Automatism

Automatism is a type of art that comes from completely random thoughts.  It can be written, drawn or painted and just means that the art was done in a sort of "spur-of-the-moment" type of way.  Some artists believe that just letting themselves create without any plan they can reach a new level of creativity.  The name "automatism" was appropriated by surrealists from physiology and refers to actions and processes that are involuntary and not under concious control.  "Action painting" is a type of automatism art that Jackson Pollock regularly used.

For more information go to: http://www.moma.org/collection/theme.php?theme_id=10947

Automatic Drawing by Jean (Hans) Arp