Star Paths 2007

Jack Armstrong created this painting, Star Paths, on canvas, and what strikes me is how it’s bursting with a riot of colours – yellows, blues, reds, and greens. It's a visual explosion! I imagine Armstrong in his studio, maybe a bit manic, layering these colours, words, and shapes, letting the painting evolve organically. There’s a real sense of urgency and intensity to it, like he’s trying to capture some cosmic energy or download some universal truth directly onto the canvas. Look at how thin he's applied the paint. It’s as if he's writing or drawing with the paint. The handwritten words scattered throughout add another layer of meaning, like fragments of thoughts or poetic phrases floating in space. The more I look, the more I see connections to other artists pushing boundaries, like Basquiat, but with a cosmic, rather than streetwise, sensibility. Ultimately, Star Paths reminds me that painting is an ongoing conversation, a way for artists to explore the unknown and share their visions with the world, even if it’s a little messy and chaotic.