Small's Paradise 1964

Here we have Helen Frankenthaler's "Small's Paradise," a big canvas awash with juicy color. Imagine Frankenthaler in her studio, pouring paint directly onto the canvas. It's so direct, like a conversation between her and the colors. The green pushes against the pink, while that big orange blob kinda floats on top. There is the blue stroke at the bottom holding everything in place. It's not just about what it looks like, it's about how it feels to make it, and how it feels to see it. I think Frankenthaler knew how to let the paint do its thing, yet she was also in control. It’s like she's saying, "Hey, paint, surprise me," and then she steps in to make the painting sing. Painters are always looking at each other, responding, arguing, and agreeing across time. "Small's Paradise" offers such a generous invitation to slow down and get lost in color.