Artwork shown in an example frame (not to scale)
Untitled 03 forms part of an ongoing body of work concerned with gesture as structure rather than expression. Built through repeated applications of oil pastel, the surface is layered, disrupted and reasserted until the composition settles into a state of calibrated tension.
Marks accumulate across the field without hierarchy. Direction, pressure and interruption operate as compositional tools, allowing movement to be organised rather than illustrated. The work resists immediate resolution; relationships between marks continue to shift as the eye moves across the surface.
Colour is used materially rather than symbolically. Earth tones, blacks and blues establish weight and contrast, while scraped and overdrawn areas retain evidence of revision. Decision-making remains visible, asserting the work as a record of sustained engagement rather than a fixed image.
The piece positions itself against image-led abstraction, insisting instead on physical presence, resistance and duration. It asks to be encountered over time, not consumed at a glance, and rewards repeated viewing through its shifting surface and measured complexity.
Created on Arches Huile 300 gsm paper, the sheet was secured at each corner throughout the process. The composition extends close to the edges, so mat or float framing is recommended to preserve the integrity of the work.