Karaka (Orange) by Janet Fox
Janet Fox
Oil & Cold Wax
630mm W × 860mm H
Rich, grounded and quietly expressive, Karaka (Orange) is a study in warmth and restraint.
Working in oil and cold wax, Janet Fox builds a surface that feels both luminous and tactile. The velvety matte finish characteristic of cold wax gives depth to the saturated karaka tones, while layered markings — gestural lines, abstracted symbols and softened forms — emerge and recede across the surface.
There is a sense of archaeology in the composition. Scraped passages and drawn elements suggest memory, rhythm and fragments of narrative without fully revealing their meaning. The contrast of black linear marks against the glowing orange ground creates tension and balance — structure within looseness.
Framed and ready to hang, this work carries presence without overwhelming a space. It would sit beautifully within a contemporary interior, adding warmth and quiet intensity to neutral palettes, timber textures or coastal settings.
An expressive yet considered piece that rewards time and close looking.
Janet Fox is a mixed media artist known for her love of texture and her use of unusual, raw materials. Tears, rips, splashes and imperfections are embraced as part of the story, with Janet often describing her work as “perfectly imperfect.” Found materials frequently provide the starting point for her practice, becoming integral elements within her mixed media collage pieces.
