Ornamental Structure and Expressive Color: A Decorative Painting with a Vivid Blue Background by Artist Nona Dronova

Author:
Prof. Nona Dronova, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Artist
[ORCID: 0009-0007-4867-9074]
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4867-9074

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17272498
License: CC BY 4.0 (text), CC BY-SA 4.0 (images)

Abstract

This study presents an original decorative painting by artist and professor Nona Dronova, executed in oil on canvas. The composition is distinguished by its ornamental structure and bold use of luminous blue as a dominant background. The artwork blends decorative rhythm, rich impasto texture, and symbolic stylization. Special attention is given to the chromatic balance, surface dynamics, and the artistic decision to treat the background as a compositional protagonist.

Keywords

decorative painting, ornamental composition, vivid blue background, oil impasto, contemporary symbolism, Nona Dronova, authorial work
装饰绘画, 蓝色背景, 花卉图案, 装饰构图, 油画肌理

Introduction

This decorative panel is an original work by Nona Dronova, in which painterly expressiveness is interwoven with ornamental logic. The composition features two large, leaf-shaped green zones filled with stylized white and blue floral forms, embedded in a textured ultramarine background. Rather than receding, the background plays an active structural role in the visual field.

Color as Constructive Element

Professor Dronova deliberately reverses the conventional figure-ground relationship by bringing intense blue to the foreground. The background is not merely a setting but a rhythmic, emotionally charged surface. Its visual power recalls the aesthetics of Art Nouveau glass, Persian carpets, and Eastern ornament. The ultramarine field vibrates with layered textures and leaf motifs, becoming a living surface that embraces the floral elements.

Brushwork and Texture

The painting reveals mastery of tactile expression. Dronova applies thick impasto strokes using palette knives and brushes, building energetic layers of emerald, violet, and magenta. Close-up photography shows the multilayered textural complexity of the surface—swirls, scratches, and ridges that reinforce the decorative rhythm. This aligns the work with the lineage of post-impressionist and modern decorative art.

Ornamental Logic

The composition is governed by ornamental thinking. Repetition of shapes, floral masses, and the interplay of positive and negative space suggest the logic of tapestry and stained glass. Dronova’s painting is not botanical in intent—it is decorative in its essence, seeking rhythm and balance through visual repetition. This shifts the painting closer to textile design or mosaic tradition than to naturalistic representation.

Artistic Significance

This panel demonstrates Nona Dronova’s distinct artistic language, where color and surface function as primary expressive tools. The vivid blue field becomes an emotional space, not just a background. The work is contemplative and immersive, intended as an object of visual and emotional resonance rather than narrative illustration.

Conclusion

As an authorial work, this painting by Nona Dronova offers a powerful example of contemporary decorative art where expressive color, ornamental structure, and texture converge. The dominance of the blue field challenges compositional conventions, while the rich impasto technique gives the work both visual and tactile depth. It stands as a unique contribution to modern explorations of ornament and chromatic space.