Untitled 1981

This untitled artwork was made by Joan Mitchell using oil paint on canvas. Mitchell was part of the New York School of abstract expressionists, a movement that valued spontaneous, gestural mark-making. In this painting, the thick application of paint is very evident. Notice the heavy impasto and the trails of drips. These show the material quality of the paint, its viscosity and weight. These effects don't just happen by chance. They are achieved through a deliberate process. Mitchell carefully considered how each brushstroke would interact with the canvas and with previous layers of paint. Abstract Expressionists were interested in process. They felt that the act of creation was as important as the finished work. By understanding Mitchell's process, and her deep engagement with the materials, we can appreciate her painting's complexity, and move beyond the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.