Paige Ring

Paige Ring is a self-taught abstract expressionist painter living in Toronto, ON. Her work is inspired by minimalism, aesthetically and functionally.

Artist Statement:

"I studied historic costume design at Dalhousie University, then went on to study and work in fashion design. Cloth was the first medium I truly learned to appreciate. Using just a roll of all white canvas, I could layer, pleat, fold, drape, and ultimately turn it into a really complex piece of art. It really developed my appreciation for how complex simple things can be, and this is a perspective I've learned to seek in my fine art practice.

With markmaking, many textured layers, and organic shapes I apply the minimal complexity thought process to paint. Each time I looked at a piece, I wanted to feel something different, something that I didn't even intend while creating. Slowing down to focus and appreciate how complex simple things can be is really important to me, and my work, and I hope those who view my work feel the same.

You'll see in my work there's a lot of bold gestural strokes, poured paint, and layering of organic marks and scrapes weaving through. I often use a limited palette with just a few colours. Colour tells a story all on its own, the technique of how the colour is applied, smooth and soft vs bold and loose, gives that story life.

I paint mostly in acrylic and ink, but also resin, pastel and collage to create texture and depth. Although I use brushes, they aren't my first tool of choice. A palette knife, squeegee or another type of scraping tool would be my first choice. My inspiration comes from everywhere, but my drive to paint comes from the need to escape the realities of the world, to retreat into a playful, imaginary place where I can be less structured."