DRAWINGS: Red and Black

For this series of work, I have been inspired by the red and black that are common in so many aspects of Chinese culture, art and daily life. Red symbolizes good fortune, joy, fire and royalty. It permeates everything from holiday decorations to the chops that sign business documents and art pieces alike and black is known as the king of all colors and is used for calligraphy.

Like my paintings, these drawings are inspired, in part, by the vibrant and dynamic chaos of the city. A multitude of graphite, free flowing gestural lines, each crossing the picture plane, form the foundation of an organic algorithm that these pieces are built on.

Then, switching between red and black ink, I find new paths following the already created intersecting lines, building routes to further define the space of the chaotic grid. The cumulative activities weave themselves into a dense form where paths intersect and diverge. The finished drawings challenge the viewer to follow the lines or to see the fragements of space defined within each small area of the drawings.

Red and Black 42,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 42
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2024 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 41,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 41
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2024 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 40,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 40
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2024 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 39,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 39
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2024 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 38,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 38
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2024 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 37,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 37
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2024 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 36,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 36
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2024 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 35,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 35
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2024 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 34,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 34
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2024 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 33,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 33
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2023 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 32,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 32
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2023 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 31,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 31
graphite & ink on paper
17" x 11" (43cm x 28cm)
©2023 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 30,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 30
graphite & ink on paper
30" x 22" (76cm x 56cm)
©2017 All rights reserved.

Red and Black 29,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 28,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 27,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 26,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 25,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 23,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.

Red and Black 22,
an abstract linear pen and ink drawing by artist Nicholas Brown.