Untitled (SFP92-15, SFF.1671) 1992

Here’s an action shot frozen in time, a painting by Sam Francis featuring this huge splat of intense royal blue, amidst a flurry of strokes and drips, all dancing on a bright white surface. I imagine Francis in his studio, maybe late at night, lost in the throes of creation. Did he throw the paint? Flick it? Or maybe he coaxed it with a brush, letting the medium lead the way. The paint looks juicy, thick in some spots, thinned out in others, creating texture and depth. Look at the way the blue bleeds and pools, offset by delicate gold lines. What do they mean? This is more than just a pretty picture, it’s a record of an event, a trace of Francis’s physical and mental state. It reminds me of Pollock's action paintings, and the work of Joan Mitchell, but with its own distinct flavor. We’re all influenced by one another – it’s like we’re having this ongoing conversation, bouncing ideas off each other across time and space. And it's precisely these kinds of gestures, recorded by artists, that have the most to tell us about being alive.