Exploring the Journey of Creation in my New Painting Series ORIGINS

This series emerges from a period of self-exploration and expansion within my studio practice. The works function as a foundational inquiry, prioritising heightened expressiveness through restraint. Rather than relying on texture or overt materiality, the paintings explore clarity, compositional sensitivity, and visual balance as complete works in their own right.

These paintings operate as layered visual studies—preliminary not in resolution, but in intention. They mark a return to essential questions of form, space, and perception, allowing experimentation to unfold without the interruption of tactile surface. In this way, the series establishes a ground from which further developments may arise, positioning process, intuition, and internal reflection at the centre of the work.

Falling Into Bloom 1/1 Origins Series

The Concept Behind ORIGINS

ORIGINS is grounded in the themes of Foundational Studies, Exploratory Fields, Expansion Studies, Visual Foundations, and Early Structures. These terms represent the phases of artistic development that I aimed to capture visually. Each painting acts as a study, a step in a larger process rather than a finished statement.

The series feels introspective because it reflects a personal investigation into how ideas take shape. It is exploratory and process-driven, emphasizing the act of discovery over the final product. The works are foundational and generative, focusing on the roots from which more complex forms might grow.

Visually, the paintings are resolved but intentionally restrained. I avoided texture and excessive detail to keep the focus on form and structure. This restraint creates a calm space where the viewer can sense the potential for growth and change, as if standing at a site of becoming rather than a place of arrival.

Foundational Studies: Building the Base

The first phase of ORIGINS centers on Foundational Studies. These paintings explore the essential elements that support more complex compositions. Think of them as the groundwork laid before construction begins.

In these works, simple shapes and muted colors interact to form a quiet balance. The absence of texture allows the eye to focus on relationships between shapes and spaces. This phase is about understanding the core components that will influence everything that follows.

For example, one painting features overlapping rectangles in soft grays and blues, arranged to suggest depth without overwhelming the senses. This simplicity invites viewers to consider how basic forms can create a sense of stability and possibility.

Exploratory Fields: Experimenting with Space

Moving from foundation to exploration, the Exploratory Fields phase introduces a sense of movement and inquiry. Here, I experimented with spatial relationships and the tension between order and freedom.

These paintings feel more dynamic but still maintain a controlled palette and clean lines. The goal was to capture the feeling of searching, testing boundaries, and discovering new directions. The works suggest a field of potential, where ideas can stretch and shift.

One piece from this phase uses intersecting lines and subtle gradients to create a sense of depth and openness. The viewer’s eye is encouraged to wander, reflecting the exploratory nature of this stage.

Expansion Studies: Growing Complexity

The Expansion Studies phase marks a shift toward complexity and layering. While still restrained, these paintings introduce more elements and subtle variations in tone.

This stage represents growth and the branching out of ideas. The compositions become richer, suggesting that the initial foundations are now supporting more intricate structures.

For instance, a painting might combine geometric shapes with faint linear patterns, creating a network of forms that feel both deliberate and organic. The expansion is controlled, never chaotic, maintaining the series’ overall sense of calm and clarity.

Visual Foundations: Clarity in Form

Visual Foundations focus on clarity and balance. These works refine the ideas from earlier phases, emphasizing harmony between shapes and spaces.

The paintings in this phase feel resolved, yet they avoid finality. They are like blueprints or maps, clear enough to guide but open enough to allow interpretation.

One example includes a composition of interlocking squares and rectangles in soft earth tones. The arrangement feels intentional and balanced, inviting viewers to appreciate the underlying structure without distraction.

Early Structures: The Site of Becoming

The final phase, Early Structures, captures the moment when ideas begin to solidify but remain open to change. These paintings feel like a site of becoming, where forms are emerging but not yet fixed.

The works are visually restrained, with clean lines and flat surfaces. This minimalism emphasizes the process of formation rather than the finished product.

A painting from this phase might show a grid-like pattern with subtle shifts in color and shape, suggesting growth and transformation. The viewer senses that this is a moment of potential, a threshold between what is and what might be.

Why Restraint Matters in ORIGINS

Choosing to keep the paintings visually restrained was a deliberate decision. By avoiding texture and excessive detail, the series maintains a quiet focus on structure and process. This restraint allows the viewer to engage with the work on a deeper level, noticing subtle shifts and relationships.

The lack of texture also reinforces the idea that these paintings are not conclusions but beginnings. They feel like sketches or studies, inviting reflection rather than demanding attention.

Engaging with the Series

ORIGINS encourages viewers to slow down and consider the journey of creation. Each painting offers a moment to pause and reflect on how ideas grow from simple beginnings into complex forms.

If you are interested in exploring the series further, consider these approaches:

• Observe how shapes interact and change across different paintings.

• Notice the balance between order and openness in each work.

• Reflect on your own creative processes and how they might relate to the themes of foundation and exploration.

  
  

Final Thoughts on ORIGINS

This series is an invitation to witness the early stages of creation. It highlights the importance of foundational studies and exploratory fields in building something meaningful. The paintings are both personal and universal, offering a space to consider how all things begin and evolve.