A horizontal abstract artwork with yellow and orange shapes in the background. In the foreground is a blue, petal-like shape with black outlines. Other organic shapes are layered in purple and green.
Posted on by fwmuseumofart

Saturday Studio: Abstract String Pull Painting

Kelsey Herber, School Programs Associate

This month’s Saturday Studio focuses on the work of Steven Sorman, on display now until September 6 in The Sorman Archive: Expanding Symmetry. Sorman’s compositions utilize overlapping colors and shapes which are often translucent, allowing the viewer to get a glimpse into every step of the artist’s process. 

A vertical abstract painting with blue and green tones layered on top of each other. The center has two shapes reminiscent of a ribcage or a conch shell. The ribbon-like bands curve to show hollow spaces throughout the forms. Black and white lines outline the shapes. The background has a rough textured appearance.
Steven Sorman, American, b. 1948. 2.4.01 from a book of days portfolio, Photocopy, chine collé, screenprint, and lithograph on paper, 2001. Gift of the Artist in memory of David Shapiro. Image courtesy of FWMoA.
A vertical abstract image with dark grey, dusty blue, white, light pink, and gold. Organic shapes and rectangles are layered on top of each other. The background is a dusty blue with white ribbon-like shapes curving on the surface. The next layer is light pink with black, wavy, concentric lines covering its surface. In the center of these lines is a stroke of gold. The next layer has grey lines on top of a white rectangle. At the center is an orb shape within a square.
Steven Sorman, American, b. 1948. a word’s place, etching, aquatint, photopolymer intaglio, acrylic, and collage on paper, 2008. Gift of the Artist in memory of David Shapiro. Image courtesy of FWMoA.

Sorman’s works on display point to a desire to depict gesture and texture through the specific application of the wide range of materials he uses. Often, artworks are judged by what an audience can understand about the end result. However, with this collection of Sorman’s work, what appears more relevant are the materials themselves and the actions the artist takes with each one. Using Sorman’s pieces as inspiration, we’re going to create an abstract artwork ourselves!

A collection of materials including a white piece of paper, a spool of string, three plastic dipping sauce containers with paint, and a folded paper towel.

Materials:

  • Paper (cardstock or thicker)
  • Watercolor, acrylic, or tempera paint
  • Absorbent string
  • Any drawing and coloring utensils you want!
The green paint in a sauce cup with a piece of string half inside, half outside the cup.

Start by folding a piece of paper in half. Soak your string, cut to your desired length, in any color of paint. I cut my string to about a foot long and first soaked it in green liquid watercolor. Make sure to leave a small portion of the end of the string out of the paint as you will need to grab it with your hands.

The white string is stained green, sitting in a curved, pattern on top of white paper.

Carefully remove your string from the paint and avoid premature drips by placing it on one half of the paper in any position. Leave the clean end of the string hanging out over the edge.

A white left hand with a plant tattoo on the wrist. It is extended, sitting flat on top of a folded piece of paper.

Fold the other side of the paper on top of the side with the string and apply pressure with your hand or a book. Grab the clean end of the string and slowly pull it in one direction away from the paper. Pro tip: keep the string level with the paper and work surface so it doesn’t rip at the paper.

A symmetrical image of organic, green curves on white paper.

Open your paper to reveal an abstract, symmetrical design! Repeat this process with different colors and string layouts to achieve Sorman’s style of layering.

Another symmetrical image with green, blue, and purple curved marks on white paper.
A horizontal abstract artwork with yellow and orange shapes in the background. In the foreground is a blue, petal-like shape with black outlines. Other organic shapes are layered in purple and green.

After the paint layers have dried, feel free to add more layers with other drawing utensils! I used crayons and pen to add detail to the pulled string shapes I created.

For more inspiration for your next abstract art project, see The Sorman Archive: Expanding Symmetry, on display at FWMoA now until September 6.

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