Untitled c. 1963

This Untitled pastel drawing was made by George Bunker, sometime before 1991. Bunker has this loose, scribbly way of working. He's making marks and layering color, almost like he's feeling his way through the composition. It’s like he’s trying to capture a fleeting thought, letting the process guide him. There's a kind of raw energy in this work. The texture is really present, you can see the grain of the paper coming through the pastel. The colors feel both muted and intense at the same time - there's greens, blues, purples and reds all jostling for attention. Check out the way he's built up this little area on the left with greens and reds, it’s almost like a tiny garden. Bunker reminds me a bit of Forrest Bess, another artist who wasn't afraid to go his own way, making art that felt deeply personal and a little bit mysterious. And isn't that what art's all about?