I cannot explain why I am attracted to Jackson Pollock‘s work. I do not claim to be an art critic, and I do not talk in artspeak. I cannot say what Pollock‘s paintings mean in a way that would satisfy the New York art world.

To me, Pollock could only manifest himself artistically. He tried to paint more realistically earlier in his career, particularly when he was a student, but apparently he was not satisfied.

Splattering paint on the canvas released him. It allowed him to fully express himself – hence the term abstract expressionism. Abstract because it did not represent reality. Expressionism because he was revealing his soul in his work. Jackson Pollock founded the genre, and I consider him the ultimate representative of it.

I can understand how he felt while painting his vast canvases. Having done homage to him in a couple of my works (Homage to Pollock I and Homage to Pollock II), I can vouch that they were quite a release. Usually, I stay in a corner of my room, sitting in a chair with a table in front of me. It gets restrictive at times, almost blocking me artistically.

I did my Pollock–like pieces in the cellar. I lay the canvas on the floor, opened up the cans of paint, and started splattering. I imagined I was Pollock, moving about the canvas, becoming part of the painting.

There is some method to the madness. Pollock did not just throw the paint on the canvas pell–mell. Some drops were spontaneous; others deliberate; he would occasionally put his hand prints on the painting. I was the same way – splattering paint vertically at times, horizontally at others; putting some more green paint here, more pink there.

Doing this was cathartic. My mind freed itself. Just as there is a fine line between genius and madness, there is one between creativity and madness.

Pollock straddled this line, and I believe, crossed it. His flame shot up and quickly flickered out – an artistic icon one day, a has–been the next. No wonder he became an alcoholic and wallowed in self doubt. He could not function in regular society.

It is too bad he did not live longer. I would have loved to see where he would have gone with his art. But, unfortunately, the good artists never stay around.

Jackson Pollock Prints, Books, and Videos.