Ochus 1963

Paul Feeley made this painting, called Ochus, by pressing shapes onto the canvas, a bit like a print. The colors are simple: yellow and blue on a pale ground. Look closely and you’ll see the blue shape in the center is made up of repeating, bulbous forms, like a stack of beads. There's something playful, almost cartoonish, in the way these shapes are arranged. The texture is really interesting: smooth, but you can still feel the way the paint sits on the surface. It’s not trying to hide its process. Those edges aren't razor sharp, they’re a little fuzzy, like he didn't fuss too much. You get the sense Feeley was more interested in the overall rhythm and balance than in fussy details. It reminds me a bit of Joan Miró, you know, with the way he used simplified forms and bright colors to create this sense of dreamy abstraction. Ultimately, this piece invites you to see what you want to see. It's up to you.