The emergence of pop art oil painting in the 1950s revolutionised the global art scene. The movement quickly caught on and became one of the most identifiable artistic movements thanks to its creative use of popular imagery. Although American and British artists contributed to the movement's initial development, it gained traction as a creative current among artists worldwide. Despite influencing each other, pop art in the United Kingdom was driven by different ideals and concepts than in the United States. British Pop Art was an artistic movement that emerged after the Second World War with a profound academic background. It focused on dynamic and paradoxical images as manipulative devices affecting whole life. In the US, however, Pop Art appeared as a response to the dominance of Abstract expressionism. American artists, such as Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein, rejected the traditional artistic subject matter, focusing on modern society's mass-manufactured products and visual imagery. The incorporation of commercial images and bold references to the Capitalist society helped Pop Art gain significant recognition.
What is the Art Oil Painting Technique
The main characteristics of a handmade pop art oil painting are the use of bright colours and comical subjects. Pop art paintings often use satire and irony to comment on society and current events. As Pop Art aims to appeal to a mass audience, it incorporates elements and symbols from popular media. Product advertisements, street signs, celebrity images, newspapers or brand logos are the most common elements Pop Art uses. Pop artists of the 50s and 60s used various printing technologies to mass copy their artworks for those who wanted to buy pop art oil paintings. Andy Warhol, for example, used a mesh screen and stencil to apply ink onto paper or canvas, a method known as silkscreen printing. On the other hand, Roy Liechtenstein used lithography, printing from a metal plate or stone, to create his unique visual style. Another significant characteristic of pop art is blending various media and collages to produce a unique narrative. The sky was the limit for pop artists when it came to material and subject. Some put together seemingly unrelated images to create a contrasting arrangement, while others employed untraditional material to produce sculptures.
Types of Pop Art Oil Paintings
Since Pop Art rebelled against traditional boundaries and definitions of art, it's challenging to categorise pop artworks. Nevertheless, it's possible to name three major forms of pop art oil paintings:
Neo-Dada: Neo-Dadaism appeared in the late 1950s as an artistic movement that blurred the distinction between art and everyday life. This style often used found or known objects in artwork, creating arrangements with "things the mind already knows," as Jasper Johns puts it.
Collages: Pop artists often created collages by incorporating clippings from magazines and newspapers to create a narrative of modern life. Most of these images were a contemporary form of still life painting, with popular media replacing the flowers and fruits in vessels.
Pulp Culture: Pulp culture art was a significant part of pop art that imitated a medium - such as comic book art or magazines - on a different medium. These pop culture art pieces produced creative artworks for those who wanted to buy pop art oil painting online.
Popular and Historical Pop Art Paintings and Artists
Andy Warhol, Marilyn Diptych, 1962
Andy Warhol's Marilyn Diptych might be the most famous artwork of the pop art movement. The painting, depicting Marilny Monroe, consists of fifty images of the actress, taken from her publicity photograph from the film Niagara. Warhol created Marilyn Diptych weeks after the actress died in 1962. The left side of the painting contains twenty-five coloured pictures of Monroe, while the right is black and white. Critics often suggested that the relation between the two contrasting sides provokes a parallel between the actress's life and death.
Roy Liechtenstein, In the Car, 1963
Roy Liechtenstein was one of the earliest pioneers of Pop Art in the United States. The artist used various pop art elements, including comic books and advertisements. He was also known for reproducing the artworks of famous artists, such as Vincent van Gogh, Picasso and Cézanne. Although each of Liechtenstein's works deserves recognition, In the Car might be among his most iconic pieces. The painting depicts a tense, single-frame scene where a man and a woman seem to have a romantic dialogue.
Richard Hamilton, Just what is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?, 1956
We can consider Richard Hamilton as the father of Pop Art. His works and exhibitions influenced pop culture and many future artists. Hamilton's Just what is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing? was one of the earliest pop art images to become known as iconic. Thanks to its bold use of colours and avant-garde style, the painting gained wide recognition, contributing to the popularisation of the Pop Art movement. Each of the elements in the painting comes from different sources: the bodybuilder is Irvin Koszewski, the staircase is from an advertisement, the picture of the comic book is from an advertisement from another comic, Young Love, and the TV is from a 1955 advert. Hamilton stated that the rug was from a photograph depicting a crowd on the Whitley Bay beach.
FAQ
How to Clean Pop Art Oil Paintings?
Cleaning pop art oil paintings can be tricky due to the paintings' fragile nature. Therefore, we recommend using a soft brush or cotton bud to swipe off dust from the painting's surface. Avoiding water or alcohol might help you prevent any damage to the artwork. If you can't clean the artwork yourself, it'd be best to take them to a professional conservator.
How to Frame a Pop Art Oil Painting?
For the most beautiful pop art oil paintings, it's essential to choose the right frame. As these paintings usually feature avant-garde designs with bold colours, we recommend a minimalist frame. This way, the frame won't distract the viewer's attention from the artwork and will complement its beauty.
How to Protect Pop Art Oil Paintings?
If you're looking for original pop art oil painting for sale UK, you should know how to protect your artwork. Here are some of the tips for ideal conservation:
Occasionally revarnish your paintings,
Take the paintings to a conservator periodically for cleaning,
Clean the frame every once in a while,
Keep your pop art paintings away from direct sunlight,
Don't clean the painting with water, baby oil, or alcohol.
What to Consider When Buying
If you are looking for an original pop art oil painting for sale UK, you should know a few things before buying:
Quality: High-quality products add value to your home.
Colour harmony: Picking a painting that matches the colours of your home is significant for decoration.
Your taste: Your taste matters when you're buying artwork. Choose pieces that inspire and evoke emotion within you.
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