Sam Francis is one of the American abstract expressionist painters most deeply influenced by European tradition. In the 1950s, he traveled and lived in Paris, where he was influenced by the artist Jean-Paul Riopelle. The works of Matisse and Monet’s Water Lilies series also inspired him greatly. His color palette, originally dark and dull, became brighter, more colorful, and more adventurous, resulting in many works with large areas of whiteness. His compositions are influenced by styles from three major continents – the eastern ideology of Zen from Buddhism has had an especially significant influence on him. Ink splashing is a technique employed in his works, a magnificent expression of strong and bright colors. The color blue rose into prominence starting from 1959. Besides the use of colors, Francis also has a strong grasp of the use of space, light and air.

Francis has extensive knowledge of music, poetry, psychology, and even technology. This knowledge makes his artwork rich and harmonious, bold yet subtle. The liquid style and literary space, infused into vibrant colors, produce a strong tension in an explosive momentum.