Thersites (Chastened) 2012

Ron Gorchov made 'Thersites (Chastened)' using a muted palette and simplified forms, embracing a kind of process-oriented simplicity. It reminds me of the early, almost childlike explorations we all do when we first pick up a brush. The surface texture is key here; you can almost feel the slight drag of the brush across the support. The pinkish-mauve background feels almost like a wash, setting off the solid shapes of ivory and deep blue. Look at how the ivory shape on the left seems to glow against the more matte ground, drawing your eye in. The blue shape anchors the composition, a counterpoint to the lighter, softer form. There's an interesting conversation happening here between surface and depth, flatness and form. It makes me think of Forrest Bess, another artist who wasn’t afraid to push the boundaries of what painting could be. Art’s at its best when it leaves room for questions, not just answers.