Blue Balls VIII 1962

Sam Francis made "Blue Balls VIII," here at MOCA in Los Angeles, using paint, but the exact date remains elusive. The title alone can make you smile, right? This painting is all about letting the medium do its thing; see how the paint pools and bleeds? It’s like Francis set the stage and let the paint perform. The white space isn’t just a background. It’s part of the composition, making the blues sing. Look at the top right, where the colors bleed into one another. Francis isn't trying to hide the process but celebrate it. You can almost feel the moment when the colors met, mixing and mingling. It makes me think of Helen Frankenthaler, another colorist, but Francis has a lightness and fluidity all his own. Art’s not about answers, but about keeping the conversation flowing.