Ian Davenport: Colorfall

In his new body of work, Davenport questions how different chromatic weights can occupy a background, as well as the vertical rhythm achieved by compressing and interweaving colors of various widths. By utilizing a large syringe to drip acrylic paint onto aluminum and stainless steel panels, Davenport creates his celebrated studies of color with precision and elegance. The lyrical quality of the paintings is established by his careful balance of engineering and natural movement. Davenport allows gravity to pull the acrylic paint down the panel, whereupon he gently manipulates the bands of colors, but ultimately allows the liquid-nature of the paints to guide the creation. His control of the paintings becomes evident in the carefully composed series of colors that populate his paintings, which act as experiments in color relationships guided by Davenport’s intuition and mastery of the subject.