Crock c. 1938

Aaron Fastovsky made this drawing of a crock, though we don't know when or with what. It looks like watercolor, maybe gouache. I love how this piece gets at the heart of what artmaking is all about: process. Look at the way Fastovsky builds up the form of the crock with delicate washes of color, almost like he's coaxing it into existence, bit by bit. The texture of the paper is visible through the paint, giving the whole image a kind of porous, breathing quality. The cobalt blue decoration on the crock is especially beautiful. Notice how the paint bleeds and feathers out along the edges of the design. It’s loose and organic, contrasting with the rigid geometry of the lettering that spells out "W.M.E. Warner West Troy.” Fastovsky's soft and sensual approach makes me think of Giorgio Morandi and his still lifes. Ultimately, the piece is a gentle reminder that art doesn't have to shout to be heard. It's in the quiet, persistent act of looking and responding that real magic happens.