Paper

Student Artwork Guide

War Clouds

Benny Andrews, 1990

Name Class Date
Benny Andrews, War Clouds (1990). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Benny Andrews artsdot.com/en/artists/benny-andrews/
Artist’s dates
1930 – 2006
Painted
1990
Original size
50 x 22 cm
Movement
Expressionism Colour and shape deliberately distorted so the picture shows an emotion rather than a likeness.

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Benny Andrews died in 2006; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2076. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 28, 2026

War Clouds — Benny Andrews Part 1 · The artwork

In context

War Clouds — Benny Andrews

How big is it?

The original measures 50 × 22 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1930
  2. 1940
  3. 1950
  4. 1960
  5. 1970
  6. 1980
  7. 1990
  8. 2000

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 76 at death.

Painted when the artist was 60. The artist lived to 76. 71 of the 107 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Benny Andrews (1930–2006) ▲ this work, 1990 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1970 Main working years: 1970–1997 Late works: from 1997

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/benny-andrews-war-clouds-D37PUN-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Putty #ece7d5

    Catalogued palette

    • #ECE7D5
    • #3A3029
    • #C4B095
    • #8A6F58

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Neutrals The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Putty
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Balanced Harmony How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Benny Andrews over the last twelve months — 3 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 82.4%
    2. 2 Italy 11.8%
    3. 3 France 5.9%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 15 most looked-at works by Benny Andrews

    1. 1 Confrontation 2 (John Lewis Series), 2006 10.5%
    2. 2 From the Mountain Top, 1999 10.5%
    3. 3 Trio (Study for Symbols), 1970 10.5%
    4. 4 Did the Bear Sit Under a Tree?, 1969 10.5%
    5. 5 John Lewis with M.L. King (John Lewis Series), 2005 5.3%
    6. 6 John Lewis Speaking at the March on Washington (John Lewis Series), 2005 5.3%
    7. 7 Weathering The Storm (John Lewis Series), 2005 5.3%
    8. 8 Fun #2, 2002 5.3%
    9. 9 Field Workers (John Lewis Series), 2005 5.3%
    10. 10 Growing Up, from the portfolio Impressions Our World, Volume I, 1973 5.3%
    11. 11 Poverty, 1990 5.3%
    12. 12 Black Athlete (Study #1), 1970 5.3%
    13. 13 War Clouds, 1990 this painting 5.3%
    14. 14 American Gothic, 1971 5.3%
    15. 15 Liberty Study #6, 1971 5.3%

    Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 110 works by this artist, of which 15 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 13 of them, with 5.3% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 28, 2026

    War Clouds — Benny Andrews Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Benny Andrews

    Born in Plainview, United States of America

    Benny Andrews: Life & Legacy

    Early Life and Education

    Born: November 13, 1930, in Plainview, Georgia.

    Andrews grew up in a large family of ten children. His mother, Viola, instilled the importance of education, religion, and freedom of expression.

    Early Influences: His father, George Andrews, was a self-taught artist known locally as the “Dot Man,” who sparked Benny’s initial interest in art.

    He attended Fort Valley College on a two-year scholarship but left due to financial constraints and academic struggles.

    Andrews served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 before pursuing formal artistic training.

    Artistic Development & Career

    Andrews received his BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

    He held his first solo exhibition in New York City in 1962, marking a significant step in his career.

    From 1968 to 1997, Andrews dedicated himself to teaching at Queens College, City University of New York.

    Prison Arts Program: He founded and directed a groundbreaking prison arts program that became a national model for rehabilitation through artistic expression.

    His work evolved into an expressive style characterized by bold colors and forms used to convey powerful emotions and social commentary.

    Themes & Influences

    Key Themes: Andrews’ art frequently addressed themes of suffering, injustice, racial inequality, and the African American experience.

    His work often served as a visual protest against social and political issues of his time.

    He drew inspiration from personal experiences, observations of everyday life, and historical events.

    Artistic Influences: While developing his unique style, Andrews was influenced by various artistic movements, including Expressionism and Social Realism.

    Notable Works

    Confrontation 2 (John Lewis Series): A powerful painting reflecting on the Civil Rights Movement and the struggles for equality.

    No More Games: A work that confronts issues of social injustice and inequality with raw emotion.

    Death of the Crow (1965): An early example of his expressive style, rendered in black and white oil on canvas.

    Legacy & Historical Significance

    Benny Andrews’ work is featured in museum collections such as the Museum Collection Hugo Fischer (Bühl, Germany) and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans.

    Impact on Arts Education: His prison arts program demonstrated the transformative power of art for individuals facing incarceration.

    Andrews’ artistic contributions helped to raise awareness about social issues and promote dialogue around race, inequality, and justice.

    He passed away on November 10, 2006, leaving behind a lasting legacy as an artist, educator, and advocate for social change.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for War Clouds

    artsdot.com/en/art/download/benny-andrews-war-clouds-D37PUN-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Andrews, Benny. War Clouds. 1990, https://artsdot.com/en/art/benny-andrews-war-clouds-D37PUN-en/
    APA
    Andrews, Benny (1990). War Clouds [Painting]. https://artsdot.com/en/art/benny-andrews-war-clouds-D37PUN-en/
    Chicago
    Benny Andrews. War Clouds. 1990. https://artsdot.com/en/art/benny-andrews-war-clouds-D37PUN-en/
    Harvard
    Andrews, Benny (1990) War Clouds. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/benny-andrews-war-clouds-D37PUN-en/

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 28, 2026

    War Clouds — Benny Andrews Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    War Clouds — Benny Andrews

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: war and conflict, isolation & loneliness, duty & responsibility. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at John Lewis Speaking at the March on Washington (John Lewis Series) (2005), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 28, 2026

    War Clouds — Benny Andrews Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Who created "War Clouds" and in what year?

    "War Clouds" was created by Benny Andrews in 1990.

    Who created "War Clouds" and what style is it in?

    "War Clouds" was created by Benny Andrews in the Expressionism style. Artist and movement identify the work's tradition.

    How strong is the contrast in "War Clouds" by Benny Andrews?

    The light-dark contrast of "War Clouds" is recorded as statement. Contrast describes how strongly light and dark areas differ.