Description
Water, 1974
Lithograph on Twinrocker
Signed Artist’s Proof with two printer’s chops (what’s the reason for this?)
Part of The Elements suite
22 x 30in. (image)
32.5 x 40.5 in. (frame)
original, includes certificate of authenticity from ArtTrust
The lithograph “Water” offers a visual meditation on the impermanence of thought and language. It was printed at Little Egypt Studios as a set and included “Fire”, “Air”, and “Earth”.This piece features a landscape filled with pastel hues, ranging from soft blues and purples to subtle earth tones. (Other plates of “Water” do not exhibit such deep coloring and in fact “Water” has the lightest soft-blue shading of all the plates in the set.)
Overlaid upon the backdrop is a complex network of geometric lines and shapes, including triangles, squares, and interconnected grid patterns. The scene appears divided into sections, evoking a sense of layered depth, while the faint organic textures within the lower part suggest hints of an abstracted terrain. The lines create a dynamic sense of movement, leading the eye through the composition and hinting at a conceptual or mathematical underpinning.
In Zen philosophy, simplicity and the appreciation of emptiness are valued. Here, the ethereal and translucent nature of the colors combined with the geometry suggest a balance between form and formlessness, between defined structures and the space around them. The piece can be viewed as a visual representation of mindfulness, where the lines symbolize thoughts in the mind’s landscape, intersecting but not fully enclosing any particular space. It encourages the viewer to embrace the present moment and the inherent beauty found in both structure and its absence.
The I Ching, or Book of Changes, might correlate this work with the hexagram ䷦ (Wei Ji – “Before Completion”), representing a state of transition and the process of change that is not yet finalized. The interconnected lines could symbolize the complexities of life’s pathways, where progress is made step by step, yet the outcome remains in flux. This interpretation aligns with the abstract forms in the artwork, suggesting that the viewer’s journey through the piece is one of gradual unfolding rather than immediate understanding.
The artwork may be seen as a meditation on the dualities of life—order and chaos, structure and fluidity. The geometric lines represent human attempts to impose order and understanding upon the natural world, while the textured background hints at the organic and uncontrollable aspects of existence. The piece invites contemplation on how we navigate life’s ambiguities, and whether the boundaries we draw are truly fixed or ever-changing.
This piece draws on influences from both geometric abstraction and the color field movement. Artists such as Paul Klee, who explored the interaction of color and line, or Wassily Kandinsky, known for merging spirituality with abstract shapes, come to mind. The use of delicate, transparent colors might also relate to the techniques employed by watercolorists who explore the subtleties of layered hues. The grid-like structure recalls the works of Piet Mondrian but with a softer, more fluid approach, bridging the gap between pure geometry and an expressive abstract landscape.
The combined approaches suggest the artist’s interest in merging mathematical precision with the inherent unpredictability of organic forms, possibly commenting on the tension between human-made systems and the natural world.
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Water is one in a suite of four hand printed lithographs (the others in the series are earth, fire, air) in an edition of 50 plus 10 Artist’s Proofs, color separation proofs, a bon a tierer, a printer’s proof, and archive impressions. Printed by master printer Dave Folkman at Little Egypt Enterprises in Houston. Each lithograph is pulled on a hand press from 10 aluminum plates drawn by Camblin. The paper is a custom edition of 300 sheets hand made for this edition by Twinrocker Mill. Suite originally published by Robert S. Lowe
“Water” was featured in his Yes Retrospective, in volume III of the series Bob Camblin N Compleat Workes, and in Sandra Jensen Rowland’s monograph, Bob Bilyeu Camblin – An Iconoclast in Houston’s Emerging Art Scene.
Reproductions of this drawing are available in multiple sizes!
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This artwork is available with a non-fungible token to ensure traceability and transparency of provenance.
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