Sail I 1968

Sam Francis made this painting, Sail I, with vibrant colours dancing around a vast white space. It’s like watching colors playfully defining the edges of nothingness. Look at how he lets the paint drip and bleed. It’s not about hiding the process. It’s all there for you, raw and honest. The texture isn’t labored over, it feels immediate, like a snapshot of a feeling. I'm drawn to the bottom edge, where the blue paint meets the white. See how the colors aren’t shy about their imperfections? These blues aren’t trying to be perfect, they're just existing. Francis reminds me of Helen Frankenthaler, in his use of color as pure sensation. But where Frankenthaler is atmospheric, Francis is more grounded. His work feels like a reminder that art isn't about answers, it's about the ongoing, messy conversation.