Art Beyond Canvas

Ground Study

June 2025

The Vision

In this work, the plywood is not merely a substrate but a primary collaborator. The composition utilizes a rigid, symmetrical framework of diamonds and chevrons to provide a sense of architectural stability. This precision is intentionally softened by a palette of moss greens, olives, and sandy ochres tones that echo the wood’s botanical origins.

The Process

• Material Investigation: The study explores how flat, layered timber can hold depth. By layering geometric forms against the wood’s natural grain, the piece creates a visual tension between the man-made and the organic.
• Tactile Depth: The finish highlights a textile-like texture, inviting the viewer to look closer at the interplay between the pigment and the underlying fibers of the wood.
• Symmetry & Balance: The vertical orientation and mirrored geometry are designed to create a focal point of calm, grounding any interior space with a sense of order and earthy warmth.

“Ground Study is an inquiry into how we build upon the natural world. It is an attempt to find the point where the raw grain of the earth meets the deliberate lines of human design.”

Details

Frame: Natural plywood finish, minimalist profile

Series: Plywood Study Series

Medium: Acrylic on Plywood

Still Axis

July 2025

The Vision

This work serves as a focal point for the series, utilizing a striking teal and gold palette to command attention. The title refers to the central diamond a steady, unmoving core that anchors the composition. By introducing deeper blacks and bright whites, this study tests the limits of how plywood can support high-contrast graphic narratives while maintaining its natural warmth.

The Process

• Color as Subject: The transition to teal moves the series from the “forest floor” palette of earlier works toward a more atmospheric, ethereal space. The gold tones mimic the natural hue of raw plywood, creating a visual loop between the paint and the substrate.
• Vertical Momentum: The use of elongated parallel lines and stacked triangles creates a sense of rising and falling energy. These elements frame the central “axis,” emphasizing a point of stillness in a composition that feels active and intentional.
• Graphic Precision vs. Organic Grain: In this piece, the graphic lines are at their sharpest. This precision highlights the grain of the plywood by contrast; the wood’s natural horizontal striations act as a subtle “background noise” that prevents the geometry from feeling too sterile or digital.

“Still Axis is about finding the center. It uses bold, contrasting geometry to create a sense of order, proving that even within the utilitarian grain of plywood, there is a capacity for quiet, centered power.”

Details

Frame: Minimalist natural wood frame, selected to mirror the warmth of the internal gold tones.

Series: Plywood Study Series

Medium: Acrylic on Plywood

Inner Hold

August 2025

The Vision

This work is a study in containment and concentrated energy. The composition is defined by a central, piercing magenta “X” that draws the eye inward, suggesting a core that is both under pressure and perfectly held. By juxtaposing deep blacks against warm, natural wood tones and a sharp shock of pink, this work investigates the emotional resonance of industrial materials when pushed to their visual limits.

The Process

• Chromatic Tension: The introduction of magenta acts as a disruptor to the series’ traditionally organic palette. This choice highlights the “synthetic vs. natural” dialogue, testing how a modern, vibrant hue settles into the porous, ancient texture of the plywood.
• Negative Space as Structure: Large sections of the raw, golden plywood are left exposed, serving as the “bridge” between the dark, geometric corners and the bright center. This allows the natural variations of the wood grain to function as a quiet, stabilizing force against the high-intensity color.
• Centripetal Movement: The geometry in Inner Hold pulls inward from the corners toward a singular, minute focal point. This creates a sense of “holding” or inward focus, contrasting with the expansive, outward-reaching field of earlier works like Balance Field.

“Inner Hold captures the moment of maximum tension. it is an exploration of the strength found in the center the invisible force that allows a material to maintain its integrity under the weight of design.”

Details

Frame: Natural wood gallery frame, selected to ground the vibrant palette in organic warmth.

Series: Plywood Study Series

Medium: Acrylic on Plywood

Base Form

June 2025

The Vision

In this work, the geometry becomes more intricate, utilizing an X-shaped central axis to pull the viewer’s eye toward the heart of the plywood. The introduction of deep earth browns alongside the signature moss greens creates a high-contrast dialogue, suggesting the hidden, subterranean strength of wood. The “base” here refers to the essential, raw elements that make up the whole.

The Process

• Interlocking Geometry: Unlike the vertical stacks of previous studies, Base Form utilizes intersecting diagonals. This mimics the cross-laminated nature of plywood itself plies of wood glued at right angles for maximum strength.
• Tonal Depth: The use of darker pigments allows for a deeper investigation of shadow and relief. The way the brown and green tones overlap suggests a three-dimensional space, challenging the flat nature of the industrial board.
• Organic Vibration: The deliberate preservation of the wood’s “fuzz” and grain texture provides a soft, rhythmic vibration. This serves to remind the viewer that despite the sharp, mathematical lines, the soul of the piece is living material.

“Base Form is a study of internal architecture. It strips away the decorative to look at the angles, intersections, and raw force required to hold a form together.”

Details

Framing: Framed in a slim, natural oak-tone gallery frame to complement the wood substrate.

Series: Plywood Study Series

Medium: Acrylic on Plywood

Dimensions: 40 cm x 60 cm

Balance Field

July 2025

The Vision

Balance Field expands upon the central motifs of the series by introducing a wider, more complex field of interaction. While earlier studies like Still Axis focused on a single anchor, Balance Field distributes weight across the entire plane. The composition utilizes mirrored teal diamonds and earthy, hand-rendered accents to create a sense of symmetry that feels “alive” rather than mechanical. It is a visual representation of the push-and-pull between human intent and the natural behavior of the timber substrate.

The Process

• Chromatic Harmony: The palette bridges the entire series, bringing together the mossy greens of Ground Study with the vibrant teals of Still Axis. These are punctuated by deep sienna and cream, creating a sophisticated “field” of color that feels both modern and ancient.
• Controlled Fluidity: In this study, the boundaries of the geometric shapes are intentionally softer. You can see where the pigment has interacted with the plywood fibers, creating slight bleeds and soft edges. This technique emphasizes the material’s “thirst” and organic reality.
• Dynamic Symmetry: By utilizing an interlocking “X” motif that bleeds off the vertical axis, the piece suggests a structure that extends beyond the frame. It feels less like a static object and more like a captured moment of perfect balance within a larger, moving system.

“Balance Field is about the ‘give’ in a structure. It’s a study of how rigid forms must eventually soften to find a true sense of equilibrium with their environment.”

Details

Frame: Natural wood gallery frame with subtle grain, echoing the piece’s organic foundations.

Series: Plywood Study Series

Medium: Acrylic on Plywood

Resting Centre

August 2025

The Vision

Resting Centre is a meditation on convergence. The composition is built around a singular, delicate floral-like motif at its heart a “resting” point where all diagonal and vertical lines meet. By utilizing a wash of golden ochre and stark white, the work creates a luminous effect, as if light is being emitted from the wood itself. It is an exploration of how industrial materials can be transformed into something that feels breathable, light, and perfectly poised.

The Process

• Radiating Geometry: The use of elongated “X” forms creates a sense of outward expansion, yet the viewer’s eye is continually brought back to the soft magenta center. This creates a rhythmic “breath” within the piece, balancing movement with total stillness.
• Material Luminescence: Large areas of white pigment are used to create high-key contrast against the natural golden-brown of the plywood. This technique allows the raw grain to act as a mid-tone, adding warmth and preventing the high contrast from feeling clinical.
• Softened Symmetry: In this study, the linework is intentionally more painterly and less rigid than in Base Form. The slight variations in the pigment application acknowledge the unpredictable absorption of the wood, celebrating the “imperfections” that make the material human and accessible.

“Resting Centre is the quietest moment of the series. It is about the point of perfect equilibrium where all external forces dissipate, leaving only a clear, central focus.”

Details

Frame: Slim natural oak-tone frame, designed to blend seamlessly with the artwork’s internal golden tones.

Series: Plywood Study Series

Medium: Acrylic on Plywood