Beyond the Blue and Into the Red

As a synesthete, Patterson sees color and shape when she hears music. While she uses this attribute often in the creation of her orchestral and opera designs, she also turns to it in her painting practice. Each of these paintings is inspired by a specific musical composition. For instance the blue painting in row one (far right) is inspired by John Adam’s Harmonielehre, the red and orange painting in bottom row left is painted in response to Steve Reich’s Clapping Music, and Stravinsky’s Symphony in C inspired the painting in the bottom row right. Patterson arranges her paintings so that they speak to each other and become their own composition of color, shape and movement. 

Anne Patterson
Beyond the Blue and Into the Red, 2014
watercolor and ink
43.5 x 31.5 inches