Sky Ritual 2002

John Hoyland made Sky Ritual with paint and maybe a little bit of magic. Just look at that surface, like it was coaxed into being! The making of this painting feels like a dare, like Hoyland asked himself, "How can I make something out of almost nothing?" He probably laid down that blue first, pooling and pushing it around, right? Then, he thought, let’s have some verticals, but not too many. And what about that looping form? It’s like a big, dripping question mark. The red, yellow, and black marks sit on top of this atmospheric wash like confident guests at a party. It's as if Hoyland knew exactly how to make these colours sing together. The whole thing feels like a balancing act, a reminder that painting, at its best, can be both profound and playful. It echoes the work of other colourists. Ultimately, it's about keeping the conversation going, adding your own voice to the mix.