graphic design, art, typography and architecture

I recently discovered the work of the Montreal-born artist Julie Gross. Her paintings are fluid and calming, and although the compositions are what might be described as pop, the colours and tones are not. There are some lessons in colour theory to be learned from her work. Her work really shines when several pieces are displayed within the same space - I think if you were buying her work, you’d best off take at least two pieces (more if your pocket permits). Though there is a common theme running through just about all her work, you’ll never tire of the subtle variations.

Images Copyright © Julie Gross.

This is what the artist has to say about her work:

Drawing precedes painting in my art. Since 1998 I have been using compasses to choreograph a network of circular forms, originally based on a sine wave or ’s’ curve. These play with my interest in centrifugal/centripetal forces, in edges that set up tension as well as flow. Symmetry and other sets at times reference echo, reflection and establish pattern. As forms expand and contract, interconnect and vie for dominance, the drawing serves as an extension of my breath, setting up a kind of dance that pulsates across the surface. Circles remain or morph into other shapes until an overall web of ‘bubble slices’ exists.

You can see more of the artist’s work on her website here.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of the French artist (now living in the UK) Frederique Swist. She creates some wonderful images taking her cue/inspiration from the world of Physics (she works for the Institute of Physics Publishing as senior designer), sub-atomic particle collisions and the like. You can see some of Fred’s work here on the Institute of Physics Publishing’s web site. And you can reach her here: fred.swist@iop.org

This image is inspired by a Poincaré section showing classic phase space for an atomic momentum distribution. (don’t ask me!) Well, I just Wikipedia’d it and learned:

In mathematics, particularly in dynamical systems, a first recurrence map or Poincaré map, named after Henri Poincaré, is the intersection of a periodic orbit in the state space of a continuous dynamical system with a certain lower dimensional subspace, called the Poincaré section, transversal to the flow of the system.

…and I’m none the wiser. However, I do like the art that’s been inspired by the above!