Phenomena Sound of Sundials 1971

Paul Jenkins made this big, glorious painting, "Phenomena Sound of Sundials," with oil on canvas. Look at how the colors just bleed and flow into one another. I can almost imagine him tilting the canvas, letting the paint run, coaxing these hazy forms into being. I think this artist was interested in letting go of control, embracing accidents. Like, what happens if I pour this ochre here, or let this pool of crimson mix with that watery blue? It's all about the unpredictable chemistry of color. I like how the painting is like a landscape, but also not. It's like a memory of a place, a feeling, rendered in these soft, blurry shapes. I'm reminded of Helen Frankenthaler and her soak-stain technique, but Jenkins has his own thing going on. Really, artists are always riffing off each other, picking up where someone else left off, or turning things on their head. It's a never-ending conversation, and this painting is a pretty fascinating contribution, don't you think?