Datum (2026) Original Acrylic Painting by paul fowler

Datum

A datum is a point of reference—a fixed position from which relationships are measured, understood, and given meaning. In architecture, it provides an organizing principle, establishing a sense of order among otherwise independent elements. Yet in human experience, the points of reference we rely upon are rarely as fixed as we imagine.

Throughout life, we construct our understanding of the world through personal experiences, relationships, memories, and beliefs. These become the invisible structures against which we measure ourselves and others. What feels certain to one person may be entirely different to another, shaped by the emotional weight of individual experience.

In Datum, fragments of deep blue and red emerge from a field of muted yellow, interrupted by passages of gray and traces of earlier layers. The strong vertical presence of red suggests conviction and emotional intensity, while the smaller blue forms offer a contrasting sense of reflection and restraint. These elements occupy the same space yet remain distinct, held together by a surface that bears the evidence of change, interruption, and revision.

The painting considers how we establish meaning in a world where our points of reference are continually shifting. Rather than suggesting a single truth or fixed understanding, Datum reflects the emotional complexity of finding one's position among competing perceptions. What we believe to be stable may simply be the place from which we have learned to see.

Materials used:

Acrylic paint, cold wax medium, canvas, wood

Details:

• Acrylic painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 8 x 10 x 1.5" (unframed) / 8 x 10" (actual image size)
• Ready to hang
• Signed on the back
• Style: Organic
• Subject: Abstract and non-figurative