Royal Blue 2010

Rashid Al Khalifa's *Royal Blue* is an invitation into the artist’s world of color and gesture. I can just imagine Al Khalifa in his studio, maybe listening to some rhythmic music, as he flicks and drizzles lines of white, blue, yellow and green paint over the canvas. There's something mesmerizing about the way the strokes vary in thickness and direction, creating a sense of depth and movement. Looking at it, I feel a kinship with Al Khalifa, as if we're both engaged in this intimate conversation through paint. It makes me wonder what he was thinking as he laid down each stroke? Maybe he was experimenting with different rhythms and tempos, like a jazz musician improvising on a theme. The painting reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell’s free and expressive brushwork. It's all part of this ongoing conversation between artists across time, inspiring each other to push the boundaries of what painting can be. It's a reminder that painting isn't just about making pretty pictures; it's about embracing the unknown and trusting your instincts.