Artist Alan Brain’s abstract piece, “A Curious Sadness,” is a masterclass in simplicity and emotion. Two bold shapes in electric blue and deep red evoke a sense of curiosity and melancholy, while subtle details draw the eye. This is my personal interpretation – I wonder, what do you see?
An artist friend, Alan Brain, recently shared his latest painting on Facebook, playfully asking for title suggestions. I was captivated immediately. It amazed me how such a seemingly simple image could stir such strong emotions in me. I commented that I wasn’t sure what to call it, but it gave me a sense of “curious sadness.” Alan took that to heart and named the piece “A Curious Sadness.”
The painting itself is striking. It features two bold shapes set against a dark background – an electric blue form that tilts slightly, reminiscent of an eye (to me), and a deep red ‘S’ shape that seems to coil with curiosity. The connection between these shapes and colours drew me in. How can just one line evoke such a profound feeling?
At first glance, “A Curious Sadness” seems simple: two colours, two main shapes. But as with all good art, there’s more beneath the surface. Towards the bottom, there’s a subtle detail – a vague blue shape, a figure?, a small red-pink rectangle, and the only straight-edged element in the composition. It almost feels like a hidden story.
Alan once taught me a valuable lesson about art: “A little and a lot.” This painting embodies that beautifully. The bold contrast between the blue and red is softened by the soft flash of pink, and the curves dominate, save for that lone straight line grounding the picture. Even when I viewed it through a notanizer (a tool that reduces an image to light and dark values), I was struck by how subtle the contrasts are. The painting doesn’t shout its message; it whispers, and that makes it all the more powerful.
Of course, art is subjective. This is simply what I see and feel when I look at Alan’s work. I don’t know what he intended, and that’s the beauty of it – everyone will bring their own story. For me, “A Curious Sadness” is a reminder that sometimes, the simplest shapes can stir the deepest feelings1.
What do you see? But more importantly, what do you feel? Let me know below!
Link to Alan’s website: A Curious Sadness.
Footnote:
1. This has given me an idea for next weeks blog post, so look out for that 🙂
Ailsa Brims Art 
Wonderful ♥️
A wonderfully insightful review of this striking piece. Beyond its aesthetically pleasing soft simplicity, the dark blue shape evokes for me the idea of an eye gazing into the beyond, with the viewer positioned behind a veil of separation—one likely of their own making. Emotionally, it stirs a sense of sadness or longing—perhaps a quiet yearning to step beyond the veil.
This is what I love about great art, it is open to individual interpretation. ❤️