Pierrot 1947

William Baziotes made this painting, Pierrot, with oil on canvas. It's not about the final product, but more about the conversation he was having with the painting as he made it. I love how Baziotes let the paint do its thing! It’s not overly controlled, it’s loose and watery. The way he’s layered semi-transparent colors makes the image hover and breathe. Look at the ghostly white shapes resting on a turquoise ground - you can see layer upon layer of brushstrokes, like he was wiping away as much as he was adding. The white almost looks like a memory of a shape. That big eye-like form at the top is so compelling; a gaze that watches you as you look. Baziotes work reminds me a little of the paintings of Forrest Bess. It’s not about clear answers, but about exploring the mysteries of seeing, feeling, and being.