Action Painting

Action Painting http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html This series, titled “Urban Action Abstractions”, was done as a response to a 2008 exhibition at  Jewish Museum in New York’s entitled “Action /  Abstraction: Pollock, de Kooning and American Art  1940-1976.” The differing views of renown art critics,  Harold Rosenberg and Clement Greenberg, were the catalyst for the show. Rosenberg believed an artist personal signature should be seen in physical characteristics, such as the idiosyncratic brushstrokes that express “action” in painting, while Greenberg believed in ostensibly “impersonal” abstraction, devoid of any figurative suggestions. My “Action Abstraction” series takes advantage of the benefit of historical perspective on these earlier abstract artists. My work builds on what those artists established, incorporating Greenberg’s and Rosenberg’s criteria, but in my own unique style. The series is a reminder of how generations of artists have the ability to reconsider the rules, principles and standards by which a work of art is proclaimed important. Pollack, de Kooning, Franz Kline and others were the muse for my series, which combines, reinterprets, and pushes abstraction in new directions. Double click the images to enlarge them. Urban l 30” x 40” Acrylic on Canvas   http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#0 b48b61b0-a066-48f3-b4a8-afc97a04687c http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20l/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20l/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20l/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Urban l<br/>30” x 40”<br/>Acrylic on Canvas<br/><br/></p></div></div> Ode to Kline 16” x 20” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#1 1356b41c-282e-4c20-9c21-cde99e27be70 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Ode%20to%20Kline/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Ode%20to%20Kline/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Ode%20to%20Kline/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Ode to Kline<br/>16” x 20”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Climbing Big Nose 36” x 36” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#2 a325a649-5e35-4378-8429-6e929445ccd7 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Climbing%20Big%20Nose/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Climbing%20Big%20Nose/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Climbing%20Big%20Nose/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Climbing Big Nose<br/>36” x 36”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Urban Big Wheels ll 40” x 60” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#3 a7c001ab-a76e-42c3-9397-92614b33a1e8 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Big%20Wheels%20ll/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Big%20Wheels%20ll/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Big%20Wheels%20ll/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Urban Big Wheels ll<br/>40” x 60”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Urban Action III 30” x 40” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#4 f3ec2f41-9ad1-4f00-8113-32663dbf3b34 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Action%20III/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Action%20III/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Action%20III/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Urban Action III<br/>30” x 40”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Urban Action IV 30” x 40” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#5 e93ff211-2aa8-45cf-9d50-a3ad08648234 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Action%20IV/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Action%20IV/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Action%20IV/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Urban Action IV<br/>30” x 40”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Urban Universe 36” x 36” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#6 f582543a-9854-44e8-acb0-4a4921c65a1d http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Universe/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Universe/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Universe/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Urban Universe<br/>36” x 36”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Urban Lemon Twist 36” x 36” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#7 4c085245-ccb8-4ece-b721-20789eda8d95 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Lemon%20Twist/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Lemon%20Twist/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Lemon%20Twist/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Urban Lemon Twist<br/>36” x 36”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Untitled  36” x 36” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#8 d56a82ea-67c3-4d8e-9b19-dc9979c332f4 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Untitled/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Untitled/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Untitled/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Untitled <br/>36” x 36”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Urban Bird sold 24” x 24” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#9 564f7da6-8edb-46f0-b5cc-1710376a3f6b http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Bird/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Bird/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Bird/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Urban Bird <span class="style_1">sold</span><br/>24” x 24” <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Trojan Horse I 36” x 36” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#10 5b724f66-417c-4c85-a5ce-8e0a707e8e9c http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Trojan%20Horse%20I/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Trojan%20Horse%20I/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Trojan%20Horse%20I/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Trojan Horse I<br/>36” x 36”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Tri Ball l 30” x 40” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#11 f33c7046-c379-458e-9dbf-52c1bc1ae84c http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Tri%20Ball%20l/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Tri%20Ball%20l/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Tri%20Ball%20l/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Tri Ball l<br/>30” x 40”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Twin Towers Down 24” x 48” each Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#12 6c603c81-f5ff-493b-9073-9d4bd7373d20 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Twin%20Towers%20Down/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Twin%20Towers%20Down/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Twin%20Towers%20Down/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Twin Towers Down<br/>24” x 48” each<br/>Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Untitled 16” x 20” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#13 f9340466-0dfa-4499-972d-a650c8e2db86 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/naa-2/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/naa-2/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/naa-2/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Untitled<br/></p><p class="Caption">16” x 20”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Crash II 30” x 40” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#14 5044633d-176e-434b-ac1e-f7bd58f3449a http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Crash%20II/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Crash%20II/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Crash%20II/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Crash II<br/>30” x 40” <br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Twisted 36” x 36” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#15 df8ccdd8-8795-4236-b38b-29c8ea4cb534 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Twisted/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Twisted/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Twisted/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Twisted<br/>36” x 36”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> WOW 30” x 40” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#16 5ed5de6b-e9d9-4855-ada7-25ce6c03d841 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/WOW-naa/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/WOW-naa/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/WOW-naa/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">WOW<br/>30” x 40”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Convergence 36” x 48” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#17 e81a11c6-ec83-408a-bcf5-95e8eacefbd0 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Convergence/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Convergence/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Convergence/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Convergence<br/></p><p class="Caption">36” x 48”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Convergence II 24” x 40” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#18 9d1c048d-d27a-4ad4-90d2-9dc179f81f58 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/%20Convergence/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/%20Convergence/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/%20Convergence/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"> Convergence II<br/>24” x 40”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Woman A  42” x 52” Acrylic on Canvas  http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#19 bf3f4efd-8964-43b4-a910-dad0d886c60b http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Woman%20A/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Woman%20A/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Woman%20A/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Woman A <br/>42” x 52”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas<br/></p></div></div> What Did Dylan Mean? 24” x 36” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#20 119b8cdd-760d-4f55-9196-27ae7e36bece http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/What%20Did%20Dylan%20Mean/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/What%20Did%20Dylan%20Mean/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/What%20Did%20Dylan%20Mean/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">What Did Dylan Mean?<br/>24” x 36”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Urban Snoopy sold 24” x 30” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#21 450ce900-a893-4a29-ac99-388e14ca5ab0 http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Snoopy/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Snoopy/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/Urban%20Snoopy/mip.jpg

<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_136_54"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Urban Snoopy <span class="style_1">sold</span><br/>24” x 30”<br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Acrylic on Canvas</p></div></div> Figure ala deKooning 36” x 36” Acrylic on Canvas http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions.html#22 fa2afa7c-07e8-4f84-b4d6-d8dd58de3b6a http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/FiguredeKooningstyle/thumb.jpg http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/FiguredeKooningstyle/micro.jpg

http://www.mgriesgraber.com/mgriesgraber.com/More_Paintings/Pages/Action_Abstractions_files/Media/FiguredeKooningstyle/mip.jpg