Untitled from the Shapes of Colour 1978

This screenprint by Patrick Heron is made up of bold horizontal lines, in red, yellow and green. What was Heron thinking when he laid down these marks, one on top of the other? It's interesting to consider the process of screenprinting; pushing the ink through the mesh with a squeegee, the slight imperfections at the edges of each colour, and how the colours interact with each other. The red feels warm and inviting, while the green is cool and calming. That one bar of yellow, like a stripe of sunshine. The overall effect is one of balance and harmony, a testament to Heron's skill as a colourist. The horizontality reminds me of Barnett Newman, but here the touch is different, with the handmade feel of the brushstrokes in the print. Artists like Heron are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.