Western painting critic Robert Coates. Abstract expressionism, Action painting, and Color Field painting are synonymous with the New York School. Technically Surrealism was an important predecessor for Abstract expressionism with its emphasis on spontaneous, automatic or subconscious creation. Jackson Pollock's dripping paint onto a canvas laid on the floor is a technique that has its roots in the work of André Masson. Another important ear<nowiki>ly m</nowiki>anifestation of what came to be abstract expressionism is the work of American Northwest artist Mark Tobey, especially his "white writing" canvases, which, though generally not large in scale, anticipate the "all over" look of Pollock's drip
Artist of the Year Artist of the Year Artist of the Year is a television competition shown on the Sky Arts channel (formerly known as Artsworld and Sky Arts 1) which aims to find the best portrait/landscape painter every year. Through several rounds of regional competitions in different parts of the UK professional and amateur artists are challenged to produce a portrait/landscape of one of three famous sitters. The winning artist of each round, selected by three judges, advances to the semifinal and then to the final, which are filmed at the National Portrait Gallery. The winner receives a £10,000 commission to paint a