Untitled 1972

Here we have an untitled painting by David Novros. It is undated but made using watercolor and graphite on paper. The muted blocks of color, like dusty jewels, have a graphic feel, but the edges are soft as if Novros was open to the paint doing what it wanted. The paint isn’t overworked. You can sense the touch of the brush, the absorbency of the paper. Look at how the ochre block, slightly translucent, sits next to the opaque white. The white reveals the ghost of a graphite under-drawing. I like how the composition’s stillness is disrupted by the off-centeredness of the rusty red bar on the right. It's this subtle asymmetry that makes the whole thing sing. The painting reminds me a little of Agnes Martin's use of grids and muted colors, although Novros's approach feels more architectural, less ethereal. Ultimately, it’s the balance between control and chance that makes this painting so compelling. It’s a reminder that art is as much about the process as it is about the final image.