There are many similarities and differences in the processes of Jackson Pollock, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol. The three of them, similarly, were American art superstars, and they all responded to their environments in their own individual way, which directly influenced the work they produced.
Regarding their specific working methods, all three seemed to have one thing in common; their processes of working seemed to be very original and somewhat reactionary (this was possibly a direct result of the excessive and unorthodoxed lifestyles they lead.) None of them completely planned out the finished product ahead of time (possibly exempt are some of Warhol’s works, but his early and late paintings show many signs of spontaneity.) With most of their works, if something was needed they would add it, and in the same way, it was time to stop when the product looked finished.
There were many differences in the way they each worked, and they each seemed to reflect their environment. Pollock, for starters, painted in a workshop, secluded in nature and he used a technique pioneered by the Abstract-Expressionists called automatism. Automatism was simply painting what or how one feels, or painting subconsciously. Robert Rauschenberg on the other hand lived in the trash filled Lower-East side of New York City. He totally defied the technique of automatism. In fact he said, “I don’t mess around with my subconscience. I try to keep wide-awake.” Warhol took it even further and not only was conscious that what he was producing at the time directly reflected his fast paced world of commercialism and media, he seemed to be superconscience while working, and his paintings were a direct result of what he was absorbing from his environment.
Regarding their specific working methods, all three seemed to have one thing in common; their processes of working seemed to be very original and somewhat reactionary (this was possibly a direct result of the excessive and unorthodoxed lifestyles they lead.) None of them completely planned out the finished product ahead of time (possibly exempt are some of Warhol’s works, but his early and late paintings show many signs of spontaneity.) With most of their works, if something was needed they would add it, and in the same way, it was time to stop when the product looked finished.
There were many differences in the way they each worked, and they each seemed to reflect their environment. Pollock, for starters, painted in a workshop, secluded in nature and he used a technique pioneered by the Abstract-Expressionists called automatism. Automatism was simply painting what or how one feels, or painting subconsciously. Robert Rauschenberg on the other hand lived in the trash filled Lower-East side of New York City. He totally defied the technique of automatism. In fact he said, “I don’t mess around with my subconscience. I try to keep wide-awake.” Warhol took it even further and not only was conscious that what he was producing at the time directly reflected his fast paced world of commercialism and media, he seemed to be superconscience while working, and his paintings were a direct result of what he was absorbing from his environment.