Color Field is a style of abstract painting that emerged in the United States in the 1950s. It was inspired by the emerging modernist movement in Europe and reflected the flourishing of American Expressionism in the post-war environment. The movement is characterized by the use of large forms of flat, solid color applied across the canvas, the emphasis being on the gesture and use of spontaneous brushstrokes. Color Field paintings are distinguished by the strong presence of color which becomes “the subject in itself.”
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The color palette inspired by the Color Field movement marries bright, man-made shades reflecting the emergence of plastic product with more comfortable and familiar neutrals and soft, natural shades, reflective of the past.
The work of Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Larry Poons and Frank Stella exemplified the abstract movement.
The emergence of color-based abstraction was closely related to the development of acrylic paint leading to the wide-spread manufacturing and use of man-made plastics. Young artists at the time used the full capacity of acrylic paint and additives to achieve colors and shapes not known before. The qualities of acrylic paint appealed to this new generation of painters who favored the paint over the use of oil paint. Acrylic paint dried quick, allowed for thin and opaque application and was easy to spread across large surfaces.
We are inspired by the straightforward and bold use of color, powerful gestures and the courageous forms. Color Field painters experimented with the use of unexpected hues of color side by side, the ability to evoke emotional and visual experiences and how to incorporate neutrals along side bright, bold shades.
