Jul 21, 2021 Activities & Education In today’s activity, learn about Helen Frankenthaler’s painting The Bullfight. Then make your own watercolor painting while celebrating World Watercolor Month. Helen Frankenthaler, The Bullfight,1958, gouache on paper, 24 3/8 × 19 in. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, Gift of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, 2015.8 Closer Look Take a closer look at the painting. How does it make you feel? What part of the painting makes you feel that way? Does it remind you of anything? Helen Frankenthaler was inspired to create this painting when she attended a bullfight on her honeymoon in Spain. Have you ever seen a bullfight? This event pitting humans against a beast both horrified and inspired her. Have you ever felt similar to Helen Frankenthaler? Frankenthaler’s emotions are seen in her artwork. Her experience comes across in forms of brush strokes and droplets. This style of art is called Expressionism. Look at the artwork, notice the different techniques. How does it express her feelings? Activity: Make your own watercolor paints and express your experiences through painting! Materials: Eyeshadows or any powder makeup (reuse expired eyeshadow) OR Fruits and leaves (strawberries, beets, turmeric, etc.) Corn syrup Brushes Plates Small plastic bag Plastic card Watercolor paper Water cup Instructions: Step 1: Think about how you feel and what emotions you want to express. Step 2: Scrape the color of eyeshadows you want into a plastic baggie that seals. To achieve the smoothest paint, close the bag and continue breaking down the eyeshadow with your thumb. You can also smash natural resources like strawberries to make watercolor paint as well. DO NOT add corn syrup to these mixtures. Step 3: Add a small amount of corn syrup (2:1 ratio for eyeshadow to corn syrup) into your crushed eyeshadow, close the bag, and mix until it resembles a thick paint consistency. Add more corn syrup if the texture is too dry. Step 4: After mixing, use your plastic card and scrape all the mixture into the corner of the bag. Then repeat the same process for different colors. Step 5: After getting all the color you want, cut and squeeze out the mixture on a plate to use as a paint palette. Step 6: Time to paint! Grab some brushes, a water cup, and watercolor paper and start painting. Step 7: Done! Now you have a watercolor painting that represents you and your experiences. What other experiences do you want to paint? See what emotion you can express through art. Have fun exploring! Share your watercolor painting with us on social media: tag #crystalbridges on Instagram. Written by Youth and Family Intern Abby Xiong
