Spice Box c. 1940

This ‘Spice Box’ was created by Frank Budash sometime in the 20th century, though we can’t be sure exactly when. It’s rendered in watercolor, giving it a soft, almost dreamlike quality. The approach feels very direct, focusing on the object's form and texture. I love how Budash captures the wood grain, with these delicate, almost hesitant lines that still manage to convey the depth and character of the material. See how the paint is thin and transparent in some areas, allowing the paper to show through? And then in other spots, like around the edges of the drawers, there’s a build-up of pigment that adds a sense of weight and physicality. Notice the way the light catches the knobs on the drawers, a subtle highlight that brings them forward. It’s these small details that make the piece feel so intimate. It makes me think of artists like Giorgio Morandi, who found endless inspiration in the simple objects around him. The 'Spice Box’ reminds us that art can be found in the everyday, and that there's beauty in the act of careful observation and humble reverence.