Flowing with Frankenthaler Lesson Plan

1. Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) was a renowned painter known for her work in color-field painting, a type of abstract expressionism. Color-field painting is characterized by applications of large areas (or fields) of color to the canvas. Have students research abstract expressionism and color-field painting and learn about a technique she created and named "soak stain" which allowed colors to soak directly into an untreated canvas. Ask them to look at images of some of her works such as "Mountains and Sea" (1952), any of the "Tales of Genji" series, or "Grey Fireworks" (2000).
2. Paintings in the color-field style tend to simplify compositions and focus on the impression of color to evoke emotions. Have students create a painting in the color-field style. They can dilute the watercolor (as color-field artists did) and tilt the paper to move the paint around in desired directions, trying to control the flow and blending.
3. When the works are dry, have students present them to the class and solicit feedback on what the work might represent and the emotions the colors evoked.

ARTS: Speculate about processes an artist uses to create a work of art.

ARTS: Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches.

Have students learn about and view the work of other color-field painters such as Josef Albers, Mark Rothko, and Sam Gilliam.

Have students investigate the abstract expressionism movement, which emerged in the United States around 1940. What are its characteristics? Who are some notable abstract expressionists? How did WWII influence this style?