Untitled (SFE-046) 1988

Sam Francis made this untitled painting with a playful approach to color and form, like a jazz riff on canvas. The canvas is alive with splatters and drips of paint, each mark a record of Francis’s physical engagement with the materials. Look closely, and you can almost see the speed and force with which he applied the paint. The red, for instance, seems to explode outwards, contrasted with pools of dense black ink that create areas of depth and shadow. It's like watching a dance between control and chance, intention and accident. This piece reminds me of Joan Mitchell, another artist who wasn't afraid to let her emotions guide the brush. Both artists show us that painting isn't just about representation, but about the sheer joy of making. It’s about embracing the unexpected and finding beauty in the process.