Andy Warhol 1929-1987

Andy Warhol 1929-1987Andy Warhol 1929-1987

Artist Style – Pop Art

Pop artist changed the art world in the late 1950s’ and 1960s’. They presented images from every day life and from the commercial world around them. Their images came from comic strips, movies, billboards, and grocery store shelves.

Some critics felt that pop art images were a commentary of the proliferation of mass-produced products and contemporary culture. Warhol used a giant Campbell’s Soup Can and Brillo Soap Pads as imagery in early art works, reminders of a childhood spent at home while he was ill.

Warhol focused much of his attention to the faces of movie stars and popular celebrities of his time. Many of his Pop art images use high contrast colors and exaggerated “off register” edges.

Artist Technique/Media:His work and that of other Pop artist used hard edged lines, an impersonal quality using screen printed or painted flat, bright colors, and are unrealistic and not flattering.


Themes:• Movie stars & musicians (Monroe, Elvis, Jaeger, Brando, Taylor, Jackson)• Politicians & their wives (Jackie O, Mao, Kennedy)• Celebrities ( Mickey Mouse, Ali, Self Portraits,)• Commercial products (Campbell’s Soup, Brillo)• Animals• Tragedy


Materials: He worked in a range of media, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, film, and music. Warhol turned to photographic images from advertising and journalism as the starting-point for his celebrated silkscreen paintings.

Andy Warhol BiographyAndy Warhol BiographyAndy was born in 1928 in Pittsburgh as the son of Slovak immigrants. His original name was Andrew Warhola. His father was as a construction worker and died in an accident when Andy was 13 years old.

Andy showed an early talent in drawing and painting. After high school he studied commercial art at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. Warhol graduated in 1949 and went to New York where he worked as an illustrator for magazines like Vogue and Harpar's Bazaar and for commercial advertising. He soon became one of New York's most sought of and successful commercial illustrators. In 1952 Andy Warhol had his first one-man show exhibition at the Hugo Gallery in New York. In 1956 he had an important group exhibition at the renowned Museum of Modern Art.

In the sixties Warhol started painting daily objects of mass production like Campbell Soup cans and Coke bottles. Soon he became a famous figure in the New York art scene. From 1962 on he started making silkscreen prints of famous personalities like Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor. The quintessence of Andy Warhol art was to remove the difference between fine arts and the commercial arts used for magazine illustrations, comic books, record albums or advertising campaigns.

Warhol BiographyWarhol BiographyWarhol once expressed his philosophy in one sentence: "When you think about it, department stores are kind of like museums".

The pop artist not only depicted mass products but he also wanted to mass produce his own works of pop art. Consequently he founded The Factory in 1962. It was an art studio where he employed in a rather chaotic way "art workers" to mass produce mainly prints and posters but also other items like shoes designed by the artist. The first location of the Factory was in 231 E. 47th Street, 5th Floor (between 1st & 2nd Ave).

Warhol's favorite printmaking technique was silkscreen. It came closest to his idea of proliferation of art. Apart from being an Art Producing Machine, the Factory served as a filmmaking studio. Warhol made over 300 experimental underground films - most rather bizarre and some rather pornographic. His first one was called Sleep and showed nothing else but a man sleeping over six hours.

In July of 1968 the pop artist was shot two to three times into his chest by a woman named Valerie Solanis. Andy was seriously wounded and only narrowly escaped death. Valerie Solanis had worked occasionally for the artist in the Factory. Solanis had founded a group named SCUM (Society for Cutting Up Men) and she was its sole member. When Valerie Solanis was arrested the day after, her words were "He had too much control over my life".

Warhol never recovered completely from his wounds and had to wear a bandage around his waist for the rest of his life.

Andy Warhol 1928-1987Biography In Short FormAndy Warhol 1928-1987Biography In Short Form

• Artist Personal Experiences

• Born in Forest City, Pennsylvania.

• Grew up in a poor Pennsylvania mining town

• Father dies while Warhol is a teen

• Suffered nervous breakdowns

• Idolized movie stars

• Lived during cultural turmoil of the 1960’s &

• 1970’s

• Education• Carnegie University

• Worked as illustrator in New York

• Produced shoe ads in early illustration career

• Held first exhibit at Loft Gallery signaling the start of pop art

• Was a the center of New York City social scene

• Famous for “fifteen minutes of fame”

• Influenced Roy Lichtenstein and other Pop artists.

• Made several movies

• Worked with teams of “assistants” creating mass produced art

• Collected art & artifacts into huge collections

Andy Warhol 1928-1987Biography In Short Form


World Conditions: In the United States, "the Sixties", as they are known in popular culture, is a term used by historians, journalists, and other academics; in some cases to describe the counterculture and social revolution near the end of the decade; and to describe the era as one of irresponsible excess and flamboyance. The decade was also labeled the Swinging Sixties because of the fall or relaxation of some social taboos especially relating to sexism and racism that occurred during this time. Warhol tapped into the excesses and commercialism of the era with his flamboyant life style and art works portraying the rich & famous and commercial product images.


General Historical FactsLived during cultural turmoil of the 1960’s & 1970’sProsperity in AmericaCommercialism & consumer buying power grows

Social / Cultural Facts-EventsMovie stars & rock stars idolizedThe space race is onAnti-government…anti-war themes create generation gap


Artist Intent• To create art works showing “popular” images of idols and everyday products• Created works based on stars, politicians, animals, catastrophes, American icons, and famous art works• Warhol tried to reach us all with everyday images• Warhol’s work is colorful and has a mass produced screen printed look. He evokes a mood of upbeat commercialism• Warhol’s work reminds us that art can be seen in all that we view everyday

Artist Materials• Acrylic paints• Screen printing• Mass produced printing techniques• Warhol's styles is “Pop” art


Resources:

• Scholastic Art / Art & Man: February, 2000

• Scholastic Art / Art & Man: May, 1987

• Warhol, Aberville Modern Masters

• Wikipedia

• http://www.biography.com/people/andy-warhol-9523875

• Google image search

• http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070930081426AAmzeb4

Andy Warhol Orangutan 1983Screen PrintSimilarities: Flat color, Screen printDifferences: Cool colors, outlined in color pencilArt Elements:Lines- ThinColor- FlatSpace – ShallowDesign Principles:Harmony- ColorVariety – LinesEmphasis – Eye color

Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup Can1964Screen PrintSimilarities: Flat color, Screen printDifferences: Warm colors, hard edge linesArt Elements:Lines- ThinColor- FlatSpace – ShallowDesign Principles:Harmony- ColorVariety – LinesEmphasis – Campbell’s name on the can

Andy Warhol Marylyn1962Screen PrintSimilarities: Flat color, Screen printDifferences: Dark outlines, lack of detailArt Elements:Lines- ThickColor- FlatSpace – ShallowDesign Principles:Harmony- ColorBalance- InformalEmphasis – Eye & lip shapes

Description: A portrait of aFamous movie actress from the 1960s.

Description: An image of a commercial product found throughout America.

Description: A screen printed image of an animal using outlines and flat colors.

3 Art - Works – Compare & Contrast

My Art Work – Victor ThatcherMy Art Work – Victor Thatcher

Theme- A portrait of a Comfrey student using flat & bight colors.

Theme Meaning- My work symbolizes an attempt to create a Warhol like portrait.

Materials Used- Acrylic paint on canvas.

Theme Connection- My theme connects with the vast commercialization of America and the Art of Andy Warhol who exposed that commercialization. My work goes one step further by taking an anonymous person and using the Warhol technique to create celebrity.

Style- Pop Art

Art ElementsArt Elements

Line- Hard edge lines made with colors butting with one another.

Shape or Form- Very geometric with no shading to create volume.

Colors- Bright , warm and very flat with no 3-D shading.

Textures- Very flat & smooth.

Space- Flat with no depth, very intentional lack of depth to create a poster like quality.

Art PrinciplesArt Principles

Variety- A variety of colors and shapes are used

Harmony- I used repeated lines, shapes & colors.

Emphasis- The face of Victor is emphasized using color.

Balance- Asymmetrical or informal.

Proportion- Colors are intentionally altered to create emphasis.

Movement- The work lacks visual movement.

Rhythm- My work also lacks rhythm.

Tension- The colors may create some slight tension in the use of contrast.

Personal CommentsPersonal Comments

What I learned: I learned how to use a photograph and Photoshop tools to create a negative image to project on the canvas. Additionally, I was careful to chose colors that would create stark contrast in an attempt to emulate Warhol’s Pop Art style. I attempted to use flat colors with no shading other than the outline of the face to make a finished work.

Possible Changes: I think it would be interesting to create a series of the same image in different colors. However, I am satisfied with the end result of this art work.

Preliminary SketchesPreliminary Sketches

Photo of completed work.Photo of completed work.

Documents

Andy Warhol 1929-1987