September 20, 2025 By:Stacey Gustafson
There’s something liberating about throwing paint and letting go of control. I started this piece with leftover paint and a curiosity about Jackson Pollock’s process—and ended up with one of the most joyful, freeing painting sessions I’ve ever had.
My God, making this piece was so therapeutic! I highly recommend giving it a try—just make sure your floor is covered with a large tarp so you can splatter with ease.
I had a lot of leftover paint from my previous two paintings and decided to experiment with the Jackson Pollock technique.
Pollock would lay out a large canvas on the floor and use what’s called the “drip technique,” or sometimes “action painting.” The idea is to have enough room to walk around the canvas and paint from all directions. I wanted to understand what it takes to create the different effects found in his work: How much force is needed? From how high do you need to drop the paint to get a line, a splatter, or a dot?
I tried everything—flicking paint with foam and bristle brushes, scraping, pouring from cups, throwing paint with palette knives, even using popsicle sticks. It was pure fun. At first it was completely random and playful; I felt like a kid again, and it was glorious. Even the soles of my feet ended up covered in paint!
But the more I layered colors and experimented, the more I realized there’s an incredible amount of intention in Pollock’s work. What might look chaotic at first glance is actually deeply considered. Creating this piece gave me a new level of appreciation for the mesmerizing beauty he achieved.
This painting may have started as an experiment, but it turned into a reminder: sometimes the act of creating is just as valuable as the finished piece. Whether or not you’re a painter, I hope you find a way to splatter a little joy into your own life.