Process Development 1972

Robert Goodnough made this painting titled, Process Development, with small brushstrokes of colour. I love how you can really see the hand of the artist here. Up close, the surface is a constellation of tiny marks, like confetti frozen in mid-air. The colour palette is restrained, mostly blues and grays, but with little pops of red, green, and yellow peeking through. Look at how each stroke is laid down with such intention, building up a texture that's both delicate and dense. In some ways, the marks are like thoughts, each one placed carefully and deliberately on the canvas, gradually forming a cohesive whole. It reminds me of some of Joan Mitchell’s later work, where she used similar gestures to create all-over compositions. But Goodnough's approach feels somehow more grounded, more methodical, like he's trying to map out a process of thought through the act of painting itself. It reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation.