Which Direction, 48" x 60"

See more paintings from the Flowing Color Collection 

In Which Direction, James Nowak continues his exploration of abstraction through bold color and dynamic form within the Flowing Color Collection. The title immediately establishes the central tension of the work: orientation, decision, and movement. Unlike pieces in the collection that present either harmony (Cool Blue) or rupture (Shooting Yellow), this painting embodies ambiguity, inviting the viewer to consider not only where the forms are going but also how direction itself is chosen—or left unresolved.

The composition of Which Direction relies on strong color fields that intersect at various angles, producing a sense of tension between stability and motion. Diagonal and vertical forms collide across the canvas, creating multiple vectors of force. The result is a painting without a single focal point; instead, the eye is pulled in competing directions.

Color plays a vital role in this destabilization. Bright tones—particularly yellows and reds—clash and overlap with darker or cooler fields of blue and black. This chromatic conflict heightens the sense of uncertainty. Unlike the sweeping unity of Powerful Curves, the painting resists resolution, forcing the viewer to sit with competing impulses.

Thematically, Which Direction can be read as an allegory of choice, disorientation, or transformation. The jagged interplay of forms suggests a crossroads—moments in life when paths collide and clarity is elusive. The painting does not answer the question posed by its title; instead, it dramatizes the struggle of orientation itself.

The color dynamics reinforce this theme. Yellow, often symbolizing vitality and clarity, here seems fragmented and challenged by competing hues, as if even the force of illumination must contend with resistance. The work may thus be read as a psychological portrait of indecision: a space where energy exists in abundance, but resolution has not yet crystallized.

Within the Flowing Color Collection, Which Direction serves as a pivot point between pieces of clear mood (Cool Blue’s serenity, Sharp Yellow’s assertiveness, Shooting Yellow’s rupture) and those that revel in movement (Powerful Curves). Unlike those, this work emphasizes the in-between state: the uncertainty before motion is chosen, the tension before breakthrough.

In this sense, Which Direction deepens the philosophical range of the collection. Flow here is not only smooth or explosive but also conflicted and unresolved. By highlighting this ambiguity, Nowak reveals that direction itself—whether in art, thought, or life—is often contested terrain.

The impact of Which Direction lies in its ability to unsettle. Unlike more harmonious works, this piece challenges the viewer with multiplicity, refusing the comfort of closure. Some may find it disorienting, but others will recognize its honesty: that life is often defined not by resolution but by the struggle of competing forces.

James Nowak’s Which Direction is a powerful meditation on uncertainty, energy, and the competing impulses that define both art and life. Through intersecting forms and clashing colors, the painting embodies the question of orientation without offering an answer. As part of the Flowing Color Collection, it adds depth and nuance to the series, showing that flow is not only about calm or force but also about the moment of indecision when possibilities remain open.