Untitled (from Collection Resonance) 2011

Monique Orsini's abstract piece is alive with swirling movement. I imagine it was made with big brushes, and perhaps some flicking gestures. You can almost feel the energy of the artist in the studio. Up close, you’ll see how the colors are translucent. They flow into each other like watercolors, creating a sense of depth and layering, yet they also appear very deliberate and controlled, especially in the way that certain areas have been left open and undefined. Notice how Orsini uses a limited color palette, with shades of green, red, and black dominating the composition. Each of these colors is a character, interacting, and responding to each other. It all reminds me of Joan Mitchell, in terms of that confidence and gestural freedom. But unlike Mitchell's heavy impasto, there’s a lightness to Orsini’s work that gives it an airy, ethereal quality. All the brushstrokes show you that painting is not just about the end result but the journey of creation itself.