A reader asks Matt which color or other property makes the biggest impression on him when first looking at—or creating—a new painting.

Matt responds:

I believe that the first encounter we have with a painting could very well be imprinted genetically in our survival codes.

We really do not have any control.  We hear a loud noise, and we snap to attention.  If we perceive that something’s going to hit us from the back, we jump to the side.

We eat, we sneeze, we do all kinds of things that we do not cognitively have control of.

I believe that the first encounter with a painting is one where you say:  “I must look at it!”

White, to me, is the great siren that brings you in.  I think paintings start out as tromp l’oeil, and then they go through a metamorphosis almost like a butterfly, where they start out as a crawling creature, and then with great investigative examination you see how it goes from one form to another to another.  And finally, hopefully, turns into a beautiful butterfly that delights you.

White, to me, is the analogy we use to describe the headlights in a deer’s eye.  The deer stops, it’s mesmerized, it looks.

Then we go to black, which to me is the roadway, where we’re somewhat forced to leave the light and follow the lines.

That’s why, when I go into the great cathedrals with stained-glass windows, it takes me a long time to follow the lines and follow the sun.

Finally, I get around to looking at what kind of story they’re telling.

All of it is a cognizant and subconscious presentation as the artist tells the story, not only to himself but to future generations.

To me, the signposts are always:  “Stop on red, Go on green, Watch out on yellow.”

White, black, and then the world is your oyster from there on.

Enjoy it, love it, hate it, understand it, be confused by it.

Just don’t ignore it.  That’s the biggest catastrophe of a painting.

I hope none of my children gets ignored.  If they do, they’ll kick you in the ass!  If you bend over, they’ll poke your eyes out!

So watch out—don’t let them know you don’t like them!

LAMB