Week #42, Hello Yellow III

Untitled (Black Circle and Blue Oval with Orange and Yellow), 1984, watercolor and ink on paper, 5 ½” x 8 ½”.

This work is another example of the series of small works on paper Dusti Bongé created in the mid 1980s, that are all the same 5 ½” x 8 ½” dimensions. And again, it is an example of Dusti’s mastery of color featuring a rich, golden yellow.

Although the deep yellow wash in this piece may not be the dominant color, it nonetheless has a strong presence that sets the mood of the whole piece, which is warm yet soothing. It is complemented by the soft orange with which it forms a glowing background for the darker focal elements. The two colors loosely swirl around each other and these forms. While in other works the background continued through open, outlined forms, here the orange-yellow field does not continue through either of the shapes that are at the center of this composition.

The two predominant forms consist of an open circle outlined in bold black and purple brush strokes, and a narrow, ovoid shape outlined in a thin black line. The two are placed closely together and roughly centered on the page. Beyond being close together, they are also linked by a series of thin, horizontal, black ink marks that, although delicate, are very determined. These lines offer a degree of anchoring to the shapes floating in the color field. 

The circle is filled with green, pink, and bright yellow marks and dots, whereas the oval is a solidly dark blue. A third, minor player in this arrangement appears in the form of the small, random, black markings in the top right. Together with the black horizontal lines, they all add a feeling of energy and movement, which is just enough to pull the eye away from the main forms. 

The golden yellow in tandem with the orange lend a beautiful subtle glow to this overall dynamic composition.