The artist Carl Holty makes works of abstract art. Abstract art does not show people, places or things the way they appear in everyday life. Abstract artists simplify images in shapes, colors and lines. Check out our Gallery Gumshoes scavenger hunt to discover more about abstract art in the museum’s exhibition “Carl Holty: Romantic Modernist.”
Holty combines layered splotches of different colors in one untitled painting to create a work of art that seems busy with movement. How many colors can you find? What is one word you think of when you look at this work of art?
Carl Holty, untitled, ca. 1958. Oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches. Collection of Randall Ott and Sheila Stringer Ott.
In this activity, you will make your own work of abstract art using watercolors and plastic wrap.
For this activity you will need:
- Sturdy paper, like watercolor paper
- Watercolor paints
- A sponge
- A paintbrush
- Water
- Plastic wrap
To make your plastic wrap abstraction:
- Use a sponge to dampen the whole piece of paper with water. Make sure the paper is very wet.
- Add color to the paper using the paintbrush and watercolor paints. Try different techniques to add the paint. You can use swirls of different colors, or you can add them in splotches.
- Fill the entire paper with color. If the paper starts to dry, re-wet it with your brush or sponge.
- When you have finished painting, cover the paper in plastic wrap. Make sure it has some wrinkles in it.
- Let the paper dry. Remove the plastic wrap to reveal your abstraction! How has the painting changed?