It’s time for the second in my ‘minimalist makers’ series, which showcases the work of independent artisans and craftspeople across a range of different categories. Today’s focus is art – and more specifically, art for the wall.
There are so many talented artists out there, and I had real problems narrowing down the below list to make this post a manageable length! I’m already planning a follow-up featuring more people a few months down the line, and I’m going to do separate round-ups covering sculpture and photography. But for this instalment, I’ve concentrated on putting together a selection that covers a range of different styles and mediums, with the aim of showing just how varied minimalist art can be. I’ve also included artists who sell original works, prints or both, so I hope you can find something beautiful for your walls, no matter what your budget…
Anna F Macdonald
London-based Anna F Macdonald explores the importance of negative space in her work, prompting the observer to pause and meditate. Using a variety of materials, she begins by referencing something tangible, be it observed or recollected, and gradually strips away non-essential aspects to leave only the gestural marks. The results are understated yet wonderfully expressive, often combining monochrome elements with flashes of colour. Her acrylic, watercolour and ink ‘Blaenau Ffestiniog’ series, depicting the striking landscapes around the Welsh slate-mining town of the same name, is particularly beautiful; other works were inspired by travels in France and New Zealand, or by the movement of birds and clouds. Original pieces and preparatory sketches are available from Anna’s website, and she accepts commissions. Her Instagram feed is also well worth following for a fascinating insight into her processes.
Images by Anna F Macdonald
Of Visual Forms
The work of Kelly Jay, founder of UK multidisciplinary creative studio Of Visual Forms, brings together form, materials and tactility, and is inspired by non-literal shapes, architecture and everyday objects. Interestingly, Kelly has studied both fine art and interior design, and her approach considers how artworks will sit alongside other elements within a space and enhance daily rituals around the home. I recently covered her first collection – a stunning rag-paper collage series called ‘Surfaces 0.1’ – and it’s since been joined by ‘Interconnected’, which consists of black and white acrylic-on-canvas compositions that explore how forms interact with each other. Both can be purchased via Kelly’s webshop and you can see behind the scenes on Instagram.
Images by Kelly Jay
Emilie Van Camp
London-based Belgian painter Emilie Van Camp focuses on simplicity and tranquility, and her abstract watercolours are beautifully poetic. She has previously spent time living in the Scottish Highlands and the Peak District and their landscapes often influence her work, as do frequent travels in Japan – a country which has long held a draw, and where she’s taken part in several exhibitions. I’m sure everyone will see something different in her expressive brush strokes and soothing shades of grey and blue – to me, they speak of forests, rivers and rocky mountains, and I find them incredibly calming to look at. Fine-art prints are available from her Etsy shop and are also stocked at several galleries in the UK and Japan. And if you want to find out more about Emilie’s creative journey, take a look at this interview from 2018.
Images by Emilie Van Camp and Quentin Ferrier
Beatrice Felicki
German artist Beatrice Felicki lives and works on the Baltic island of Rügen and takes her cue from the coastal scenery that surrounds her. Her monochromatic pastel drawings are characterised by beautiful depth and graduation, evoking ever-changing light, rolling mists, foggy horizons and those wonderful days when sea and sky seemingly merge into one. She often uses techniques such as masking and blurring to create abstract yet highly atmospheric effects, and describes her work as reflecting her ‘oneness with the sea and need for simplicity and reduction’. Visit her website to buy prints and original drawings, and take a look at her Instagram feed here.
Images by Beatrice Felicki
Melissa Selmin
Cardiff-based Melissa Selmin worked as a print designer for large retailers before launching her own range. Her fine-art creations begin life as original drawings, paintings or collages and are often inspired by her Chinese-Italian dual heritage. Her work is incredibly diverse, covering everything from abstract swirls to hand-painted flowers and figures, but her minimalist style and soft tones are instantly recognisable. I particularly love the fluid brush strokes and warm hues of her ‘Forma’ collection and the soothing watercolour landscapes of the ‘Serenity’ series, but every composition is beautiful. Melissa’s prints are available via her webshop; she also has a blog where she shares the creative processes behind her art and her other work as a product stylist.
Images by Melissa Selmin
Hayley McCrirrick
Scottish artist Hayley McCrirrick studied textiles and set up her own studio in 2018. Working from a converted coach house in the grounds of a country estate, she uses cloth and paper to produce creations that are rooted in the landscape and irrelevant to time. Much of her inspiration comes from the surrounding lochs, hills and forests, as well as Japanese and Korean minimalism and traditional craft techniques. Her work includes screen-printed linen awash with deep indigo blue or earthy reds and browns, striking black and ecru compositions, and refined yet evocative line drawings in charcoal, conte crayon or Indian ink. Visit her website to buy prints and original drawings and request a catalogue of other available pieces.
Images by Hayley McCrirrick
Ida Vikfors
Originally from Finland but now living in Västra Götaland, Sweden, Ida Vikfors has long been fascinated by different textures and materials. Her background in pattern design and artisan textiles is evident in her three-dimensional plaster-and-canvas artworks, which are minimalist at first glance but reveal hidden detail the more closely you look. I love the way they’re intended to change, with shapes and shadows that shift according to the light and the viewer’s mood. Ida describes them as ‘tactile and almost a bit fragile’, and they certainly have a wonderful delicacy about them despite the rough, durable surface. You can buy originals from Alium in Copenhagen (international shipping is available) and prints from Wall of Art.
Images via Alium
Maria Leinonen
Based in the rural Swedish region of Österlen (one of my favourite parts of Scandinavia), Maria Leinonen creates beautifully atmospheric paintings awash with depth and texture. She’s often inspired by people who follow their dreams and describes art as an escape that allows her to let go and disappear into her own world. Some of her works feature misty greys and whites; others moody petroleum blue or dusky pink. To me they evoke stormy skies, changing light and dramatic landscapes, but I love the way they’re open to individual interpretation – you could easily lose yourself for hours gazing at them. Original paintings are available from Maria’s website and prints from The Poster Club; you’ll also find her on Instagram.
Images via Maria Leinonen and The Poster Club
Adam Watts
South London artist and designer Adam Watts has a background in installation art, but his simple yet striking paintings are what caught my eye. Each composition is made from strips of canvas, which are soaked in multiple washes of oil paint and then wrapped across a canvas stretcher. The results are bars of vibrant blue and yellow, often offset by crisp white and black and framed in waxed ash. They’re available from Artists & Objects – an online store which he founded to celebrate the work of independent makers and which features art, textiles, lighting, ceramics, furniture (some created by Adam himself) and more. Giclée prints and bespoke versions can be ordered, too.
Images via Artists & Objects
Nord Projects
Josefin Holmen of Gothenburg art studio Nord Projects has a distinctive aesthetic that combines simplicity with organic curves, flowing shapes and muted colours. Her main sources of inspiration are the human body and nature, and she aims to capture the imperfections, relationships and emotions of day-to-day life. Current collections include the ‘Swim Project, a series of paintings inspired by women on summer holidays; the ‘Simple Project’, which features minimalist yet expressive line drawings; and the ‘Statement Project’, a group of abstract works defined by confident brush strokes. Prints can be purchased via the Nord Projects website and The Poster Club, and Josefin is happy to discuss individual commissions.
Images via Nord Projects
Photography as credited above; top image via The Poster Club and Nord Projects
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