a a m a j o r b r e a k t h r o u go hf i c no l a- r t h i s t o r y . ( W a r n c k e o, r 6 a8 n- d l i n e . 7 2 ) . H i s a p p r o a c h t o p a i n t i n g t h e f i g u r e s o f L e s D e m o i s e l l e s

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w h e r e . B e g i n n i n g g r o u p o f a r t a r o u n d t h e 1 9 4 0 s , i s t s t h a t c a m e a n e w s t y l e a n d t o b e k n o w n a s i d e a a b o u t a r t A b s t r a c t E x b e g a n t o e m e r g e . p r e s s i o n i s t s . T h e y w e r e a A m o n g t h i s g r o u p w e r e t h e a r t i s t s J a c k s o n P o l l o c k , W i l l e m d e K o o n i n g , a n d W a s s i l y K a n d i n s k y . T h e i r w o r k r e c o r d e d t h e h u m a n p s y c h e o n a l a r g e s c a l e . M o s t o f t h e i r w o r k w a s m o n u m e n t a l , f i l l i n g t h e e n t i r e l i n e o f v i s i o n o f t h e v i e w e r , a l m o s t a s i f i t w e r e e n c o m p a s s i n g t h e m i n d . S t e l l a P a u l o f T h e M e t r o p o l i t a n M u s e u m o f A r t s t a t e s t h a t : “ T h e s e a r t i s t s v a l u e d s p o n t a n e i t y a n d i m p r o v i s a t i o n , a n d t h e y a c c o r d e d t h e h i g h e s t i m p o r t a n c e t o p r o c e s s . T h e i r w o r k r e s i s t s s t y l i s t i c c a t e g o r i z a t i o n , b u t i t c a n b e c l u s t e r e d a r o u n d t w o b a s i c i n c l i n a t i o n s : a n e m p h a s i s o n d y n a m i c , e n e r g e t h i ca sg en so t us ru eb , j ei cn t c mo an t- t e r t h a t i s r e c o g t r a s t t o a r e f l en ci tz i av be l , e .c e rT eh bi rs a ls t f y ol ce u w s a s a r e s p o n s e o n m o r e o p e n f ti oe l td hs e o af r ct o t l ho ar t. w I na se i b- e i n g m a d e a t t h e s a m e t i m e : R e g t h e r c a s e , t h e i m a g e r y w a s p r i imo an r ai ll iy s m a n d S o c i a l mi e.t ps ieN oe d a b s t rt ah ca tn . t Eh ve e np rRw ha u el cni st d cl tof i.t n gs a i t mi sa fgi ee sd w i t h t h e s e s t y l e s , t h e xc pt ar u e -s s i o n i s t ha e b a s e “d F o rn Av bi ss ut ra al c rt e E a lx i pt ri ee ss s, i Ato bhn sei ts rAt asb c,s t t t r E f h x iapg rhwel osy rs ka tblh-ae y wi o n r l d a r o u n d E x p r te hs es ni ot in ci is t t ys wof ara nvvtoaer ldeu det oao e es a m ua; l n,wd h1 ii ) cm. hm ew da i sa ct yh e o fw ae rx - a n d t h e a f t e r i r oe dc et ”n t eh( sP s t r a ci t es d d m e f f e ci nti sst imno, gf f tio h sr e mt h n mta ont s otm ib ne d . A b s t rp ar ce ts s ei xo pn r. e A s s pi oa n he u ea m nj e oO p a r t , a wr ae sv e nl oa nt io ob c f tn i etv hepe, a arm tr et aoi snf ti ’an sbg sa it utr ta hc et n et ix cp r e s s i o n i s m i d e n t i t y . T h e g i es s ta ub r oe u, t t gh ee s ta ur rt e i s; t ’t sh e “ swi ag y- a s t r o k e i e d n a t u r e , ” i s o fe vp i ad i en nt c ie s o af p tp hl e a c tt ou a al cp ar n o v- a s , o r i l a ti is o ng ”r a ( zPe ad ui lna, tc er1 no) ts. . s tTh he e s au cr -c e s s o f t h eh o ww o ra k ’ ps e nc cr e f a c e o f p a p e r . I n o n e t su i an l g lp eh yg se i sc t au l ri at yl l i n e , o n e c a n t e l l t h e so pf e me ad k, i n p g r e tc hi se e n e s s , a n d s p o n t a n e i t y ao rf t t m h ee a an r st i m s to ’ r se

J a c k s o n P o l l o t ca kk e d, ea vn ed l toh pe e d ac o m t ep co sh i nt ii oq nua el eu l se im ne gn t p a i n t i n g c o m e s o u o t n t or gb ea s c e a t nh e d r i p s a n d p o u r s o f p a i n t a c r o s ws h i ac h l a w e l l ” ( “ J a c k s o n ” , e n t i r e p a i n t i n g . W h e n v a s . I n P o l l o 1 c) k. ’ s o w n w o r d as s, k eh de h de re so cp ri ni ib o en s, S u e h o w h i s p a i n t M i na gn ys mc ao y m se a y t ot h ab Ttea :y l o r , a r t h i s t o r i a n a t “ W h e n I a m i n P oml ly o cpk a’ si n p t ai i nn gt i , n P e n o gI so’ rmt l an no d t S at w a t ae r U i vf e r a r e c h i l d l i k e a n d s i t y s a i d : w h a t I ’ m d o i n g . I t i s o n l y a f t e r a s o r t o f “ g e t a c q u a i n t re adn ” d opmel ry i to hdr o tw hn a “t P oI l lso ec ek ww ohu al dt o f t e n t o g e t h e r . I n a n b e g i n w i t h s o m e s o r t I h a v e b e e n a ab r ot iuc tl .e Ib y h Ha ev ne- n oo f ff ie g au rr sa t iav be o due t v i c e t o m a k i n g c h a n g er ys ,A dda em ss t, r oo f y it hn eg w th hi ce h i hme a wg oeu , l d t h e n r e e t c . , b e c a u s e S m t hi teh s po an i an nt i Mn ag g ahs - pa os n da — al in fd e e vo ef n t u a l l y z i t eb u t r hy r uo nu d ge hr . l a y e r s o f i te sr wo i ws ne . I t r y t no e l wer ti t ei st tc hoa m i n P o l l o c k ’ s c o m -p a i n t . L e t t e r s a n d n u m I t h i es r eo n l y w h e n I l o s e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e m i s s i o n e d p a i n t i nb ge r s , m o r e o v e r , f r e p i as i np t ui rn eg t h a t Mt uh r ea l r de ose us l ti n di se e a m n et sl ys .a p Op et h dq u e a r- i n w o r k s h a r m o h a v e a s t r u c t u r e .o f t h e e a r l y 1 9 4 0 s ” H i s w i f e n o t i c e d ( A d a m s , 1 ) . n y , a n t h a t h e c a m o u f l a g e d e a s y h i s n a m e , a s a n u n g i v e a n d

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Jackson Pollock

Willem de Kooning

p a di n g -e , v i o l e n t s t r o k e s o f W i l l e m e t i n g ” f o ru sd ee d K l oa or n i n g ’ s w o r k . H e a l s o p a i n t , a n dd e h- a d a u n i q u e , u n K o o n i n g u s e d s c r i b e d d e K po ao rnai lnl ge ’l se dw oe ry ke f o r c o l o r , m i x l a r g e , a g a s “ t h e m a k i inngg oc f o la o rp sa i t nh t a- t m a n y o t h e r s g r e s s i v e i n g a s a b a t t h l ae d b ne et vw ee r e nd a r e d t o u n d e r m a r k s o f w i l l a n d f a t e t ,a kwe i .t h ( t Fh ue l f ao r r t d ) . I n d e K o o n p a i n t s t r e w n o b j e c t a r e c o i nr gd ’ so f p ta hi e n t a i nr gt - B l a c k a n d W h i t e a c r o s s h i s S da n s tF r r ua gn gc l i es ” c o ) , h e c a r r i e s u s c a n v a is s tt ’ os a n g u i s h( e ( F u l f o r d , 1 ) . t h rA o us gt uh d ae n ct e r t a i n n a r r a t i v e , c o n v e y h i s o f C u b i s m , d we i tKh o os ne in ns gu a l d i a g o n a l s , u n a b s t r a c t i o n h a d s h a p e s a t ni l d t ch oe n tl o a u s tr s p a n e l , w h e r e s t a r k o f h u m a n f i g t h a t o v e r l a p p e d o n e a v r t i c a l s ne -n d t h e “ s t r i p , ” a l u r e s . H a r o l d o t h e r a n d r e f e r c e h u e n . ( M o l o t u i A b m o s et n a s da t p R o s e n b u r g o l d m a s t e r s s u c h a s M i s t r a c t A n t h o l o g y , 5 ) . c o i n e d t h e H e t e r m “c ah ce t l i ao nn g e l o a n d I n g r e s . “ … i t i s i m p o s o f c o l o u r s a n d t h e i r s i b l e t o p u t i n t o e f f e c t s o n t h e s p e c w o r d s t h e w h o l e o f t a t o r i s n o t t h e r e a l K a n d i n s k y ’ s i d e b a s i s o f h i s a r t , b e a l , p a r t l y b e c a u s e c a u s e , i f i t w e r e , i n h i s a n x i e t y t o o n e c o u l d , w i t h t h e s t a t e hR i es u bc ea ns se ’, Tt o h e l p o f a s c i he en t Gi fa - r c o u r t cd re i nt i oc fi s Lm o, v et h, e M i i c m a n u a l , d e s c r i b e a u t h o r c hh ea ls a nb ge ee ln o ’ s T h e o n e ’ s e m o t i o n s b e t e m p t e Ld a st to Jf uo dr m u - n t , a n d f o r e h i s p ig c mt e u r e s l a t e m oo tr he e tr hs a on f i ts h e l i k e w i t h p e r f e c t a c c u r a w i s e . a H i s a n a l y s i s c y ” l s( oK a an pd pi en as rk y i , n 1 t ) h. e K ap na di in nt si nk g y ’. s K C ao nm dp i on - s k y s a i d :

w a s o n e o f W a ssh iists ii olmyno sVKt I Iaa n c cd l ai n i mse k d y

w o r k s . H e h a d o v e r t h i r t y p r e l i m i n a r y W a s s i l y K a n d i n s k y w a s a s k e t c h e s , w a t e r c o l o r s m u s i c i a n i n h i s o w n r i g h t , a n d o i l s t u d i e s . H e w h i c h b e c a m e e v i d e n t i n h i s e r a s e d a l l r e p r e s e n p a i n t i n g s . H i s p a i n t i n g s t a t i v e m a t e r i a l i n h i s s i n g a n d h a r m o n i z e , l i k e p a i n t i n g s , a l t h o u g h m u s i c . H e a l s o w a n t e d t o s o m e o f h i s p r e l i m i c o m b i“ nO ef sa pl li r ti h t ue a a l i r t t ys , i na bh si ts r a c t p a i n t i n g i s t h e m no as rt y d si ft fu i dc i ue l st . d Ii td di e n -m a n d s t h a t y o u k n o w h o w t o d r a w w e l l , t h a t y o u h a v e a h e i g h p a i n t i n g s . M i c h a e l S a d l e r c l u d e l e s s a b s t r a c tt -e d e n e d s e n s i t i v i t y f o r c o m p o s i t i o n a n d f o r c o o m r sp , o sa in t di o t nh sa . t yR oe uf l be ec s a i d a b o u t K a n d i n s k y ’ s a r t : cl o a t r u e p o e t . T h i s l a s t i s e s s e n t i a l ” ( H a r d e nt ,i o 1n )s . o f t h e m e s f r o m

g e n e r a t e t h e s h a p e s a n d p l a y w i t h W h a t a r e t h a t i m t h e f l o w a c r o s s a g r i d i s t h e s t a r t a b s t r a c t p l i c a p o i n t f o r m e o f c o m i c s ” ( B a d g e r , t i o n o f c o m i c s ? 1 ) . I n f i n e t i m e . T h e n a r t , a b y o u s t r a c t n e e d t h e m pe ea an ns c o m i c s o r M a n g a o r U S i n d i e c h a r a c n oc n o -m r i ec cs - I a l w a y s f e l t l i k e t h e y n e v t e r s t o o ge nr i w z ah be lr ee a b l e t o d e p i c t t h e c o m p l e x c a r r y m a t e r i a l . t h e t i m e T o a p p l y f r o m t h i s w o r d p a n e l t o c o m t o p a n i c s , i t e l . B u t m u s t b e i f y o u r s a i d t h a t c h a r b o et hx p tr he es s e d b y t h e A b i s t , t a al kc -t e r s i m a g e r y“ … t h e i s s u e o f w h a t a b x a n sd t rn aa cr st - t E b r i n g e ad b a - b o au rt e j u s t r a c t i o n i s t h e s e d a y s , p r e s s i o n h i s r a t i v e s t r a c t i o n i nt oss ph i a- p e w h a t ’ s i t s ’ v a l u e a n d c o in st te s n; t ht oh wea nt dh es hh i ef ct -k d o y o u c o m i c r s a ti is o na a f no dr y o u i d e a t h a t c r- o p a n d a r e n o n c h a l l eh ni sg e c. o m i n g e m o t hr e i ci sc :s c l i p l i k e r e p e rs ee n i -s t i o n a l e x I f c o m “ K i n n a ai r dg :o o d t a ts i oo mn ea l s. o pr te r i e n c e s a r e n a r r a o f e m o t i v e W h a t i n n-e eg a s A b s t r a c t l iD t i v e t h e n o f r e a l s pe ia r ne s dw f i yat onh ua t c o cm oi nc ts e n t l i f e . S o I t h a t m a m o n g s t a rT eh i ms o r e s a m e t so i zc er ev aia ct r ei ya o- u r t u r n e d t o t na sp e s a bb toahuseti c w h y a b s t r a c t p a n e l as b is mt r- at isc oh a p e s , i cc os- bf? e c o m e t hs esi yh p l y a c so t mr u m -w e r e c o m i c s t o a n d t h a t D r a w m pa ld i ec , i t ty h e t r y a n d t u r e b u t i f: a ne os tt h e p r o cn h e m es a t . ir ca c y o u b Er em ao kt i to h e x p r e s s o fo t t i hv ee c e s s o f I n r e a d c on na tr er na ta p a g e i n t ov ta el ru ea . n d t h e s e m a k i n g p a i n t i n g , A l l e y O o p , w h e r e t hr -ea n s b et ih vi en ,d d i f f e ri -n g c oT m f e e l i n g s . en edc o m i c , i t s, t phaeh e n t l ai cy so u I t spwfl aoa src me -a k -t o o Ck l ua t t Se ur n d a y n e w s p a p e r s o m e h o w , s i den ingst - a n d a ln ad y g l Ou ne ed , i Ft o t uo r a c a n v a s a n d t hi en g p s t r u c ta ul w r ea sy ,m s o f a b ew w t i wa f h oo av wi n g i t b r es at kr su c ko m t phe aoe iunnt t e ad n do v Fe i r v ei t , o n l y f o c u s t h e r a p e u d i f f i c u l t s hw raoopril edne ssg , o n w th he er e l ar re g- e b l o c k s o f l it nh ei n g s ” t i c n a t u r e . i t s e e en a d d g e r , c o l o r ( M o l o t u i A b s t r a c t A n a ni isd n ac ao bm- c m(a B s p o n s e s t o isi cv) t.n p oc sTsh thiartterh ai -oo contl no, l gyt yh, i s5 ” ) . ( K T st oe e dn e pag 1 e o r i nh -i s , e s s e n t i a l U n d e r d i f f e r e n c e w h a t p e o A aes r- kf a r r aa tcchot lem m a l . t Mh eyrri, -c is s. na ab i sr td r , a c1 t) . c o m i c s . s t a n d i ne g i sno Amt al hes ao t , t l hi ke e t h e A b s t r a c t E x p a l ed gwe hvr ae t hi aS B a c-i od m : i essr w S c o t t M c s t i c C o m i c s : A b s t r a c t f e e l i n g i n c oo hhf ae pavr rbe e-n snt so i Co ln oi us dt s, , i na b s t r a c t a r t i s t s “ B y t ae kpr i onas gi - o u t T h e I n v i s E x p r e s a r e t r y i n g t o c o n v e y e m o t i o n s s es fqt rruaaem tr he ep r te yspptel iiennot-gnh - aa nn dd cn te- s , h i s b o o k , it bi ol en asAlu r bt j, e c t s l it othnhnearir ross- u t sg h t h e i r a r t . I n a n i n t i cao o her en a t da o i-f f c u rst eas p e ros es ste o m i c s p s t h e w e r e n o t n a r r a t i v e r a( thMi acvt v-eee.r vn i oe w w i t h A d r i a n K i n n ac i or md i, c s i s b af se irt cei aon lnt l yby i e on -eanr l l ay tmtuaf awo k tre-rtee oeDe n c e r n e d c o qm ui ec se saoit.,asl i ,-lo ocnvo:ekn r - - a t I t C scrl p o u- redac, wh , a n a b s t r a c t c o m i c ia nr gt - t h e r e c o hg onhr i iazz“vaoI ebnn l ttm t r u t h , Wa,hhl a,ie n l a1 tw b1eai8stl - h- t oc r e t t dahiit netaic iroge-i nors ,nn tea hdl a, t s u c h a s p e o tp i l cew d o n ’ t oo a- u l l i et ats ck .eE uaw t h1 ea l 2ot 5soi )nan. gm s ,ea cryno i tdmh i - c s m a t e o b j e c t s , m l i n e sc oc ua l r dr y s u en g qd h u te n c e , t hB oa i n t e r e s i nsag- . o u s u b t r a c t i n g t h e u n n e ct te e w i t h t h e m l i k e c o m c a u s e t h e b a r r i e r o f n a r r a t i v e i s p a tt ht ei sr n i s snsi gna s a r y a n d s i m p lF i i f dy di ln i g t ogywl iet th ha t a n e a x p r e s i cb sr .o k eMn a, r ko t h e r e l e m e n t s d e te hme e d si os bi r- ssd t rr ea -c t b a as pi c- s o f si th sa pe ex w p o t e n B pa rd og pe r r i , a to en f o r o t h e r c o m i c st e an r ce e ,a l as no d p o ra t l r lsayi yv iweo nh n ga t a i td r a w t i a l ? ” H e h bi sr o bk le on g. , T h e u s e o f s p e e c ah s b sa ul -c h . ai ngo epa. p r i M u c hi n lg i ki es p P s la oi od n: s , f r a m e s , e t c p l a y s aa rc t r ua cr it ai sl t J a s pm ea r l Jwo ah yn sa ’ n d t o

m at gh ee r ys . u r fA al cs eo ., r e p r e s e n t a t i o W n ah la t e laemm eI n l teosao cck ha i nnwg i ta ht ? q ua ek ni t nch gee oii sn A n d“ rT eh i e s e m a l s o b e i n c l u d e d , b u t t h e y m u s t n W o h t a c t o i m s b i i n t e f b o t l r a o ? c g keI tf h I- ’ m M o l oi k- e a h Te hs i i st a pt ii eo cn e, a i s d i v i d e d pt hi ne gr e ad . n Ia r mr aa tk i ev en u( m e rd oi cu ks , sj 1ue )sr .ti e gsMo ooi n f og ts um a olci tl rt s e e r , c r e a R u l a b i t l , -t h e ab nafdlo l uty rh. e sne c t i o n s , o r t u pi m r, eoasvnse emd e n iv nte t r o d t r r aa wc i t n gc so ma i nc ds ah ri rma s ne gl ef , t a h n e d mc ohsl aeo sqr urpeeancl teei nta a l elcl yyr I,o ’bsmes - u s a t e s a b s t t da m on pidea n nn gt t e … t ehaayoc fhb eo n e c o n a r Wt aio snr t d,us n e st o, m sg xl B pu l da i cn i gn g a nt h e m i n l i t e r a r y j o u r n a l s ,h e.c om u egcn oci inton-sm c l-o am I oni wsc h ts i its m e p a i r e d a r i t nt h c le us de et d t i a n i n t i h n w n p a n e li sm . a t i o n a s a p a r ti n og f i t sh et m h a t m i al gd a M z i on oe ns , , ho er hs ae sl f -a p u b q l i us eh ne cd e b oo f o k2 s4 tpshauanr t fe alI cs e c o m i c , W s e , . h i i scct seo ,p- tbs u,at r cet oh ljeduy/s wto an r l my c o n t i m e s t h e y E a c h r i ta r ni b u t e m va ir sk u- a l l y , l i k e c o n t a i n s H e t e aa lcr -he - s i m p l y c i r c u m s t a n a u n i q u e l oi w n sg a t p o r t a n t t i a l ( b e i n g s t r o k e o r t hI en d i p a r t i n m a r k , b u t w h a in tsaet u c k i n a c r e a t t h e c o l o r i nU ne liao- cc ha t i o n f o r i n g a a n d o r p av ne era sln i -e x t e n d p i e c e I g a n i c n a t ot y c, ea dar -n ad m o u n t o f l i k e … t u r e o f r ye dy ti oti um o rre f o r i n T h e r e ’ s t h e m a r k s e yo ef A b a l o t c r e a t e s a f r r seo t tmr oa cb t e o f d i f t h e “ n a r e -c i l oa nyC e-od m f e r e n t r a t i v e . ” e sr eie ccd stc i: oo vn e r e d / e x f e e l I t i s v e r y o t noT ha pen o- s e d , c o u l d i n g s m u c h l i k e t oo tA p hn ea- r l . s o b e r e a d t h o u g h P o l l o c k ’ s o Hf e t h a om l es- to a p h o r i c a l t h a t p a i n t e f aoocr ghc ly-y, i n t o t h e i m t a k e i n g s ; a l o et ssh a- yip odl ui e d c o m m u h o l d o f l o w i n g e t r oi. n n noai tnc a t i o n / l e t t e r m e a n d t h e m a r k s Hl eoi on kta es r p- e c t o f t h e m a k e a n d t ah tve int enh wae r r a t i o n a n d m e s h a p e s s uw bi jtt ehh ce t m o s t l y o b w a n t t o s p e a k A r ts -c u r e d r e l a t o p r o f o r t hm ea t f o rt ui om n s h i p b e d u c ee r , a r t , rt a t h t h at w t e e n n a r r a t o r e r s s p l a t t ee rrsi pnt egh -ba un t a a b a - n d n a r r a t e ” a c r o s s t h e r esc pui rfr ie- acs t e n s t r a c t f a c e s ew li lt h o rft oawrt oci ore ktn h.a el c o m a n d gp i ov we e r s ( uS Mbooj m -emec a-t .r k s i c s a r e l o Kt u o a ic h w“ ’aYs yo uc .oH.me” -, h ao sn t e l l i n g 1 ) i . c so na r t eh ef au ll ll o ow tf eh de a v i s u H eb nr ri wli e lk i baR. n”e t ht rch oei l s-a sr ut r a l n a r a o c r o ( m a C i rcda -ai rn ttt o-e r t -a fk ae c e . n r aa nt id v ei n t i m a i s e t s a t g i n h n deg ai dcl loium T h e r e t ssp- oo - w n t ch ya . t t r s a i t t i I i o I o I n n . w s . H e s Sh nha - ep eA , i d a n c aa r ne - o n l y r i c k o R m c e r b a h i g n r , e s i a tbh -i f so r c nn o n t ow t o b pe a n e l s b o s o t k r h a e R c a t e d e y , d k j f a i no-gr mi ts s t a n c e ) o r I h a v e a p a r o t t hh ae t r -c o n v i i k n , 1 n a ) a l . s t u o r e u st h i snwet io t i c u l a r s h o w c o m i n g u p , wt ia s i en w o r d s , b l a a b c s H k t i r s a a n c d t e w d h i f r ytie .eg- - H i s o r s o m e t i m e s I ’ m f or er a hl il sy i m a sg oe m d re taxhw- es m b e u r e c s o . l l a S g h e a -t e w h t i ht iehn agl si n e s a n g r y o r h o p e l e s sd le yl i dc e o v ie nr g “ S o n o w a p e I ’ m h e r e . I e e as l osme ota si r cte t lt hia kak et e tl ha ec e , p r e s s e d , o r s o m e at ir m t o p t o l ca oy m - i c s , a l I j u s t d o n ’ t k n o wa n w dh a t t h e d a r “ kp ab i an ct k” o f s i ht o u l d n ’ t l o w e i r n e g d ,h e r c o l e l s e t o d o w i t h mg yr so eu l nf d. ” g i v ed s o ei ts an no t w i bt he ” a n d “ I o r s l i k a e n g o m i n o u s df e dew rl i iasnwhgi .nt o ( S h e a r e r , 1 ) . g r sa hp oh u- l d g o w i t s h o m a e c o a f r e f u l l y T h i s H e r c o m i c , W a r m eH r e, h a s t h e sb ee . d e Il ti - i s i t eo , u t ” . c h o R s e e h n r ’ w s o r d o r e ra ct poe am h a s a r e o c c u r r i n gc a f t ee - , s w i r l ia ns g i f o tr hm es w r n-i ec l sb ,e go i rn so v e r l a p p i n g ec o obsnl tva eco ykf ait sh e w i t h t h e t Th hat etw ow f i htl elo r m m a l e c h a r a c t e r . ce oa lc oh r , o t h e r , t r y i n g t o g a i n c e r t t h a e i n f e heo elr iyp nh gai .rn eg Tm nl d o f t h e v i e w e r s c e n e s a r e s h o r t ,“ p aa nn de l s ” . at hn iedd ea at t eo nfi st ci oo w r i t t e n a r o u n d h i m I n r a e n c t i n t e r v i e w ae e nh rdr , e 1n )d . s o d d l y c r o p p e d i m aa lg me os s t l i k e a oc cr oe sa sn o( R t h a n d t r a n s p o s e s i t w i t a h n g P l r e i s v e l i d g eh ri m h taow t t pfie :t -m /h / awwp wap w n. yg, o w u th ua bt e . c o m / o f t h e w o m a n , o r w oa t vh e- s , s o m te h ec r pa as n m i n t o p i c t o r i a l f o r m . H o u s e , s h e w a s nswg 5t ao d m J m e N i Pn M k o e r e l e m e n t s i n t h i en gc oo mn -t o t h e l ss ,h os r oe m e rw i aahct lahc. pah pn? egv ni=W h e n d e s c r i b i n g h i s a s k e d a b o e g r , hd g ea h sy e. a Cd u b p u ra atr yk his n W oaat m rh regeei nvc el Con rt a I I- I c r e i c s u c h a s a n e n vw ei lt oh p m e ,i s t s m S t e c h n i q u e h e s a i d : c r e a t i v e p r o rs oi sm a n d o t h e r s sq l uo i we l t yb e oa nu et i fs ue l - l y c o n s t r u c t oa ft fe h “ I n m y p r o c e s s , I m i x i s tm ua gn ,d ec t ac r . t o oT nh ye y c oh lal vac ege es s e: l q u e n c e t o p a n e l s , l syot temhr ey ar sn d ae r r ei on of guz li t lnh ge p ia r g g s . H i s ie md a cg o- l l a ga en d d rt ar aw ni n s p o s e i m a g e s e m ae nn t as i r o ro f t eb xo t t sh f mr oy m “yphUoeuserputsast l bol ry e I cek sr otsb asho rsot t h a n o t h e r . s e n t a t i o n a l , l i k e t h e e s , l e a g n d w o a t t a h a r e . ea rr yt ii ss “ s ap no dn t wa on re do su , s p ‘ i wc i t t uh r - e s w i, f d t ohwr i i m at ta n ot satfm gho eaer nl lsd a o r m y s e l f a r e t r a n s l a t e n a n d s h o e i n h i s p i e b c o e u n d a r H i i e s s h h u i p s r a -n ro eu pt r te h- i n ka i nn dg ’ p on ea tr rr ya ,t i cv oe ns s” t a n t f ,gp o h rwai hw pc oaa sniy n tvf fireanol cgmei o ra dr i g- m u l t i v a l e n t d i a g r a m s e C h a n s o n e l s p e e g l i r n a o s , l t h a t c h r o n i c l e t h e l i f e l y s k e t c h i n g a s a w a y g l y p h s , s e n t e n c e f r a g dmr ea nw t i sn , g . W h a t v e r s e . S o ma en da r oe t h a r o u n d h i m . H e t a k e s ( wa hf ta et r A p o l l i n a i r e ) , a s w e l l a s a on t dh emr i nd ir aa t wu nr e e li -m a g e r ya mb eI g d o i n g ?

Henrik Rehr

Aidan Koch

Warren Craghead III

Andrei Molotui

Henrik Rehr’s Reykjavik

D e r i k B a d m a n o f M a d i n k b e a r d r e m i n d s u s t h a t â&#x20AC;&#x153; c o m i c s c a n b e n a r r a t i v e w i t h o u t b e i n g c l e a r , c h a r a c t e r d r i v e n , o r p l o t b a s e d â&#x20AC;? ( B a d m a n , 1 ) . T h e s a m e c a n b e s a i d a b o u t t h e w o r k o f A b s t r a c t E x pp ar ie r s e s d i o wn i i t s h t s . B o t h a r e a a n b si tn r n a e c r t , n e e d ta on d c r p e o a e t t e i c e l u s i v e , i n n a t u r e t , h ed se er i ve ix np gr e s e w oi tr hk i s n m e a n i n g fs r i ov m e tn ot e ar t h e a r t i s t a ak ne ds oc n s u r f a c e f so t r a go et h. e r s t o r e a d . T h e m a i n l i n e a g e b e t w e e n t h e t w o a rn td i t s a kt eh e a n a l t y p e s o f a i n i d e a o f a tn e re nm ao t t ei v pe a t h w h i c h t h e n a r r a t i v e s t o r y - t e l l i n g i s l e s s i m p o r t a n t a n d e x p r e s s i v e m a r k - m a k i n g

r w E a t i K

t o c r e a t e a r t t h a t e x e l e a s e f o r t h e a r t i s t p c r r e e s a s t ei dn g e m t ho et i v e c o n t e o r k . I t i s e v i d e n t t h a t A b s t r a cn t t a x p r e s s i o n i s t s p a v e d tr ha et h we ar y t hf a o n r c o n c r e t e s u b b s t r a c t c o m i c s , b e c a u s e w i t h o u t h e f o r w a r d t h i n k i n g o j f e cs tu c mh a ta t r et rs t s a s P o l l o c k , d e K o ao l n l i o n wg e, d a fn od r a n d i n k s y a n d t h e i r w ic l ol m i ni gc n ae rs t s i s t s t o b e m o r e w i l l i n g t o a b a n d o n t h e c o m m o n p r a c t i c e o f c r e a t i n g c o m i c s

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Kristin Flowers History of the Comic Strip December 2, 2009 S. Fecho