Untitled 1973

Joan Mitchell made this untitled painting with oil on canvas, and from the looks of it, the process was messy and fun. It’s like she’s having a conversation with the paint, letting it lead her. There's so much physicality here. The paint is thick in places, creating this incredible texture. The colors are bold - blues, yellows, oranges - fighting for attention, but somehow they all work together. Look at that big blue patch near the center, it feels like a deep pool, drawing you in. The brushstrokes are visible everywhere, like a map of her movements, and the surface is uneven and full of energy. Mitchell reminds me a bit of Willem de Kooning, someone else who wasn't afraid to get down and dirty with the paint. Both artists show us that painting isn't about perfection, it's about the joy of discovery and the beauty of imperfection. And isn't that what life is all about too?