I am having a love affair with red at the moment. Maybe it’s a winter thing.
As I indulge myself cruising around artstack, pinterest, and the bulging folders of artworks on my hard drive – works saved over many years, just-in-case – I notice my heart reaching out towards those pieces that are unashamedly vibrant with red, red, red – red a hundred ways; in every language red’s wild energy makes human beings stop, sit up, and most often, smile. (Oh yes, I’m aware of the connections this colour can have with anger and frustration, but for most of us, it’s the colour of life.) Here are a few favourites that get my smile muscles going and make my heart happy.
Henri Matisse – The Red Studio, 1911
Museum of Modern Art, New York City
Colin McCahon – Ahipara, 1970
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Georgia O’Keeffe – Black Door with Red, 1954
Chrysler Museum of Art, Ghent, Virginia
Deborah Barlow – Colasee
Fabienne Verdier – Shen (La Quintessence)
Jean Miro – Paysage
Diane Foug – Red
Mark Rothko – Untitled (Red), 1958
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Emily Mason – Slipped Beyond, 2009
Shane Drinkwater – Red 2
Do you have favourite red paintings? How do they affect you? If you’re an artist, do you work with strong reds?
I’ve only played with red in a small way – when I was working with dyes on silk. Oh the lustre of red silk! (Interestingly, one of those pieces won a National award.)
I can feel a reunion with RED coming on: watch this space.
miriam louisa simons 
Emily Mason hits me right in the gut – or hits…more breathes into it – so sensitive, oh my…will be watching your red fancies 🙂
Emily’s work is so sensuous – yes, I feel it work in my gut too Nina. Thanks for your comment. x
I found myself reaching for this to give to you *smiles*.
– sonmi upon the Cloud
What a magician you are dear Cloud-Dancer-Dweller … may you be be showered with rose petals … ❤
Loved drinking in all the red. Thanks for sharing a collection of such beautiful artworks. Mx
Aren’t they good medicine? I’m glad you enjoyed them too Melinda. 🙂
Oh Miriam! Such magnificent works you’ve chosen. Also, thank you for introducing me to some of these artists’ work I hadn’t been familiar with previously, such as Deborah Barlow and Diane Foug. I would LOVE to see what you choose to create w/ the color red! I’m sure it will be equally as stunning as all your other lovely pieces. 🙂
Thank you for visiting dear Patricia – and for your enthusiastic comment. I’m delighted to have introduced you to Deborah Barlow, whom I count among my dearest friends and whose work is sublime. I came across Diane Foug by chance, when rebuilding this site for “responsiveness” across devices – her use of the Sketch Theme was inspiring, as is her work.
Red is stewing in the studio. I am loving its energy on these chilly days. Several pieces are in progress, but it’s too early to show yet!
By the way, I really love your new work – your use of faux ivory is both technically exquisite and conceptually important. (Nods while clapping hands.)