Rothko Painting

CSS Visual Practice

Source Code

index.html
styles.css

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>Rothko Painting</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
  </head>
  <body>
    <div class="frame">
      <div class="canvas">
        <div class="one"></div>
        <div class="two"></div>
        <div class="three"></div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </body>
</html>

<style>
  .canvas {
    width: 500px;
    height: 600px;
    background-color: #4d0f00;
    overflow: hidden;
    filter: blur(2px);
  }

  .frame {
    border: 50px solid black;
    width: 500px;
    padding: 50px;
    margin: 20px auto;
  }

  .one {
    width: 425px;
    height: 150px;
    background-color: #efb762;
    margin: 20px auto;
    box-shadow: 0 0 3px 3px #efb762;
    border-radius: 9px;
    transform: rotate(-0.6deg);
  }

  .two {
    width: 475px;
    height: 200px;
    background-color: #8f0401;
    margin: 0 auto 20px;
    box-shadow: 0 0 3px 3px #8f0401;
    border-radius: 8px 10px;
    transform: rotate(0.4deg);
  }

  .one, .two {
    filter: blur(1px);
  }

  .three {
    width: 91%;
    height: 28%;
    background-color: #b20403;
    margin: auto;
    filter: blur(2px);
    box-shadow: 0 0 5px 5px #b20403;
    border-radius: 30px 25px 60px 12px;
    transform: rotate(-0.2deg);
  }

What I Learned

HTML layout with nested divs to build abstract compositions
CSS techniques for expressive visuals:
- filter: blur() for soft, painterly edges
- box-shadow and border-radius for depth and shape variation
- transform: rotate() for natural imperfection
Color blocking and visual hierarchy using only CSS
How layout, effects, and proportions come together to simulate artwork

Time 🕒 2 hours 5 minutes (while on vacation!)

Personal Note I had a lot of fun with this one more than with static forms or standard layouts. As soon as the project took a visual direction, I felt lit up inside, maybe thanks to my design background. It's surprising how motivated I was: I literally coded part of this while ferry-hopping around an island. That moment made me realize… maybe this really is passion.

Source Code​

Source Code