James Iannone

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About  

Soft Pastel Series


I was trying to minimally manipulate space as dynamically as I could. With harsh masked edges creating tension in the fabricated space referring to Ellsworth Kelly and other hard edge artists. 

Hard edges are a starting point as well as an end. A black hole isn’t the end, it’s also a beginning. A portal. 

The flowing lines are a reaction to different scientific processes that deal with electro-magnetic fields, fluid dynamics, and biological systems that deal with a lot of energy exchanges like membrane transference. The energy is never lost. It carries on in different states. Lending itself to another field of vision while itself not changing. A catalyst. 

While trying to limit myself to one hard line with masking tape and a limited palette of mostly soft pastels. I’m tempted to experiment with crossing media and other chemicals in my work, so limiting my self to soft pastels some of which I made, I can see a simple moment of pure connection to the work. Without added layers and levels of material and concepts or references to get in the way. Just pure mark making and a simple thought to guide me. 

I was improvising all along the way. With a light touch, reacting to the previous marks and decisions being made. Open to how the drawing led me down a path of more questions. 


©1987—2023

Providence, Rhode Island