Untitled #2 1973

John Conrad Berkey made this painting, Untitled #2, with a real sense of freedom in how he applied the paint. I love the way he's layered the colors, like a cosmic soup. The brushstrokes are so visible, it feels like you can see the artist's hand moving across the canvas. Look at the texture he's achieved, particularly around the edges of those planetary forms. There's a real physicality to the medium. The paint isn't trying to hide itself, it's out in the open, declaring its presence. Take a closer look at the central spacecraft. The forms are built with a kind of intuitive abandon. It doesn't seem labored over, but rather quickly and confidently rendered. I’m thinking of the science fiction painting of Chesley Bonestell, with a slightly different feel for the surface. Berkey's piece doesn't feel fixed or finished, but open to possibilities. Art is an ongoing conversation.