Art of the Matter:
Drip Painting
Submitted by Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
H
ave you ever been to an art museum and looked at modern art? Perhaps you saw a painting where the paint was poured onto the canvas with no discernable image. Perhaps you said to yourself, “I could do that!” The point is that you didn’t do it. Neither did I, but we can all learn from visiting an art museum. Jackson Pollock poured paint onto canvas and became a world-famous artist. His paintings can teach us physics. A team of engineers and scientists examined Pollock’s paintings and his drip technique. They discovered that the artist knew how to avoid what engineers and physicists call “fluid coiling instability.” Sam Gilliam’s “As Kids Go” at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art incorporates many techniques including drip painting. Every human culture and civilization has created art, and we still do today. You can learn history by studying the suits of armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or learn about dimensionality and geometry by visiting the “WalkIn Infinity Chamber” by artist Stanley Landsman at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Many museums have developed virtual activities and tours during the COVID-19 pandemic. A good place to find them is Google’s Arts and Culture platform: artsandculture.google.com. You can also find virtual content via an art museum’s website. The Mabee-Gerrer Museum’s website is www.mgmoa.org. Prior to the pandemic, thousands of Oklahoma students visited the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art in Shawnee each year, where they learned science, language arts, history and math. The museum is preparing for the day that large groups can visit again, according to Amber DuBoise-Shepherd, Manager of Education and Outreach at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum. During the pandemic, the museum has added free content to its YouTube channel, including behind the scenes tours featuring some of the 96 percent of items not on display. Recently, schools from as far away as Brooklyn, New York; San Diego, California; and Ontario, Canada have virtually visited the MGMoA. Art museums are meeting the needs of everyone craving creative inspiration and cultural awareness. It’s easier than ever to bring amazing art into your home or classroom, and as the world re-opens, museums are waiting for you to experience their collections firsthand.
“As Kids Go” by Sam Gilliam incorporates many techniques including drip painting, a style that many associate with artists like Jackson Pollock. Gilliam’s piece is on display at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art and can provide some inspiration for this month’s at-home drip painting project.
Create Your Own Drip Painting MATERIALS NEEDED: • • • • • •
Large white paper Rocks or tape to secure the paper Washable paint (such as tempera) Water Paintbrushes Cups for the paint
4. Start with a darker color, such as dark blue. Start dripping paint in a variety of ways over the "canvas" like Jackson Pollock or Sam Gilliam. 5. Use other brighter, more contrasting colors next to drip and splat. Keep layering the colors and drips until you feel that your masterpiece is finished. Be sure to take photos of your work and share on social media using hashtag #MGMOAart.
DIRECTIONS: 1. Place paint in cups and add some water to make the paint the thickness of pancake batter. 2. Lay out large paper and secure in place with rocks or tape depending on where you are painting. We recommend you do this outside. 3. Try to drip and splat the paint onto the paper only. You might get some paint on your clothes or feet, so make sure to wear clothes that can get dirty.
Scan this code to visit the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s at-home project page.
www.shawneeoutlook.com
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