Exploring Circles: Evolving from Straight Lines
"Inviting the circle onto my canvas has opened up so much new artistic territory."
From Straight Lines to Circles: A New Direction
For nearly 15 years, I practiced and perfected a style characterized by straight lines - a style that deeply resonates with me.
But while consistency is important for deep artistic exploration, I eventually reached a point where the limits of those lines began to feel too narrow. The desire to go beyond appeared. But what happens when you step outside your comfort zone and venture into new means of expression? In this post, I will explore how I recently invited the smooth curves of the circle onto my canvas. But first, let’s look at the appeal of my point of departure - the straight lines.
The Origins of My Straight Lines
I first became fascinated with straight lines years ago, at a time when I became intensely interested in painting space. This shift began after receiving some unexpected feedback from a rather taciturn art teacher at a summer course in 2009. At the time, my work was highly figurative, often depicting people in scenes like bars or cafes. However, the teacher showed little interest in the figures. Instead, he pointed to the backgrounds of my paintings and suggested I explore those further.
Below are examples of my early, figurative work. The painting to the far left shows the play with space and perspective, which the teacher encouraged me to explore further.
I took his advice and began to focus on the spaces in the background. I was amazed by how little it took to create a sense of space - with just a few lines and minimal color, an entire room or a suggestion of one could emerge. Gradually, I reduced the elements in my paintings, eventually arriving at a minimalist style that I felt was a more sophisticated form of expression. It was a key turning point in my artistic maturation. Below are a few early examples.
Motherhood and The Artistic Shift
Of course, much has happened since then, artistically and otherwise, but let’s fast-forward to the focus of this post - the artistic shift towards circles. The inspiration for this shift came from a very different kind of teacher.
In 2023, I became a mother, and motherhood turned my world upside down in the best possible way, introducing an immense sense of empathy and a fascination with seeing the world from my daughter’s perspective. When she was just a few months old, I noticed that her gaze would sometimes drift to the paintings hanging behind me, particularly to Beach House with Blue Sky.
Curious, I began reading about the visual development of babies. I learned that newborns are initially attracted to straight lines and sharp contrasts, and that red is the first color they can distinguish. No wonder she took a liking to Beach House with Blue Sky!
As babies grow, their visual attention shifts toward circular shapes, still preferring high-contrast imagery like black-and-white bullseye patterns. Inspired by my daughter’s visual development and her interest in my work, I felt a growing urge to create paintings that would continue to captivate her as she matured. And so I started to paint circles.
At first, my attempts were not very successful, and time to work was scarce, with a newborn to care for. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon a circular motif from my vacation-themed universe - the red-and-white-striped life ring - that things started to fall into place.
Initially, I painted the life ring in my usual solid-color style, but I soon became intrigued by a more realistic approach. I began to experiment with gradients, creating space within the painting not through lines, but through shading. This new technique inspired me to work with colors in a new, more intuitive way, which has been incredibly inspiring.
Working with the circle has also inspired me to work with perspective in a new way. While the life rings and swim rings above take a kind of bird’s-eye view, my Celestial Circle series experiment with the reverse perspective: Looking straight up into the sky.
The Circle as a Symbol and a Painterly Challenge
As I continued to work with the circle, I found myself reflecting on the deeper significance of this shape. My starting point - the life ring - evoked a mix of ironic and sincere symbolism. On one hand, the life ring represents safety; a tool cast to rescue those in need. As a “newborn mother swimming in the deep end”, this was perhaps exactly what I needed! On the other hand, the circle itself began to take on a more profound meaning for me: the idea of perfection, infinity, and the notion that life is not linear, but cyclical.
The actual painting of the circles has also been both a challenge and a joy. While looking at circles creates a smooth, flowing experience, painting them requires a steady hand and intense focus. While a straight line is defined by its endless forward movement, a circle is constant yet ever-changing, representing a completely different task in painterly technique. To paint a perfect circle, each segment must connect harmoniously with the whole. While I use a ruler to help guide the sketch, the actual painting must be done freehand. It requires a level of concentration that feels meditative and is unlike anything I’ve experienced while painting straight lines.
Circles have also given me the freedom to step outside my usual vacation-themed universe and delve into more abstract territory. The swim ring remains recognizable for those who seek it, but it can also be seen as something else entirely - a doughnut, a portal, or just a beautiful shape.
Stepping Outside My “Circle of Comfort”
I’m grateful that my audience has responded so positively to this new direction in my work. It is always a bit intimidating to step outside your comfort zone, so I am truly happy that although some viewers have noted a shift in my style, they still recognize my artistic voice in these new pieces.
On a personal level, this change has opened many new doors for artistic experimentation and growth. I credit my daughter for giving me the courage to take this leap, not only because I wanted to create something that would continue to intrigue her, but also because her own fearless curiosity inspired me to explore new artistic territory. It has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve made as an artist.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Journey
As I continue to explore the world of circles, I’m excited to see where this journey will take me. The circle is such a versatile shape, found in so many fascinating contexts - from golf balls to celestial bodies - and I feel inspired to explore how movement and energy can be captured on the otherwise still canvas. In many ways, this exploration is a continuation of my earlier work, pushing the boundaries of space and form while still expressing myself emotionally and artistically.
Note: Some of the paintings mentioned in this post are not yet available on my website, but they will be released in an upcoming launch. If you’d like to be the first to know about release dates and receive updates on new works, upcoming exhibitions, and my artistic journey, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. Stay connected and follow along as I continue to evolve and experiment with new forms of expression.
