Spotlight Artist

Ian Etter

Midwest
Artist profile photo

Thin Aqua

Graphic of a stylized black and yellow vase with blue accents on a white background.

acrylic ink and colored pencil on paper

Blush Ochre

Abstract geometric shapes in orange, black, and beige with white irregular patches.

acrylic ink and colored pencil on paper

Gold Ochre

Abstract geometric shapes in black, green, and yellow with curved and rectangular forms.

acrylic ink and colored pencil on paper

Featured in New American Paintings1 / 3

Artist Statement

 I draw inspiration from the designs adorning classical Greek vases, with their intricate patterns and minimalist palette, which find support in the mathematical underpinnings governing their design. Proportional relationships and geometric configurations serve as the guiding principles, ensuring a harmonious interplay of surface and form. Recognizing the inherent power of these principles, I harness and expand on them.

I begin these drawings by combining digital sketches and AI-generated imagery, then layer, merge, and reduce them to a single image. I faithfully re-render the digital compositions on paper using colored pencil and ink. The duality of the exterior silhouette and soft interior geometry serves as a visual bridge between the fluidity of touch and the visual precision of the depicted subject.

At the heart of my creative exploration lies a refined appreciation of the power of simplicity. I reduce my compositions to their essential elements through sparse yet deliberate frameworks. In my practice, I aspire to foster an engaging visual dialogue that transcends temporal boundaries and seamlessly weaves together the past and the present.

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