Andy Warhol Paintings

Pop artist Andy Warhol was a member of an elite group. One of his paintings, Eight Elvises, sold for a hundred million dollars. This feat has only been accomplished by a handful of artists to date, including Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-August Renoir, Gustav Klimt and Willem de Kooning. For a pop artist to be ranked among these renowned painters truly shows the value, both material and sentimental, of Andy Warhol paintings.

Warhol started painting in the 1960s but it was not until the 1980s that he truly hit his stride and painted the body of his work. Andy Warhol paintings include icons of American culture from Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley to Campbell’s Soup cans and Coca Cola bottles. While well known for his paintings of famous figures, Warhol also painted random items such as electric chairs, cows, and flowers. His style involves using bright colors in unusual ways. For example, in his collection of paintings featuring cows, the cows are pink and yellow. He often painted series of an identical picture using different colors.

While his work is easy to appreciate, it can also be very puzzling. I do not understand the motivation behind some of the Andy Warhol paintings. In particular, the Campbell’s soup cans completely baffle me. Of all the things he could have chosen to represent his time and his country, soup cans seem like an odd choice. Odder still is the public reaction to this humble household object as the soup can painting became one of Warhol’s most sought after pieces. As for his collections of random objects, they are beautiful, albeit in a baffling way.

A standout and personal favorite among the diverse Andy Warhol paintings is the collection of hibiscus blossoms. With a childlike quality and beautiful colors, the collection is unique and eye catching. Ironically, this collection resulted in a lawsuit against Warhol because he had based them on a photograph by Patricia Caulfield. (They reached a cash settlement after Patricia Caulfield refused Warhol’s offer of a flower portfolio for payment for the use of her photographs.)

While most of the Andy Warhol paintings follow the same color palettes, there is a large difference in the style of collections. Some are simplistic, like the collection of hibiscus blossoms, while others are extremely detailed, almost photographic, like the collection of cows. The iconic collection of Campbell’s soup can are almost in a style all their own. They are painted realistically and unlike most Andy Warhol paintings, they are done in realistic colors.

Though he often painted icons, Andy Warhol himself is an iconic contemporary artist and Andy Warhol paintings will always be a beautiful addition to any art collection.

About the Author

See Andy Warhol paintings and works by other great artists at the Guy Hepner art gallery website. Learn more about the artists and their artwork on the user-friendly artists’ page. The Guy Hepner gallery is passionate about art and you will be fall in love with their online and Los Angeles locations.

Author (Nick). Submitted on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 Time: 11:11 AM

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