Color Fields: 3 Bits of Beauty

I haven't always loved color field painters.

Back in college, Dr. Adcock taught a Modern Art class in the upstairs lecture hall at the University of Iowa's now-flooded-out Art Building. I was skeptical, but fell in love, quickly, with the saturated, unapologetic simplicity of the color field painters. I love the way the paint seeps into the canvases, creating washes of color and deep hues. I love the moody ease, but upon closer look, the tortured details in the application.

But most of all, I love this Rothko. 

LIGHT OVER GRAY, 1956 [Mark Rothko]

MYSTERIES: INFANTA, 2000 [Kenneth Noland]

TET, 1958 [Morris Louis]

Want to learn more about color field painters?

Here's a few sources that I recommend:

• This site is a super resource. "The Art Story" gives a terrific overview that served as a great refresher for me (I may have slept through one or two classes of Modern Art) and a primer on the movement for those who are new to it. 

• This NPR story from 2008 is an easy, insightful read. 

• This article points out that the Color Field movement was technically started by bad ass babe, Helen Frankenthaler. Thanks Roberta. You're always full of wisdom.