Micro Forms in a Macro World: The Work of Noon Slaps
- Project Onward Staff
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
At Project Onward, artists are encouraged to explore their creative instincts without limitation, an ethos that is vividly embodied in the work of Noon Slaps. Known for their abstract compositions filled with undulating lines, cellular forms, and vibrant color, Noon creates paintings that feel at once spontaneous yet refined.
Their process begins without a plan.
“I kinda just go for it,” Noon explains. “I don’t use pencil or anything - I just go straight in with the ink. Whatever comes of that comes of that.”
This commitment to immediacy gives their work a sense of movement and unpredictability. Shapes emerge organically, expanding across the surface in clusters of blob-like forms and winding pathways that feel alive and in motion.
A Language of Layers
Noon’s paintings are built through a distinctive layering process that combines multiple materials in a precise sequence. They typically begin with watercolor, followed by alcohol marker, fine liner, and finally white gel pen. Each medium contributes a different texture and intensity, resulting in richly detailed compositions that reward close attention.
Their approach extends beyond traditional tools. A toothbrush becomes a mechanism for splattering pigment across the page, while a fork is used to create repeating dots and lines introducing rhythm and variation through unconventional means.
“I make my own art rules,” Noon says, “and I break those too.”
This philosophy is evident in every aspect of their work, where experimentation and intuition take precedence over rigid structure.
Microscopic Inspiration
A key influence in Noon’s practice comes from the world of biology, specifically, microscopic imagery.
“When I was in 5th grade I saw mitochondria in a book and started drawing it everywhere,” they recall.
These early fascinations continue to shape their visual language. Their compositions often resemble magnified cellular structures or otherworldly organisms, blurring the line between scientific observation and imaginative abstraction. The resulting forms are both intricate and expansive, evoking systems that feel at once internal and cosmic.
There is also a deeper personal resonance within these images. Noon’s work navigates a complex relationship between attraction and tension, finding beauty in forms that can also evoke discomfort. This duality gives their paintings an emotional charge, where delicate color harmonies coexist with a sense of unease and intensity.
Color, Chance, and Control
Color plays a central role in Noon’s practice, though their approach remains intentionally open-ended.
“I just go for it, it’s like a guessing game really,” they say. “I understand color theory, but I like seeing what works and what doesn’t work.”
This balance between knowledge and experimentation allows Noon to create bold, unexpected combinations. Vivid complementary hues collide and settle into surprising harmonies, reinforcing the sense that each piece is both discovered and constructed in real time.
Art as Release and Connection
For Noon, creating is a vital form of expression and grounding.
“Freedom. Limitless possibility,” they say when describing what drawing provides. “It takes away my stress… makes me feel like I’m part of the world, part of society.”
This sense of connection is central not only to their work, but also to their experience at Project Onward. Since joining the studio in 2022, Noon has found both community and creative expansion.
“It opened up a whole world for me… meeting new people, getting inspired by other artists. It’s a very welcoming and judgment-free zone.”
Through exhibitions, collaborative environments, and new challenges, Noon continues to push their practice in unexpected directions by embracing prompts and themes that encourage growth beyond their usual scope.
Expanding the Practice
In recent work, Noon has begun incorporating collage elements, using tools like hole punchers to create collections of circular forms that are arranged into intricate, almost diagrammatic compositions. These evolving techniques point toward an ongoing curiosity and willingness to experiment.
Looking ahead, Noon is also interested in the broader potential of art as a therapeutic tool, both personally and for others. As they continue their studies and refine their practice, this focus on art’s capacity to support, heal, and connect remains a guiding force.
In Noon Slaps’ work, abstraction becomes a language of possibility, one that captures the complexity of inner experience while opening outward into something shared, dynamic, and profoundly human.