Salt Flats #6, 1981

In his earlier work McClelland used a cool, detached and minimalist approach to his drawings and paintings. They were as quiet and precisely constructed as elegant mathematical equations. Although his later work became much more congested, this work features abstract geometric shapes that are sparingly used.  Like the salt flats in the title, the topography of this landscape is flat, scrubbed white and barren.
The features on this plain are small inconsequential marks, bits of color. McClelland arranges these small features so that they almost seem to occur by accident, but he is careful to provide a balance in the composition.