Like microscopic organisms, the droplets and bubbles in “Blue Balls IV” by Sam Francis vibrate and pulse with life. One of a 14-part series, the painting skillfully linked Abstract Expressionism with Pop Art, Minimalism and Color Field painting. The work’s complex, daring shapes are developed from Tachisme, a technique in which spontaneous designs evolve from free-flowing paint. Bordering a vast white field, the balls exhibit understatement, intensity and the peak of Francis’ (1923 – 1994) talent. This piece is displayed at the renowned Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Also known as silk screening, serigraphy is a process by which multiple layers of ink are manually pressed through fine screens, resulting in an art print that resembles a painting on paper.