Untitled (from Pasadena Box) (Lembark L60) 1963

This untitled print by Sam Francis from the Pasadena Box is a world of vibrant energy. I can almost see Francis hovering over the paper, letting the colors fly with a flick of his wrist and a trust in gravity. There's something so joyful about the way these blues, reds, greens, and yellows collide and dance. I imagine he’s thinking about Monet, about color theory, about the way light refracts in water, but mostly, I think he’s just feeling it, you know? Letting his emotions guide the composition. The paint isn't exactly thick, but it is luscious, alive. See how one particular splatter of red bleeds into a soft-edged circle? It communicates a kind of release, a letting go. Francis was always pushing the boundaries of abstract expressionism, and you can see him here, playing with chance and control. It reminds me of other painters like Joan Mitchell who found freedom in gesture. Artists are always in conversation, and Francis’s work is a testament to that beautiful exchange. It is always open for discussion, never resolved.