NEWMAN'S 'ZIP' LINES
Who was Barnett Newman?
Barnett Newman (1905 - 1970) was an American abstract expressionist artist. What do we mean by abstract expressionist? Abstract art = modern art which consists of colors, lines and shapes but no pictures or images of our everyday world. Abstract expressionism = an American art movement that started after World War II in New York City. Abstract expressionists wanted to express their inner emotions on canvas. They wanted to paint their feelings using only colors, lines and shapes. Barnett Newman painted paintings with only solid-colored stripes running across a solid colored background. He called these lines "zips." According to Barnett Newman, zips don’t divide the painting; instead, they merge, or unify both sides of the canvas. |

Barnett Newman Inspired Acrylic Painting by Irma Grant
How did Barnett Newman paint such straight lines?
Mr Newman usually applied tape to the canvas and then painted over it and around it. Once all the paint was applied, he would carefully remove the tape, leaving a straight, defined line on the canvas.
Why did he call his lines “zips”?
I think he called them zips after zippers. Zippers move from the bottom to the top of a jacket and they unify, or join two sides. Newman’s zips run from the bottom to the top, they unify, or join two sides of a painting.
Why do you think he called his lines “zips”?
Mr Newman usually applied tape to the canvas and then painted over it and around it. Once all the paint was applied, he would carefully remove the tape, leaving a straight, defined line on the canvas.
Why did he call his lines “zips”?
I think he called them zips after zippers. Zippers move from the bottom to the top of a jacket and they unify, or join two sides. Newman’s zips run from the bottom to the top, they unify, or join two sides of a painting.
Why do you think he called his lines “zips”?
In this project, you are going to create an 'abstract' painting inspired by Barnett Newman's 'zips.'
STEP 1: Draw Zipper Pulls
With a regular pencil, randomly draw different zipper pulls across the blank page (Follow the steps illustrated below). Maker sure to draw ALL the zipper pulls in one direction: facing down.
(Optional) Trace over the pencil lines with an extra fine sharpie
Color the zipper pulls with crayons. You may color them all gray or use different colors for each.
(Optional) Trace over the pencil lines with an extra fine sharpie
Color the zipper pulls with crayons. You may color them all gray or use different colors for each.
STEP 2: Draw Vertical "Zip" Lines
To create a 'thicker' zip (stripe), line up the edge of your ruler with the edge of your paper and draw two straight parallel lines running from the top to the bottom of your page. You can make the stripe as thick or as thin as you want.
Color in the space between the two parallel lines.
Repeat drawing 'zips' in different colors and thicknesses.
Color in the space between the two parallel lines.
Repeat drawing 'zips' in different colors and thicknesses.
STEP 3: Watercolor Paint the Background
Paint the background with your favorite color watercolor paint.