Visible, Invisible, Veiled

'Visible, Invisible, Veiled’ began in 2015 when broken grids appeared unexpectedly in a painting inspired by Virginia Woolf’s first novel ‘The Voyage Out'.

Voyage Out Land and Sea is full of rich reds, vibrant yellows and a multitude of blues. There are many circles representing the sun and the moon. The bottom two thirds of the canvas is covered in the shape of a blue aqueduct - or waves? More broken grids appear at the base. This significant painting started Ruth's Visible, Invisible, Veiled series exploring these broken grids. Oil on canvas, 100 x 100cm.

The ‘Voyage Out: Land and Sea’ led directly to ‘In a state of osmosis’, the first painting exploring natures broken grids.

At the time I wrote in my journal:

'And there is also the thought that the grids represent a veil - allowing glimpses beneath, whilst also distorting and hiding, shading, holding back. Is this something to do with the spirit - which is unseen and yet its presence is felt, known, acknowledged and simultaneously hidden from view?’

In a state of osmosis is an abstract artwork by Ruth Dent. The first in the Visible, Invisible, Veiled series. An oil on canvas in yellow, blue, green and red with multiple layers of broken grids.

I am invisible is an abstract artwork by Ruth Dent. The pale peach, lime green and orange oil paints were poured over the canvas and moved around whilst wet to give a layered and in places a grid-like effect.

Buff titanium, pinks, reds and copper swirl around in Moon Dance, an abstract painting in acrylic on Moulin de Larroque handmade paper. 84 x 84cm.

Charcoal 1 is an abstract artwork which started with charcoal marks which have had layers of organic gridlines layered over - in yellow, pale to dark green and blue. These colours created several intense pools. A final red grid holds the piece together. 50 x 50cm acrylic on Moulin de Larroque handmade paper.

These paintings celebrate life, nature, the feminine and the spirit, aiming to capture the exhilaration of connection through colour, gesture and material.

Sun on my face

Wind pushing back my hair

I imagine levitating

And then dissipating

Into the green

Of the air

Ruth Dent A Glad Day 50 x 50cm acrylic on Moulin de Larroque Paper

Brilliant vermilion, carmine and yellow appear as organic broken grids over an olive green background in this abstract artwork. In places the colours have pooled and mixed to orange and purple. Flambeaux is a 50 x 50cm acrylic on handmade Moulin de Larroque paper.

Ruth Dent Reticulation 50 x 50cm acrylic on Moulin de Larroque Paper

Nature is full of broken grids. Walking in the woods I observe their changing colours and appearance, asking ‘is nature hiding’ and ‘what is nature hiding’, as well as considering whether “a broken grid relates to breaking out?”.

Les Libellules, an acrylic on canvas painting by Ruth Dent, inspired by dragonflies on the River Lot. A moving, watery background in greys and pale golds is covered with lines in blue, red and turquoise - the dragonflies, flitting over the surface. On top, broken grids formed from rich gold and copper frame the image. 183 x 183cm. Contemporary abstract art.

What am I?

Skimming o’er the mirror,

Glimmers of light,

Iridescent rainbows,

Dancing in flight.

Hovering o’er the surface,

Cavorting left and right,

Dazzling jewels,

A beguiling sight.

Skimming o’er the mirror,

Dancing in the light,

Iridescent rainbows,

Glimmering in flight

… a dragonfly

Pathways 2 is a layered acrylic painting with shapes like stepping stones in mottled greys, greens and blues. Inspired by walking in the woods and stepping on ancient stones in cathedrals, temples and stupas. 84 x 84cm on Moulin de Larroque paper

In these later paintings within the series, pathways appeared: through the forest, around a stupa or within a labyrinth, referencing memories of Ajanta (India) and Chartres (France).

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Visible, Invisible, Veiled

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