How to paint like Willem de Kooning - with Corey D'Augustine | IN THE STUDIO

Learn how to paint like Willem de Kooning, one of the key artists of the postwar Abstract Expressionist style, also referred to as "action painting," with IN THE STUDIO instructor Corey D'Augustine.
Explore the techniques of other New York School painters like Kusama, Rothko, and Pollock in MoMA's new free, online course, "In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting." Sign up: mo.ma/inthestudio
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Over the course of a career lasting nearly seven decades, de Kooning would work through a wide array of styles, eventually cementing himself as a crucial link from New York School painting to European modernism.
Physical labor and countless revisions were constants in his work, which ranged from abstraction to figuration, often merging the two. “I never was interested in how to make a good painting…,” he once said. “I didn’t work on it with the idea of perfection, but to see how far one could go…”
The female figure was an especially fertile subject for the artist. His paintings of women were among his most controversial works during his lifetime and continue to be debated today.
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After conversations with The Willem de Kooning Foundation, MoMA would like to share the following corrections with our viewers:
Though many of de Kooning’s paintings have very thick surfaces relative to more traditionally approached paintings, there is no evidence of any painting that has close to the 2 inch thick surface that our video indicates.
There is no evidence that de Kooning ever had or used a six foot long brush as indicated in the video. Long brushes were given to de Kooning as gifts, and he likely experimented with them. However, he did not regularly use them. It appears instead that de Kooning often used shorter brushes, such as house painters’ brushes, and regularly walked away from the canvas to look at it from a distance.
De Kooning used underdrawings as starting points to generate ideas to explore in painting as opposed to as warming up exercise as indicated in the video.
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Education at MoMA is made possible by a partnership with Volkswagen of America.
Featuring Corey D'Augustine, Educator and Independent Conservator.
The comments and opinions expressed in this video are those of the speaker alone, and do not represent the views of The Museum of Modern Art, its personnel, or any artist.
#art #moma #museum #modernart #artist #paint #painting #howtopaint #learntopaint #abstract #dekooning #willemdekooning #abstractart #modernism #modernist

[@themuseumofmodernart]

Tune in for a live Q&A with Corey on Wednesday, February 7 at 3:00 p.m. EST! He’ll be answering any questions you might have on artists, materials, and techniques. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ham2aYuVi5uHebc

[@hypnotunez]

When he just calmly squeezed like half of the paint out like nothing physically hurt me. As an artist with no money, all of the paint he squeezed out for one painting, I would have used for multiple before my stingy self bought more.

[@maritzsa]

I need a netflix series of Corey just replicating/painting and teaching about a certain artist each episode

[@marcschimsky5673]

I taught art for 35 years, so I know something about art education. You are among the very finest art teachers I've ever had the pleasure of watching. You are amazing, thank you.

[@cam2956]

he kept going over places that I liked and i felt angry every time but then he'd step back and I liked it again

[@DrunkCilantro]

I live vicariously through how much paint you squeeze. shout outs to all my struggling artists out there

[@operatingvindictively6864]

For all the people watching, it is always better to mix your paints, especially oil paint, with a palette knife. The paint, any kind really, sinks into the bottoms of the paint brushes and may ruin their softness and quality. And generally, cleaning them becomes harder.

[@deleted8800]

his use of language makes me start to get and even appreciate abstract painting.. the way he describes each color and brushstroke as they are is really fascinating. the discussion of color at the most stripped down form, treating colors as subjects with their own mind, studying them without imposing subjective will, reminds me of deconstructionism. it’s pretty cool

[@eveywub]

"Accepted chaos is how some of the most beautiful marks evolve" I really enjoy his tutorials, and the language he uses to explain the techniques he's using is so lovely.

[@saint9958]

Watching an expensive tube of paint being squeezed out tremendously, I feel the pain. It hurts me to see this...

[@driesketels]

This is why I love this century so much. Legendary musea, explaining how to paint like Willem de Kooning in high quality video format, delivered to your doorstep for free on KZbin. This is just amazing right?

[@winterwhite282]

Mixing with a brush? Squeezing the top-middles of tubes? Get OUTTA here! LOL !!

[@deprivalli]

i wish there'd been more videos of corey d'augustine! i think i've watched all of them on this channel. love the way he's explaining things, it's a delightful experience.

[@RhomanysRealm]

I'm resigned to the fact I'm never going to 'get' this kind of painting. It seems pointless to me. However, I'm enjoying this series because I'm learning a lot about paints and mediums. He's a really good teacher, even if the final products don't interest me.

[@benjaminwilson2491]

"...look at this chaos here. Gorgeous."

[@mariocespedes1695]

a recommendation to this young artist, paint in a place that it has at least a large open window, with fresh air coming. Turpentine is a silent killer, if you store your paintings at the same place, with no air outlets, you are playing russe roulette. Oil colors had a plenty of petroleum components, add to this menu a pure odorless turpentine, a sure recipe to send you to emergency room.

[@tezrh]

I have lectured painting and drawing for many years in an art institute attached to a university in Australia. My primary area of Doctoral study was North American abstraction, in particular, action painting or abstract expressionism. I spent a long time looking at paintings in collections in the U.S. And it is important to point out that this type of lesson, well meaning as it is, is the opposite of good art instruction, and is the complete reverse of what these painters were on about. If a painting teacher says they are going to teach you how to paint like this artist or that artist, run as fast as you can in the other direction. This is the complete reverse of what these painters actually strove to find in their own work; which was the expression of their own uniqueness and personal individuality using the materials of paint and canvas. Your aim as a art student should always be to learn the basic techniques you need so that you can start speaking with your own voice, not to begin by imitating another artists language. Matisse was very clear when he spoke of the dangers of imitating or making your work the pastiche of another, more developed artists idiom; that the more it is done, the tighter the strangle hold on your own vision, and the harder you have to fight to break free of the influence. If you want to be a good artist, and here, the definition of good is to be the most YOU that you can be when you are painting, then be very careful how many influences you take on when you're learning. The role of copying is important in an artists journey, and you can learn a lot from doing it, because it forces you to ask questions about the artist's intentions But did you know that de Kooning was a fantastic drafts-person, and so were many of the other abstractionists. You see, you need to know that, in order to understand the voluminous space de Kooning is trying to achieve by smearing that paint all around the canvas. He's not just trying to make something which looks good, or interesting, or pretty, he's trying to say something about the essential nature of what it is to be a human, at that time in history, in that particular place--and he's trying to do it by establishing a pictorial space which will open into the views psyche; like a stone thrown into a well. So, if you were going to make a painting where you were trying to convey what it's like to be YOU, with all the amazing and beautiful, and sometimes disturbing things that being YOU means, what would it look like? What colours would you use? What brushes, or sticks would you use? Or would you use your fingers? How big would it be? Would it be abstract, or would it be representational, or would it be a combination of both? What marks would you use, so that you could look at it and know they were your marks--do you even know what your mark is yet?

[@jameswebb3876]

I enjoyed this video but I completely agree, I like the old joke If you rip off or imitate one artists style you're a fraud, cheat,etc. but if you imitate dozens of artists styles you're a creative genius.

[@felixfelix7447]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@kellyglen7909]

There is no ending with this type of painting. Only beginnings

[@CoolThisIsMyUsername]

This man is a truly excellent teacher. He has a fatherly way of bringing in the spectator-student comfortably, with elemental conduction, and holding vibrantly in all the veins he carries us through. Thank you so much, MoMA, for these videos!

[@TheGazelle85]

This video influenced my art. I watch it once every 2 years more or less

[@annequinn4208]

wow...you explain something that does not make sense so well that it sounds sensible ..amazing

[@sheryldunshee-menton1523]

Corey d'Augustine does a fabulous job of explaining de Kooning's Ab/Ex painting process. So grateful for this demo. I'm looking forward to the complete 7-week MoMa course available through Coursera. Clear concise explanation of not only paint mixing and handling but de Kooning's creative process as well.....Excellent! :-)

[@BornAgainFarmGirl]

As a watercolor artist who has zero oil painting experience , 😯 the amount of paint used in this medium is positively mind boggling ! This video has changed my perspective completely .

[@cogsandglimmers]

I'll admit, I've always been against modern art, seeing it as something simple, or just a few scribbles that anyone can do... And at that point, if I had approached doing art in styles like these, it would have been terrible. But not only are you showing the thought that goes into the painting, you're explaining the emotion and effort that goes into nearly every action. You explain the very basics of how to put the paint together, so that anyone who can appreciate the art can have a go at trying that style, or even just making a painting with a similar texture. While I still can't say anything positive about canvases made up of a single color, (They say emotion, I say barely any work with a price tag that's just too much) now I'm able to appreciate these amazing pieces of artwork. Thank you! :3

[@somethingsomething4393]

I feel the purpose of the long brush is to make a less steady movement making the painting more natural rather than just being able to see the painting as a whole. Abstract doesn't need to be looked at as a whole, more so a feeling within a moment.

[@rachelsremedies2602]

Wow, haven’t seen him in years! He’s easy to watch 👍👍👍👍

[@jamesshoegazer4534]

How is he able to articulate and carry himself so well, it’s a seamless tutorial.

[@lisengel2498]

Its a wonderfull way of painting - its like dancing, drawing,painting,dreaming, discovering, imagining, associating as a stream of consciousness

[@bethstewart6213]

Corey Tutorials is a MUST SEE, again, and again, and again. EVERY SECOND PROVIDES A PLETHORA OF VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE.

[@seethroughwalls]

13:13 "I just attacked the problems, but guess what, now there are new problems." Sounds like the story of my life...well at least parts of it. I guess life is a painting. I absolutely loved this lesson. It gave me butterflies in my tummy.

[@eddiegalon3714]

I make de Kooning's every time I finish a painting. I just frame my palette.

[@ChristioneTheArtist]

Thank you for this video. I’m a self taught artist and literally watch every few weeks. You have encouraged my soul to keep painting, even when my hands don’t work. Pure Expression/Abstract is the action, the record of thoughts while performing, held for eternity.

[@YazminM2222]

I dont know how to say thank you for submiting this video. Thank you so much. He is such a blessing in this world

[@TheEternalRefuge]

make up is truly art. yellow, red and green are color correcting colors and here he is using such colors for paint. amazing.

[@pattithompsett9540]

i feel like abstract is a literal way of putting emotions onto canvas. you are using your entire body to create. when you step back its kind of a surprise to see what came out of you

[@mahirahsamah5164]

My heart fluttered at 18:06 when he strikes the white paint over the brown action

[@possumbold]

I’m an acrylic painter and, as such, I found this video particularly interesting. Using a lot, I mean huge amounts, of oil paint shows a freedom I’m unable to afford, and I’m just a little envious of his ability to use it so freely; having said that I appreciate his confidence in his ability to do just that. If I were pouring huge glug, glug, glugs of linseed oil onto and into the paints I’m afraid I’d be counting the cost of the linseed oil - let alone the paints!!! I liked seeing the different techniques that I certainly can’t apply to acrylics. I can imagine that with the differing textures and experimentation it would be hard to go back to acrylics. I love his combination of texture, his freedom of movement, and love it that he explains how and why he does so - ego doesn’t come into the picture (accidental pun!). I found the oil and water mix interesting - I’d not have done that - but experimenting requires good underpinning knowledge, along with an amount of risk taking thrown in. I wish I could afford to use materials in such a way, but even if I could, I know that I wouldn’t have the abandon to do so. The painting itself leaves me a little cold - Dali has the same effect - but I can appreciate what he’s done to get to that point. I want to see more of his approaches to other art approaches. I’m going to share this with my son who is more interested in such approaches. That’s for sharing!

[@pulsedagod3986]

I loved this painting, one of my favourite works by you. To me, the final additions of pale pink to the painting really brought everything together. I used to despise modern art and dismissed it as something "anyone could do". However, after watching your videos, I now understand that this genre of art is more focused on capturing the process of creating the artwork rather than the final piece itself, hence producing "ugly" or "easy" art. Thank you for enlightening me on this.

[@queendanni666]

**accidentally breaks pencil on page while drawing** Now this what you call art. The texture of the dint in the paper really shows a sense of abstraction and creativtity on what would normally would be a boring blank paper. This is really what you want to happen.

[@dtorrez2242]

Thanks for this! De Kooning's surfaces are so lush & complex, thanks for stressing the thought and patience and time that would go into building that from nothing.

[@lisengel2498]

It’s always interesting for me to experience paintings - and to reflect on balances of realistic, representational and abstract representations of reality and about feeling

[@girliedog]

This is a wonderful series something that many artists could benefit from. The knowledge of the presenter is very impressive.

[@avicennitegh1377]

nice vocabulary range and interesting to see how DeKooning-esque those charcoal gestures are

[@tinamckeage6665]

Wow,I have never seen this kind of art before.I wish I could understand it.I think it is gorgeous all the different things you can do with 1 painting.love it

[@mr.kshmendrakumarsaini8600]

itni achi painting maine aaj tak nahi dekhi or nahi banai

[@harperellenburg]

not gonna lie thought this video would be kind of stupid, but MOMA y'all proved me wrong. This is a really great lesson not just on how to paint like de kooning but also on awesome painting techniques. GREAT VIDEO. KEEP IT UP. THANKS!!!

[@carmona_design]

The BEST breakdown I've seen on YT of the process and how to approach creating an abstract painting.

[@jacobdrollinger4802]

Finished product looks good. Adding the yellow on the right side made it doable!

[@loulie8444]

Really like this series. Makes people understand more about art. Its Not like a bob Ross' show with a diy explanation.

[@ggsgus]

They say good art speaks to you in feelings. I can not explain the extreme feelings of despair I felt when he squeezed those paint tubes like they don't cost a fortune.

[@angelreading5098]

Wow this really is an adventure in paint,texture,thin ness,scratchy ness,luscious colour,manipulation of colour,unusual stick masterials like the charcoal,love the idea of constant overlays done over time,these paintings are never really finished until the artist decides,just having them around in the studio to work and rework as some things only happen over time,this kind of art is not for the feint hearted its gutsy hands on,I see below some adverse comments but this is only art for those who truly understand bold use of materials and colour and abstraction sometimes beyond the mind,every day you will see something new in this kind of work hanging on your wall,it has given me ideas for acrylic work as the dangerous odours worry me associated with working in oils but otherwise I like oils but not the excessive oxidisation times that come with them,I can smell that stinky studio and the bad heads it would give me,beware of odourless thinners they kill like they did with Bob Ross,anyway so glad that I found this this is 'Painterly painting for those who enjoy application' the results speak for themselves,magical and alive and unique.

[@citizendan6390]

This series is some of the very best of KZbin. ❤️🇺🇸💪

[@davidcattanach5271]

I like the tunnel of yellow taking us to another place!

[@magdalenabogart1805]

I have never painted in oil. This video and artist taught me a lot about how to deal with oil paints. I also learnt a lot about De Kooning's way to paint. Corey D'Augustine is a great teacher. He knows how to speak well and engage the viewer. Very good video.

[@oscarpearson_]

Wow just like the real thing! Incredible!

[@davidhatfield7533]

Good Teacher .He makes everything understandable. Bravo

[@6sechsdoppelfuenf321]

when you worked on the blue at 17:00 minute mark and I saw the result - I smiled. I think that was the magic moment for me that made the painting come together. thank you for this amazing work! I learned a lot in this video

[@davidjaller4243]

At first, i thought it was ugly, but then when I paused the video, don't know how but the paint started to make sense in my mind and talked to me. I'm so happy and in love right now. By: a stupid amateur art lover teenager.

[@konanoobiemaster]

mixing paint with brushes really, really grinds my gears

[@hmarts233]

Him mixing with his paint brush makes me cringe

[@ankiking]

Best into mix oil and turp well first, then mix with the paint. That way you avoid oil globs in your paint which makes big shiny spots in your work.

[@HighValueBum]

Can’t wait to start to sling paint around and show my emotions through angry and calm brush strokes.

[@themuseumofmodernart]

Thanks, everyone, for the great comments and questions. We’ll be releasing a de Kooning Part 2 video in the coming weeks! A few commenters have questioned some of the techniques attributed to de Kooning in this video. As with all IN THE STUDIO videos, the goal is to explore an artist’s materials and techniques, rather than offer a definitive position on how the artist created a particular work. The different interpretations and debates about the artists and their techniques are important to us, so please keep the great questions coming and we look forward to engaging with you on future IN THE STUDIO videos!

[@joevasquez3434]

Hey bud, I've seen video's of DeKooning actually painting and he didn't do all this mixing and adding different chemicals. He put the paint on a big pallet, sloppy bottle of liquine, grabbed some brushes, pick one and just went at it. He didn't think about hues, he just mixed with no planned process. Like Julia Child in the kitchen. Just did it and boom,... a masterpiece !

[@callmesaina]

BRING BACK THIS SERIES!!!

God I wish I had this guy as an art teacher at the time. He makes everything simple and understandable.

[@conradbo1]

I am a painter and a member of the Superblur Art Movement. This was a really interesting and superawesome video. Thanks for uploading, I think a lot of people will benefit from this video, especially those that try to Dekooningfication

[@greenthumbgirl6]

This is a wonderful series! Corey is a wonderful teacher too❤️

[@MontgomeryMonsters]

De Kooning is my favorite ❤️

[@joevasquez3434]

Very true. DeKooning was a very physical painter; As was Pollock. Both ballet swaggist with a brush. His whole body movement apart of brush, hand, paint placement. I had no idea you were so insightful about art body mind dynamics, very cool.

[@matt.omahan]

Also made a sick dig towards acrylic 👏

[@thomaspadilla7518]

Absolutely brilliant. Encore, Encore

[@MarkowskyArt]

Well done! Never thought of mixing water into oils before: it really does create a great, unusual texture!

[@rpederse]

I love this series. I am a beginner/amateur artist, and I love the little breadcrumbs I can use in my work.

[@boobear8617]

He's just not drunk enough to paint like de Kooning. The mixing ratios and brush lengths are excellent. Not working on, or removing the paint is as important as laying in paint. Also, the idea of subtraction is critical. Excellent video!

[@artistzamira6360]

I had him as an Art History professor at Pratt. He literally was the best art history professor I ever had. There are a whole bunch of uptight and dry art history professors out there...but not him. :)

[@NamaiWalterHeins-re4nu]

I had, still have no idea who Willem the Kooning is. But I liked how this teacher explained the paint mixes. So that I don't have to figure that out myself. And also how he explained gestures and textures. It's so fascinating how much material exploring, reinventing the wheel, such painters did already. Saves us lots of time if we are willing to learn from these 'ugly' works. 😅

[@MrTimesetter]

An excellent tutorial. Whether you like the style or not, the process is valuable and the tutor has excellent tutorial skill. 20 minutes of my life I'm not sorry are gone.

[@lazychef5169]

Acrylic may be plastic but if you know how to use it it is just a beautiful and full of expression as oil! It will outlast oil too!

[@BritneySpears785]

this guy is awesome, thanks for sharing.

[@monikamagdalenas.4882]

As an aspiring artist and art student exploring abstrat art I found those videos very valuable! I won't look at Kooning's art (or any abstract artist's in that matter) the same way ever again. Thank you very much for showing technical side of the entire process as well as explaining step by step what is happening on canvas and why.

[@pcbif]

I just discovered these and I, for one, love this series. It's my impression that Corey really knows what he's doing, and his techniques are meant to reproduce those of the artist he is emulating. I'm learning alot. I note lots of negative comments. Lighten up people.

[@donaldedavisart3999]

When creating an abstract work it is good to periodically flip the painting vertical and horizontal to see what the work is revealing. The other positions may just be more appealing.

[@dougarnold7955]

10:14...I'm so glad you stepped back and explained that to everyone. When I used to paint I'd often do just that and literally look for hours in some cases. If the painting sat for extended time I'd leave it. Usually though I'd find something more I'd want and go on with it.

[@andreabarker7124]

I really like the metacognative dialogue. Many art demos do not explore what's going on in the mind or not... but views have those questions and this video provides those insights.

[@toml671]

Vermeer's favorite colors were blue and yellow, I have de Kooning catalog and his painting from Feb 1957 is incredible in blue and yellow colors.....

[@wennell5546]

It is a really good class for the abstract painter like myself, I often don't know when to stop, and I agree with some of the comments below, most of time we stopped the painting because we run of paint, and we do not like waste of paint, but the interesting thing I have recently discovered is that we can always add the paint back when it's still dry. Somewhere else must need that part of paint. thank you for making this video for us.

[@1955noname]

hi, saw your video on painting like de Kooning. OMG. What I loved the most is the physicality of the painting, and the fact that the underpainting set the tone, and you developed the painting. Obviously, you are well versed on de Kooning. Pollock and Picasso influenced de Kooning, and you are the first real artist I have seen work on You Tube. I paint and am obsessed with the Cobra movement and the artist that you are familiar with.Most You tube "artist" are not remotely aware of real art, but are obsessed with quick crafty technique, ie, fluid acrylic pouring. Keep up your great work. Real artist need to You Tube. Thanks.

[@roz8723]

Hate the painting, love the teacher, except when he uses the brush to mix paint. A very good teacher.

[@itsnlee]

The way he explains the process is so beautiful

[@mayhtoo3576]

Thanks 😊 Corey..we Decooning crazy...

[@caedenlawton2609]

I really enjoy these videos, I'm trying to start painting but with the vast number of materials, it's all a little threatening.

[@magistra137]

Thank you for giving me background and insight into this artist and style of painting. When I go by an abstract in a museum from now on, I will look at it differently and perhaps even gain some understanding of what the artist was trying to express. I am looking forward to watching more videos from MOMA!

[@vivianeb90]

It is fascinating how you can make what looks like chaotic child's art to me sound like science. I think you are a great teacher. But I admit that I cannot understand this style of art. I am no way an expert but looking at de Kooning's paintings online, I always was able to make out some kind of figure although it was really distorted and smudged out and messy. I know that this is an example of his technique but I still cannot see the figure you were trying to shape here. However I did take a lesson from this, so thank you.

[@ManualidadesParaTiYusmari]

Muy buenos consejos! Gracias!

[@Danmoorevt]

I don't watch any other art museum youtube channels bc this series is amazing! This guy is great and love the behind the scenes.

[@mrfudd13]

At last - someone who speaks to the elements of creating art in the terms I need! Been painting for years, but never felt I had a comprehensive, clear approach, jumping from one technique to another. Classes I've taken were useless. You have consolidated the correct elements for my unique approach to creating art which speaks to me. Thank you!

[@monicalinville9579]

I'm really enjoying this series but I have never had a desire to paint like de Kooning. Still learned things though which is always good.

[@raspberrycrusader]

The thing that chaffing my nerves was how he mixed the paint with a brush and got paint covering both the bristles and the metal band. Shoving paint up the where the bristles exit the wooden handle makes it hard to clean and dried paint residue can force the bristles apart over time .😫

[@theeaselrider4032]

That studio is way too clean. It's not natural.