Holding IV 1974

Jonathan Grant Meader made this print, Holding IV, in a cool palette of blues and whites, giving it an otherworldly feel. The way he uses stippling, little tiny dots, creates texture and a sort of pulsating energy. There’s something so satisfying about how the tiny dots come together to create this vast night sky, a mountain range, a body of water. Look closely. It's not about hiding the process but celebrating it. Each mark is a tiny decision, and together they build this whole world. I'm drawn to the way the stippling softens the edges of the geometric shapes in the corners. The contrast brings a dynamic tension, like the stars themselves are pushing against the boundaries. It reminds me a bit of Vija Celmins’ night sky drawings, where she meticulously renders every star, every little detail. Both artists invite us to slow down, to really see. Art, at its best, is an invitation to pause, to look, and to wonder.