Andy Warhol
Marilyn Diptych
Coca-Cola
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol was an artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His most famous works include Campbell’s Soup Cans, Marilyn Diptych, Coca-Cola, Brillo Box, and Dollar Sign.
Warhol was born on August 6, 1928 in Pittsburgh, United States.
In 1961, Andy Warhol came up with the concept of using mass-produced commercial goods in his art. He called it Pop Art. He would reproduce images over and over. A good example of this can be found in his Campbell’s Soup series. In one painting, he had two hundred Campbell’s soup cans repeated over and over. He would often use silkscreen and lithography to create his pictures.
Eight Elvises, one of Warhol’s portraits, sold for over $100 million in 2008.
“Isn’t life a series of images that change as they repeat themselves?”
Soup Cans
Brillo
Suggested Activities:
Warhol Portraits
Materials:
- Camera
- Access to art/photo app
- Paper
- Markers
Directions:
Take a self-portrait (shoulders up). Use an art app like PicCollage to repeat the photo (minimum 4x). Print out and use markers to colour in and/or highlight different areas within each portrait (see example). Remember to use vibrant, contrasting colours.
Key Art Terms:
Repetition and contrast.
Popular Art
Materials:
- 4x4 and 8.5x14 white paper
- Pencil
- Black marker
- Markers
Directions:
Choose an object that appeals to you and is popular today (e.g., do some research on popular drinks, foods, toys, movie characters, etc.). With a pencil, draw a simple version of the object you chose on white paper (4x4). Once you are happy with your drawing, trace over with a black sharpie. Fold your larger sheet (8.5x14) in half, and then into thirds and unfold. Using your sharpie drawing, trace your pop art 6 times onto your paper. Colour your work using markers.
Rubber Band Printing
Materials:
- Rubber bands
- Cardboard
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- White paper
Directions:
Cut the cardboard to your desired size (6x6 is a good starting point). Wrap the rubber bands around the cardboard. Create a pattern you like. Paint the rubber bands (make sure to give them a thick coat). Make your print – firmly hold down your painted rubber bands to the white paper. Wash away initial coat of paint and choose a second, contrasting colour to once again, paint the rubber bands. This time, turn your stamp in a different direction and overlap your first print. Continue with this process until you are happy with your final product.
Turn a famous painting or image into pop art
Example Ideas:
Use a colour printout of a famous image/painting and create a pop collage as background (see example).
Use a colouring sheet of your chosen famous work and divide into several squares. Colour each square a different colour. Piece back together. Have fun and be creative!
Andy Warhol Colouring Pages
Click on the link for a variety of different Andy Warhol colouring pages.
Andy Warhol Art Talk
Click on the link to look at one of Warhol’s more famous works. Read and respond to the questions about his work.