Orange and Turquoise Abstract Painting: Wave over Cracked Earth by Surreal Media

At the top, a vibrant wave of orange, pink and gold curls around a core of deep cobalt blue, whilst at the bottom the image fades into a cracked, sun-baked plain of sand, white and ochre. Exactly where the two meet, the light bursts open into a fan of colour that seems to spread across the entire surface, with the occasional glimmer of gold caught within the texture.

That repetition of cracks, large and small, branching out across the entire lower section, reminded me of fractals: patterns that repeat themselves endlessly, from the large wave down to the finest crack in the earth. The inspiration came from a Mediterranean atmosphere – warm, earthy and dramatic all at once – the sort of combination in which stylists like to pair a strong colour accent with a calmer, earthy background.

Cobalt is cool, but the wave surrounding it glows so warmly that the whole piece still feels sunny and vibrant. That tension between fire and calm evokes joy, energy and, above all, a sense of wonder at how something so dynamic yet seems to find peace on the plain beneath it. It is precisely that feeling I wanted to capture: colour that energises you, a work in which to lose yourself time and time again.

The texture appears thick and rough, like sun-baked plaster with deep cracks and soft, smudged strokes running through it. This is a digital artwork, created to have that appearance, without any actual plaster, earth or paint being used.

In a living room, this piece provides a dramatic focal point; in a dining room, a talking point; and in a kitchen or office, a touch of Mediterranean warmth amidst calmer colours. Or take a look at: "Cadmium in Spiraal", "Olijf en Terracotta", "Kobalt in Vertakking", "Kobalt en Zand", "Opstijgend Terracotta" en "Nadering in Smaragd", works from the same series!