Happy Boatride 1963

Robert Goodnough made this painting, called Happy Boatride, with loose, playful brushstrokes and a sunny palette that feels joyful, like making art is a process of discovery. Looking closely, you see how Goodnough uses color—reds, yellows, blues—not to describe boats realistically, but to create a visual rhythm. The paint is applied in layers, some thick and opaque, others thin and transparent, so you can see the history of the painting’s making. There’s a patch of yellow paint dripping down from the sun that looks like it was made with a really loaded brush, a single expressive gesture that embodies the spirit of the whole piece. You know, Goodnough's work reminds me a little of Joan Mitchell, who also found ways to balance abstraction with a sense of lived experience. Ultimately, Happy Boatride isn't just about boats; it's about the pleasure of painting, the push and pull of color, and the ongoing conversation between artists across time.