Artists & Illustrators - UK (2020-04)

ANDY WARHOL

ABOVEAndy

Warhol,Green

Coca-ColaBottles,

1962,acrylic,

screenprintand

penciloncanvas,

210x145cm

5

CROPFORIMPACT

Photographywascentralto

AndyWarhol’spractice.Heusedit

extensively,whetherappropriating

imagesfrommagazinesforhis

screenprintsofmakingportraitsof

peoplearoundhiminhisFactory.

However,whenit comestohis

paintings,it is importanttorecognise

theinfluencethatphotographyalso

haduponhisapproachto

composition.Whenfocusingona

singlesubject,particularlya figure,

Warholalwayschoseveryclosely

croppedpictures.Thisis successful

forseveralreasons.

Firstly,it addsimpact,tyingin

nicelywiththeloudcolourscheme

andlargescale.It alsosuggestsan

intimacywitha subject,something

thatis particularlycompellingwhen

heis dealingwithotherwise-

unattainablestarssuchasElvis

PresleyorDebbieHarry.

6

TESTCOLOUR

COMBINATIONS

Warholis famedforhisbright,candy

shop colours, though it is telling that

there is not one combination that

defines his art. He was playful with

his approach, yet also studied the

work of the colour psychologist

Faber Birren.

In a rare interview with the BBC’s

Edward Lucie-Smith in 1981, Warhol

was asked what the “right” colours

were and how he knew which they

were? “I don’t know,” the Pop Artist

replied softly. “After you finish it, you

know which are right.”

While this might seem like a

typically elusive, non-response from

the reluctant artist, it is also very

telling. He knew about the effects

certain colours would have on people

from Birren, yet how they combined

artistically was still very much a

personal response.

1964’s Flowers is one composition,

borrowed from a magazine photo of

hibiscus blossoms, that Warhol

reworked in a number of colourways.

Of course, screen printing is a

process that allows an artist to test

combinations rather more quickly, yet

artists working in other mediums can

get around this.

If you’re working in other media,

it is still possible. Make a thumbnail

sketch of a subject and make copies

of it either with a photocopier or

simply drawing it out several times.

Test different schemes on each copy

before you begin a final work.

7

KEEP MAKING ART

Ignore the critics. While none of

us are ever likely to reach the ubiquity

of Andy Warhol, whose work

reportedly accounts for one-sixth of

all contemporary art sales, this is an

important point in a wider sense.

Criticism can come from art tutors,

family members, or even yourself.

Learning to deal with it and carry on

regardless is an important process.

Persistence matters in this respect.

Warhol was forever making pictures

and trying new things, which enabled

him to focus on creativity instead.

“Don’t think about making art, just get

it done,” he said. “Let everyone else

decide if it’s good or bad, whether

they love it or hate it. While they are

deciding, make even more art.”

Andy Warhol runs from 12 March to

6 September at Tate Modern, London

SE1. http://www.tate.org.uk

© 2019 THE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC/ARTISTS RIGHT SOCIETY (ARS), NEW YORK AND DACS, LONDON