Tag Archives: francis bacon

Ice Friday: Francis Bacon on Form

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I work on what’s called the given form. If you look at forms, they’re extremely, in a sense, unrepresentational. One of the things I’ve always tried to analyze is why it is that, if the formation of the image that you want is done irrationally, it seems to come from the nervous system much more strongly than if you knew how you could do it. Why is it possible to make the reality of an appearance more violently in this way than by doing it rationally? Perhaps it’s that, if the making is more instinctive, the image is more immediate.

(From Interviews with Francis Bacon, David Sylvester)

All in with Bacon

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I finished the third draft of my book just now. “Done and done,” as Crystal says. And now I’m off to Vegas. The painter Francis Bacon was known for painting all day and gambling all night. I’ve always found that idea alluring, throwing caution to the wind, going at it full steam, winning everything or losing it all, not just the money, but the characters too. It’s hard to do though; it can be really take its toll, especially on a Scot. “It can really get a hold of you when you need the money and win. Of course you spend the rest of the time losing it again and God knows how much more.”

Another difference between Francis Bacon and me is that he liked roulette, and I’m more into Black Jack. Better odds. I lose slower. But I’m tempted, I must admit. Lose it all or win everything. You never know what will happen next.