Negative Space Floral Shadow Series
September, 2026 | Acrylic on Canvas
8" x 8"
This abstract work offers a focused study of a rubber plant leaf, isolating a fragment from a form more often used in larger compositions. The scale and framing suggest careful observation, emphasizing composition and shape while maintaining the looseness of texture.
The painting began with a flat, medium pink base layer, over which taped rows of raised yellow and cyan paint were applied. The plant form was traced and filled-in with water-soluble marker, then under pooled water the green ink dispersed across the pink surface. As complementary colors neutralized one another, a muted and rich base layer emerged, softening the contrast of the brighter lines. A final wash of blended pinks and blues settled into the surface, producing a purples with varied tonal depth. The traced shadow was reinforced in a vibrant teal, which anchors the composition against the complexity of the layered ground. Texture shifts between flat passages, raised lines, and areas where watery pigment collected and dried.
The title refers directly to the process of its making. As the first circular canvas in the series, the work functioned as both experiment and study, examining leaf shape, line, texture, and layered color relationships. Spanning multiple days between stages, the piece required reconsideration, reflecting a deliberate and evolving approach to material and composition
