Blue-5: 8”x8”, acrylic and collage
Blue-7: 12”x12”, acrylic on canvas
Red 1: 9”x12”, acrylic on paper
I love simple formats, such as grids, abstract landscapes, and stripes. Keeping the format simple and consistent allows me to explore other aspects of abstract art: color, edge, proportion, line, etc. I’ve recently been fascinated by the endless possibilities of simple stripes – rather, they look simple, but (as is the case with almost anything in art) the simplicity is deceptive.
Just try it: Monochrome Stripes. Choose a color and start painting stripes. If you choose red, for example, get out all your reds: cadmium, quinacridone red and magenta, pyrrole red, napthol red, a good orange-red, and so forth.
As you paint, add a little titanium white, a teensy bit of black, or a bit of gray, and you’ve expanded your range of colors further. Mix the reds (and possibly orange) with each other for yet more possibilities.
Red 2: 9”x12”, acrylic on paper
Red 5: 8”x8”, acrylic on paper
Once you start making monochrome stripes, you’ll discover just how many aspects of color and composition you can explore in this simple format. Take it out of the monochrome realm and you have another whole set of possibilities. Just look through my Pinterest Board called “Stripes” and be inspired.
Blue-4: 8”x8”, acrylic and collage
Blue-6: 8”x8”, acrylic and collage
Red 3: 9”x12”, acrylic on paper
Red 4: 8”x8”, acrylic on paper
Paint Quilt 3: 9”x12” acrylic on paper
Jane Davies is a full time artist working in collage, painting, and encaustic. She offers workshops at her studio and nationwide, focusing on helping people to find a personal and playful approach to art.
Beginning as a potter in the early nineties, selling her colorful hand-painted ceramics at craft shows, Davies gradually transitioned into freelance art, designing tableware, fabric, paper goods, stationery, and other products, using painting and collage as her medium. For the past several years, Davies has put most of her efforts towards teaching, writing, and making art.
