Six White Orbs 1975

Alexander Calder made this painting called 'Six White Orbs' with simple strokes and bold blocks of colour. I imagine him, standing at the easel, trying to get to the essence of a feeling. You know, at first glance, you might see just floating circles and stripes. But look closer and you'll notice how the thick, black lines vibrate against the flat colours of red, yellow, and blue. There's a playful sense of movement, almost like Calder is conducting a visual orchestra. The orbs might be planets, or balloons or just pure, unadulterated joy. I love how Calder keeps things simple, like Miro, but with a touch of childlike wonder and that great tradition of American abstraction. These artists are all in conversation, bouncing ideas off each other across time and space. It's like they're saying, "Hey, let's embrace the unexpected and see where it takes us." And, for me, that's what painting is all about.