Terry Winters

"Double Gravity," 1984, is the piece of art posted above. It was painted by Terry Winters, and reminds me of the geodesic paintings that we did as our first piece in basic painting. Winters' shapes in "Double Gravity" are not overwhelmingly intricate, but most of them do seem to have a defined space, particularly the largest form, at the top of the page. I think what makes this form seem the most solid is Winters' use of paint, layering it on heavier in some of the segments, while leaving others a paler yellow. The parts painted with an impasto-like technique have more weight, seeming to sink further back.

What I like most about "Double Gravity" however is Winters' resolution of the background. While the forms do not seem to be sitting on a surface, the lower left being brown instead of the grey or white does serve to ground the painting. The darker segments surrounding some of the forms add interest to the background, and serve to break up the rest of the white. Finally, I like how the whiteness of the background is not constant, as it fills the space around the forms, and keeps the viewer's eye moving around the painting. As I personally struggle with backgrounds, I think I could learn something from Winters' handling of hers.