In 1979, a world renowned artist found himself working well into the night. While immersed in his usual ritual of mixing colors, he spilled a bucket of black paint on his unfinished piece. Frustrated and ready to discard the ruined painting, he suddenly noticed the black surface reflecting light. An epiphany hit him as he sat with the covered canvas: black wasn't the absence of color but one so deep it could convey depth, texture and emotion within itself.
Driven by an almost obsessive curiosity, he began to explore this newfound revelation. He experimented with layers and textures, trying different techniques to manipulate the black paint. With every stroke and every experiment, he discovered that black could produce an incredible range of visual effects, from pitch-dark voids to shimmering surfaces full of movement and life. Over the following months, his studio became a sanctuary of black hues.
Friends and critics were initially skeptical of his departure from the broad brush strokes and expressive pieces that had previously defined his style. They couldn’t fathom how one could express anything meaningful with a canvas covered entirely by a “non-color”. Undeterred, the painter pursued his new direction with relentless passion.
Later that year the artist exhibited his experimental collection of black paintings at the Center for Contemporary Art in Paris. The critics who had previously scoffed at his obsession stood in awe as the deep, rich blacks, imbued with subtle textures and reflective qualities, captivated audiences. That day the renowned artist became an international star while earning the name “Painter of Black”.
The artist who rocked the art world that day was none other than Pierre Soulages, one of France’s most notable painters of all time. Soulages continued to paint black pieces up to his death in 2022 at the age of 102.
Take a risk.
Soulages’ pivotal moment in 1979, occurred when the artist was 60 years old and well into his art career showing it’s never too late to trust your intuition and take a risk.
What mistake?
What may seem like a mistake can become a breakthrough. In the case of Soulages, spilled paint became an art revolution.
Love can lead to mastery.
Soulages' success came from his unwavering curiosity with black revealing that dedication to what you love can set you apart and even lead to mastery.
Reflection:
In 2021 I discovered and fell in love with Pierre Soulages’ approach to art while beginning my own journey as a painter. Two years later I had the privilege of seeing one of his early career pieces in person during a trip to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. While others passed the simple painting nonchalantly, I was working hard to hold back the flood of tears beginning to swell up beneath my eyes.
As someone who loves simplicity and adores the color black (it’s the only color I’ve worn for the last 5 years) Soulages’ fixation with it made me feel seen. Not only could I continue to explore the depths of simplicity through black, but I could make it the sole focus of my art if I wanted to.
Receiving that kind of permission was life-changing for me as a newby artist. It made it clear that I didn’t need permission to do what I wanted with my art. No one did because art is a sacred space where all are free to follow their intuition – no matter where it may lead.