Tinder II

Tina Bluefield

60” x 36”

Oil and oil bar on canvas

Tinder II is a layered oil painting that investigates accumulation, mark-making, and the quiet intensity of the repeated gesture. The surface is built from countless linear strokes, each subtly varied in pressure, angle, and color. Together, these marks form a dense, vibrating composition that feels meditative and electric.

Bluefield’s approach emphasizes the relationship between repetition and perception. While each mark is similar in structure, their subtle variations create a nuanced composition that shifts as the viewer moves through space. The layered oil bar lines contribute a tactile dimension, catching and diffusing light to produce a natural luminosity across the surface. The title Tinder II evokes the faint beginnings of ignition echoed in the warm palette and the rhythm of the marks.

Tinder II situates Bluefield within a lineage of artists who used repetition to explore time, labor, and interiority. The work recalls the meditative mark-making of Agnes Martin, the gestural accumulations of Cy Twombly, and the rhythmic density found in postminimalist abstraction.

The piece highlights how rhythm emerges through the smallest gestures. Rather than using bold lines or overt patterning, Bluefield cultivates rhythm through the accumulation of gesture, building a quiet, insistent vibration. The painting’s layered surface invites repeated return, revealing new details with every viewing.

Tinder II stands as a testament to Bluefield’s ability to transform simple marks into a resonant field of rhythm, warmth, and subtle ignition.