Quilt 1963

Thomas Downing made this painting, Quilt, with careful, considered marks of layered colour. Imagine the meditative act of dabbing colour, row by row, to create this grid. You can sense the artist's patience and steady hand in the making of this geometric design. The cool greens and clean whites soften the oranges and yellows, creating a visually harmonious whole. The density of the circles increases towards the centre, which flattens the composition and almost makes the image glow from within. You can see how the colours vibrate against each other. I wonder if, while making this, Downing was inspired by Op Art of the 1960s, the patterns of fabric design or the pointillist paintings of Seurat? One thing is certain: this painting invites you to slow down and notice the subtle shifts and rhythms of color. It’s a reminder that art is often about process, and that the act of making can be as important as the final product.