Grey and Brown Stripes 1958

Patrick Heron made this painting "Grey and Brown Stripes" with visible brushstrokes in varying shades of grey, brown and black. I just love imagining him in the studio making this, getting into it, feeling the ground of the painting, the up and down, maybe even some circles in the wrist. Look how each stripe has its own personality. Some are soft and blended, others have these definite edges, like the black bar smack in the middle. That must have felt good! The different textures and opacities make it feel kind of earthy, like layers of soil. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s quiet grids or maybe Sean Scully’s more muscular stripes. It's all connected, you know? Painters seeing and responding to each other across time. The way the artist handles the paint, it's not just about color, it's about touch, about making something appear that wasn’t there before. Painting is just pure magic.