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Artworks
Ric Evans Canadian, 1946-2025
Natural Momentum, 1993oil on canvas14.75 x 14.75 insigned and dated bottom rightCurrency:Further images
Ric Evans’ Natural Momentum is a bold geometric abstraction defined by luminous colour fields and controlled spatial tension. The composition is structured around a grid-like underlay, visible through subtle horizontal...Ric Evans’ Natural Momentum is a bold geometric abstraction defined by luminous colour fields and controlled spatial tension. The composition is structured around a grid-like underlay, visible through subtle horizontal and vertical divisions that organise the surface without rigidly containing it.
A saturated field of ultramarine and cobalt blue dominates the painting, animated by vertical veils and streaks that suggest motion or gravity pulling pigment downward. The blue ground shifts in tonality from deep midnight to electric azure, creating depth within what first appears to be a flat plane.
Across this dynamic blue field, Evans introduces strong red geometric forms — a trapezoid hovering near the upper centre, and several elongated, angled bars descending through the lower half. These red elements are opaque and tactile, their brushwork clearly visible, providing a warm counterpoint to the cool expanse behind them. A narrow white vertical form near the lower left introduces a sharp, luminous accent, breaking the chromatic dialogue and heightening contrast.
The painting balances structure and fluidity: the underlying grid implies order, while the bleeding vertical passages and angled red forms introduce momentum and directional energy. In Natural Momentum, Evans demonstrates his characteristic interplay between geometry and atmospheric movement — a controlled abstraction where colour, form, and rhythm converge in a carefully calibrated visual tension.
Provenance
- Malcom Welch Gallery, Ottawa
- Estate of Tom Vance