Hamburg-based artist Annette Mewes-Thoms uses the line as her theme when creating energetic and flowing images. Discover how she works the line into her drawings, paintings and photography by visiting her website.
!["Lines H9" Varnish on Canvas, 70cm x 60cm by artist Annette Mewes-Thoms. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LINES-H9_-Varnish-on-Canvas-_-60x70-cm_-2016.jpg)
“Lines H9” Varnish on Canvas, 70cm x 60cm
Because I grew up on the German coast of the North Sea, I played a lot in and with water. I love it, but I also know the dangers that can emanate from it. As a child I was often evacuated when storm floods came.
!["Lines 25" Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm by artist Annette Mewes-Thoms. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LINES-25-_-Varnish-on-Canvas_30x40x2.5-cm_-2015.jpg)
“Lines 25” Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm
For many years I was looking for a way to paint the nature of water without illustrating it. Water is movement—flow and energy—with the line characteristics the same. Therefore, I reduced the forms and shapes I used in my paintings more and more until just the line was left.
!["Lines 109" Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm by artist Annette Mewes-Thoms. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LINES-109_Varnish-on-Canvas_30x40x2.5-cm_2017.jpg)
“Lines 109” Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm
After a few years the “Line” became my new theme.
!["Lines 111" Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm by artist Annette Mewes-Thoms. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LINES-111_Varnish-on-Canvas_40x30x2.5-cm_2017.jpg)
“Lines 111” Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm
At first I placed lines close together and watched their wavelike moving and wavy shifts. Soon afterwards I intersected the lines to create latticed-like structures.
!["Lines 113" Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm by artist Annette Mewes-Thoms. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LINES-113_Varnish-on-Canvas_40x30x2.5_2017.jpg)
“Lines 113” Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm
Today, I am working with a new concept. I start each work with an intuitively placed line to which I align all of the following lines. I then build up several layers of lines. By layering lines I create a condensing as well as an overlap. This is what I call “visual sensations” because the layering creates a shimmering effect.
!["Lines 114" Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30" by artist Annette Mewes-Thoms. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LINES-114_Varnish-on-Canvas_40x30x2.5-cm_2017.jpg)
“Lines 114″ Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30”
While working, I find myself in a state of both excitement and meditation.
!["Lines 123" Acrylic on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm by artist Annette Mewes-Thoms. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Lines-123_Acrylic-on-Canvas_40x30x3_2017.jpg)
“Lines 123” Acrylic on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm
I am excited, because I can’t plan and predict how my work will turn out. Experiencing the process of creation is like an adventure. I simply know that there is an infinite variety of possibilities. My natural curiosity drives me to explore this.
!["Lines 110" Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm by artist Annette Mewes-Thoms. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LINES-110_Varnish-on-Canvas_40x30x2.5-cm_2017.jpg)
“Lines 110” Varnish on Canvas, 40cm x 30cm
The working process is meditative too, because I concentrate on the line and perceive nothing more than my breathing and the sound of the marker. With every line I become calmer. With each line I show a piece of myself. In so doing I document my breathing, my constitution and every disturbance. This is why I can’t plan or even “produce” my works with the computer, as is suggested so often. Such works made by a machine would be soulless, they won’t show what happens inside of me. My works shall be alive!
![Artist Annette Mewes-Thoms artwork on exhibit at Art Stage Singapore in 2017. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Art-Stage-Singapore-2017-.jpg)
Artist Annette Mewes-Thoms artwork on exhibit at Art Stage Singapore in 2017
Since 2016, my focus has been on drawing. I have drawn many small black and white works in varnish on canvas. The absence of color is intended to focus the mind on the line.
!["Lines G1" Varnish on Canvas, 140cm x 120.cm](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/lines_g1_varnish_on__PgS1u-2.jpg)
“Lines G1” Varnish on Canvas, 140cm x 120.cm
In 2017 I did my first large drawing.
![Artist Annette Mewes-Thoms in her studio. See her portfolio by visiting www.ArtsyShark.com](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Selfi-Annette-Mewes-Thoms.jpg)
Artist Annette Mewes-Thoms in her studio
Lines G2 has just been finished in August and is colored. I will present these two works at Art Stage Singapore in January 2018.
Artist Annette Mewes-Thoms invites you to follow her on Facebook.
Wonderful!!
Dear Nick Payne!
I am always happy when there are people who take time to study my works. I know that it is a challenge for the eyes. 😉 I thank you and I am happy that you like my works.
All my best! Annette