Untitled (SFP94-53, SFF.1727) 1994

Sam Francis made this untitled work using paint—probably acrylic or gouache, with some kind of fluid medium—sometime before he died in 1994. I imagine him in his studio, just letting the paint fly. What was he thinking? Was he angry? Exuberant? Or just in the zone, you know, where the paint is thinking for you? There’s black, like a void or a shadow, but then zings of yellow pop out, like rebellious sunshine. See how the paint drips and splatters? It’s not about control, but more about letting go and seeing what happens. It kind of reminds me of Pollock, but with a brighter, more optimistic vibe. Artists are always riffing off each other, picking up ideas and running with them. It’s all one big conversation, isn’t it? This painting feels like a moment, a snapshot of someone’s energy and inner world. And that, for me, is the beauty of painting. It’s not about answers; it’s about the questions.