Painting with a broad brush...

Every once in a while, I take note of trends in the stationery world. One of the several current themes is Abstract Expression. For those of us who aren't artists or art historians, we'd know it as modern art after WWII. We've likely seen something from this art movement, whether we realize it or not. A couple of artists associated with it are Willem De Kooning and Mark Rothko. 

Have you ever visited the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa? Chances are, you may recall seeing Jackson Pollock's painting exhibited on the wall, with a video installation next to it, showing him painting his work by dripping and splattering paint onto the canvas, which is on the floor. Or you may have heard of the media controversy when the same gallery purchased Voice of Fire by Barnett Newman for $1.8M in 1990, a colour-field work - essentially a vertical red stripe centered between two blue stripes.

Abstract art attracts a multitude of opinions and comments. What do you think of it? Have you ever tried expressing yourself through this style of painting?  

At Figg Street Co., we have a few abstract items to share, along with tools and mediums for you to create your own masterpiece!