Space Ship 1985

John Conrad Berkey made this painting of a spaceship, and who knows when. But I can imagine him really going for it! The brushwork, you can see the drag of it, and it's all about speed and light, the way he's built the ship out of daubs of blues and grey. The paint looks thin, like he's using washes, building up layers to create the form. It’s like he's sketching with the brush, not too precious, kind of like Joan Mitchell, but, you know, spaceships instead of flowers. I love how the ship is set against this deep, moody red space, with these hazy planets in the background. It’s all atmosphere and drama. He’s not trying to be realistic; it’s more about capturing the feeling of being out there in the cosmos. I bet Berkey was a big influence on a lot of other artists, especially those doing sci-fi or fantasy art. We all stand on each other's shoulders, right?