About Ivan Colin

About the Artist

Ivan Colin is an abstract painter based in Bellingham, Washington. He was inspired early on by street art culture in his native Napa Valley, California, where he became hooked into the art world by graffiti and markings etched on walls.

He was unable to see art as a viable way to make a living until he attended Linfield College in Oregon. He was recruited to play collegiate soccer but was quickly drawn to the art department. Talented and inspirational professors shaped his style, from graffiti letters to abstract organic paintings.

Ivan draws inspiration from movement, fluidity, and colors found in nature. He works as a full-time artist, showcasing his art locally as well as creating commissioned murals.

Artist Statement

I work as an abstract organic painter, guided by intuition in my mark-making process, seeking to uncover anamorphic shapes and contours reminiscent of the natural world. Beginning with a stream of consciousness and embracing freedom of outcome, I gradually give structure to the surface before teasing out enigmatic forms.

By adding vibrant hues, rich shadows, and luminous highlights, I highlight specific aspects of the composition, inviting viewers into a realm of imagination where interpretation is open-ended. Rather than dictating what to see, my paintings suggest, encouraging individual exploration.

Each piece serves as a portal to a primordial, hallucinatory experience, inviting observers to expand their perception of reality. Reach out if interested in any of the works on display.