Colour on the Side 1969

Terry Frost created 'Colour on the Side' using screen printing, a process that lies between painting and industrial production. The artwork is a dance between the flat picture plane and the illusion of depth, made possible by the silk screening process. Imagine a stencil carefully laid onto fine mesh, pigment forced through with a squeegee. This allows for crisp, clean shapes and blocks of color, a stark contrast to the often textured and layered surfaces of painting. The materiality speaks to the rise of printmaking in the mid-20th century, offering artists a way to engage with the aesthetics of mass production while still retaining a hands-on approach. Frost's choice of simple forms and bold colors highlights the graphic nature of the medium. The seemingly effortless arrangement belies the skill required to align each layer perfectly. It is an aesthetic that embraces the accessibility and reproducibility of print. Ultimately, 'Colour on the Side' challenges the traditional hierarchy of art, blurring the lines between fine art and design.