Folding Water

Layered, atmospheric and held in tension, Folding Water explores the space between structure and flow — where line, surface and movement intersect.

Marks gather, cross and fold back into themselves, creating a network that feels both constructed and fluid at once.

A palette drawn from mineral blues, chalk, sand and deep tones allows the work to shift subtly with its environment — at times quiet and suspended, at others more energetic and alive.

The piece invites a slower reading, revealing itself over time rather than all at once.

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Shannon Riches is an abstract expressionist artist based on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. With a 30-year background in graphic design and illustration, his work now centres on intuitive mark-making and tonal exploration inspired by the coastline and the Dandenong Ranges.
His process is tactile and instinctive — often painting with his hands, bark and found natural materials alongside traditional brushes to build layered, organic surfaces. Shannon also produces music under the name Approaching Black, and sees both practices as expressions of the same language — composition, tone and atmosphere.
His paintings are created to feel lived-in and emotionally grounded — artworks that belong in real spaces, quietly shaping the story of the room.