Blue and Red Balls 1962

Sam Francis made this painting, Blue and Red Balls, with what looks like watercolour or maybe very fluid acrylic. The colors are thin, translucent, and they bleed into the paper, creating a sense of movement and chance. The whole image feels very process-oriented, like the making of the artwork was an experiment of sorts. I love how the paint splatters and drips across the surface, leaving these tiny traces of the artist's hand. It makes me think about the physicality of painting. The paint is so thin, it almost disappears into the paper. But then there are these moments where the color pools and becomes more intense. The lower right ball is a great example; the way the red and black mix together, creating this dense, almost chaotic energy. Francis’ work reminds me a little bit of Joan Miró. They both have this playful, improvisational approach to art making, but Francis is less concerned with recognizable forms, instead exploring the pure sensation of color and gesture. In the end, it is about letting go and embracing the unexpected.