Untitled No. 1 1984

John Conrad Berkey made this Untitled No. 1, painting in a way that makes me think about improvisation. He fearlessly puts brush to surface, capturing the essence of a spaceship with bold, gestural strokes. There’s a real joy in watching an artist make something without a lot of fuss. Looking closely, you can see how Berkey layers thin washes of blues and blacks to create depth. These contrast against the thick, juicy strokes of white and grey that define the ship’s form. My eye is drawn to the cluster of warm colors—red, orange, and yellow—that seems to pulse with energy, adding a focal point that lifts the composition out of the cool tones of space. Berkey's dynamic brushwork reminds me a bit of Franz Kline, though with a sci-fi twist. Like Kline, Berkey embraces the beauty of the imperfect mark, showing us that art is as much about the process as it is about the final image. It’s not about getting it right; it’s about the conversation between the artist and the canvas.