Untitled (from Papierski Portfolio) (SF 355) 1992

This vibrant abstract work is by Sam Francis. I imagine the artist using thin paint here; look at how the colors pool and bleed into one another, staining the paper. I'm thinking about the way Francis let the paint drip and spatter – it's a dance between control and chance. I love to imagine him, moving around the paper, making quick, intuitive gestures with the brush. The bright, playful colors – reds, blues, yellows, greens – create such a sense of joy. They remind me of a garden bursting with flowers or maybe even a kid’s party with balloons and confetti. Francis was part of a generation of artists who were pushing the boundaries of what painting could be. He reminds me of Joan Mitchell, in the way he used color to express emotion and create a sense of space. Ultimately, it's about finding your own way of seeing and feeling, and letting that guide your hand. It is an exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.