Red Twelve 1965

Thomas Downing made Red Twelve using acrylic on canvas. It's giving me color chart vibes, like a hardware store paint sample, but way more fun. The drill of artmaking is really present, as if Downing is saying, ‘I'm exploring red, twelve different ways.’ The painting feels so flat, almost like it’s printed, but then you get up close, and you see the subtle variations in each circle. Like, that one, second row, right side, how the paint seems to pool a bit at the edges, darker than the center. That’s where the hand sneaks in. Even with such a simple, geometric setup, there's room for the happy accidents that make painting so interesting. It makes me think of Ellsworth Kelly, the way he also made the simple act of viewing colour a source of endless fascination, but Downing brings a warmth and playfulness that feels unique to him. Ultimately, it’s these ambiguities that keep us looking.