Chapter 5 Summary and Analysis

This period chronicles Irwin's transformation from abstract impressionist to minimalist artisan, ultimately the definitive genre of his artistry. He is compelled to reach new levels in his work at Ferus, an environment that presents Irwin with his first experience with contemporaries whose work is superior to his own. He feels the need to "catch up." He begins by painting expressionist abstracts on very large—8' x 10', for example—canvases. They are emotive paintings very rich in color and expression. Irwin focuses self-critique on the movement of the work—whether he is satisfied or not with its gestural integrity. To Irwin, a painting's gestural integrity is unyieldingly connected to its emotional power.

An intense internal dialog is part of Irwin's process in the creation of his abstracts. He assesses every stroke and analyzes each part against the whole...