The abstract expressionist artist Robert Motherwell had an intriguing way of imitating nature: by snapping back at the brute.
This is a great explanation of his “Beside the Sea” series of paintings:
https://dedalusfoundation.org/programs/online-features/view/beside-the-sea/
He had a studio on the sea, and saw the forces of the water as it came in and out, up and down, and barreling into his protective concrete wall and railing.
Rather than painstakingly render a realistic image, he used, I believe, a rope loaded with paint, and struck a special, tough canvas material with it.
Art by abuse!
What a wonderful thing. The whip-like motion shows a realism more realistic than reality. It shows more emotion than a mere photograph of splashing, breaking water could do. It adds an element of chance, of excitement, of jazz-like improvisation.
The images are orgasm. Caught at the split second of release. Release and impact.
By the time Motherwell created these paintings, people had figured out that he could paint. So he was free to do what he did best, which is theorize, experiment, and, well, play.
From my reading, I gather that Motherwell often carried anxiety in his being. I hope these later works gave him a chance to dance, as the water relentlessly tried to wear down his walls.
What better way to get even than to say, “There! I can do it, too!”
