Untitled from the Shapes of Colour 1978

This untitled print by Patrick Heron lays down blocks of colour in a really straightforward way. You can almost feel the brushstrokes, right? Like you could pick up a brush and do it yourself. But, of course, you wouldn’t make the same choices as Heron. There’s something about the way the colors sit next to each other—the vibrant green, reds, and yellows—that makes your eyes dance. The paint isn't too thick, and you can see the texture of the brush. It’s like he’s saying, “Here it is, the simple act of applying paint.” Look at the bottom red stripe. It’s not perfect; it's got this slightly ragged edge where the color meets the white of the paper. That’s the beauty of it, right? It's so process-driven. Heron reminds me of someone like Kenneth Noland, who was also exploring pure color, but Heron’s got a more human, handmade feel. It’s a conversation between artists across time, each with their own take on what painting can be.