Surface Current: Movement Across the Canvas

Some paintings feel defined by one color, others are more about what happens between the colors.

Surface Current started with blue and turquoise, but the painting gradually became much more about movement.

The 100 × 100 cm work is built from multiple layers. Broad areas of turquoise and blue form the foundation, while darker marks, splashes and loose lines move across the surface. Small lime accents appear in selected areas and create points of contrast within the predominantly blue composition.

From further away, the painting reads as one strong field of color. Up close, it becomes much less predictable.

You begin to notice individual brush marks, translucent areas, drips, splashes and traces of earlier layers.

I didn't want the composition to lead the eye along one obvious route.

Instead, different parts of the painting move in different directions. Some marks feel fast and spontaneous, while others are quieter and almost disappear into the layers underneath.

The horizontal structure in the background gives the painting a certain stability. On top of that, the darker gestures are much freer.

That contrast became an important part of the finished work.

The lime accents are relatively small, but they have a significant effect on the painting.

Against all the turquoise and blue, even a tiny amount of this brighter color immediately becomes visible. I like that the lime does not dominate the work. It simply appears in unexpected places and changes the energy around it.

These small interruptions are part of what keeps the surface active.

The title came from the feeling that something is constantly moving across the painting.

Not necessarily water. Not necessarily electricity.

The darker marks, transparent layers and small color contrasts all contribute to that sense of continuous movement.

At 100 × 100 cm, Surface Current has a substantial presence without becoming oversized.

Its square format gives it visual stability, while the saturated turquoise and blue palette can completely change the atmosphere of a neutral room.

It works particularly well with white and warm neutral walls, natural wood, concrete, grey tones and clean contemporary furniture.

The 4 cm deep canvas has blue painted edges and can therefore also be displayed without a frame.

For me, Surface Current is a painting that becomes more interesting the longer you look at it. From across the room it is color. Up close, it is movement.