Safe Haven

Safe Haven is a minimal abstract composition using rust, navy, white and black acrylic paints on a canvas which surface is covered with cracking paste.

Samuel is inspired by the current rust and deep red colour trend in interior design and wanted to create a modernist painting incorporating this colour. Samuel layered paint over paint trying to find a composition he was happy with, despite drafting a few ideas before putting paint to canvas.

Finally, after deciding to scale back from the excessive shapes and shades of colour that he was using, Safe Haven was created.

The red shape that dominates the canvas resembles a structure in the distance, while the white and blue sky above the structure offers a cooler area to rest ones eyes. The solid black and navy patches that span the base and top of the canvas visually breaks up the painting while creating areas of perspective (foreground) or negative space.

The shapes on the composition lead Samuel to name this painting Safe Haven. The structure could resemble a place of sanctuary, although reductively, the colour red is used to symbolise danger or threat.

Safe Haven is fixed in a white stained oak frame which measures 93.5cm x 93.5cm x 4cm while the canvas itself measures 90cm x 90cm. There is a gap between the canvas and frame to show the canvas’ painted edges.