About
I’m Jalpa Patel, a contemporary abstract artist based in London. My relationship with art began long before I thought of myself as an artist. Drawing came naturally to me from an early age, and I loved being able to create something with my own hands. Art stayed with me as I grew up and eventually became a teacher, always finding its way into different parts of my life. Coming back to painting more fully as an adult has been a genuine reconnection with a part of myself that I hadn’t realised I’d missed for so long.
My early work centred on detailed drawing and portraiture, but over time I found myself increasingly drawn to abstraction. It gave me the freedom to loosen some of the precision and control that had previously shaped the way I worked, and to discover a different way of expressing myself. I’m still developing my own visual language and beginning to recognise the choices I make, the marks I return to and what feels instinctively mine.
Colour
Colour fascinates me, particularly when it appears in places that might otherwise be overlooked. It might be the subtle relationship between light and shadow, an unexpected colour combination, a weathered surface, a reflection or a changing sky. I often stop to photograph these moments because I want to understand why they affect me. Over time, they become part of an ever-growing visual library that quietly feeds back into my paintings.
Process
I rarely begin with a finished image in mind. I work intuitively, usually starting with something that has caught my attention and responding to what happens as the painting develops. Layers are built, scraped back, painted over and rediscovered. Some paintings evolve quickly, while others change completely before they settle. I’m interested in those shifts: an unexpected mark, a change in balance or a sudden decision that can move a painting somewhere new.
Materials
I work primarily with acrylic, collage and mixed media, while continuing to explore the unique qualities of oil paint. Rather than following a fixed method, I choose materials for the possibilities they offer. Different surfaces, textures and layers shape the direction of each painting, with earlier decisions often remaining visible beneath later layers.
Looking Closer
As the work evolves, that original starting point gradually recedes, leaving space for new meanings and associations to emerge. Each painting invites viewers to slow down, look closely and discover their own connections.