Yellow Speck 1963

Sam Francis made this lyrical, playful painting called Yellow Speck using loose washes and splatters of paint. You can really see the process here, the way the colors collide and drip. It's like watching a dance of color unfold. The painting’s got this incredible lightness, almost like watercolor, but with the boldness of oil or acrylic. Look at how the yellow pools and scatters, punctuated by these deep purple bursts and tiny red explosions. The paint isn't trying to hide; it’s thin in places, revealing the surface beneath, and thick in others, creating texture. Notice the big yellow circle, how it bleeds into the ground, and then that dense purple mass at its heart—it’s like a little universe forming right there. Francis reminds me a bit of Joan Miró, in the way he lets the subconscious guide the brush, creating worlds that are both abstract and deeply felt. But unlike Miró, Francis is all about the sheer joy of painting, the beauty of color, and the pleasure of letting go. It's about embracing the unexpected, a conversation between intention and chance.