Cosmic Star Twins #1 2009

Jack Armstrong’s ‘Cosmic Star Twins #1’ is an explosion of acrylics on canvas. Imagine the painting coming into being, a site of chaotic inquiry where colors collide and swirl. I can sympathize with the artist standing there, brush in hand, staring at the canvas and wondering what to do first. It’s hard to know where to start. So he throws on some yellow, letting it drip and dance across the surface. Then red! Thick, viscous gobs of it. And swirls of pink, purple, and black. The paint is dense and almost sculptural. Look at the big red gesture near the center. It’s like a burst of energy, a primal scream rendered in pigment. Armstrong’s work reminds me a little of Pollock's action paintings or maybe some Joan Mitchell's color explosions. There’s a conversation happening across time, between artists, a playful exchange of marks and ideas. It's a world of possibilities. Painting is an ongoing process, isn't it?