Untitled 1981

Sam Francis made this untitled painting with vibrant colours and a real sense of freedom. He was all about letting the process lead the way. Looking closely, you can see how the paint seems to have been dripped, splashed, and poured onto the surface. There's a real physicality to it, like the artist was dancing with the canvas. Check out the way he's used the yellow paint, sometimes thick and opaque, other times just a thin, watery stain. See how it pools and gathers, almost like liquid sunshine? Francis reminds me a little of Joan Mitchell, in how he fearlessly embraced mess and chance. It’s like he's saying, "Here it is, in all its messy glory." And isn't that what art's all about anyway? It's not about perfection, it's about the journey.