Bela Czobel, Forest 

Bela Czobel created this painting, ‘Forest’, using watercolor and what looks like graphite on paper. These are classic art materials, but the way he uses them is far from traditional. Czobel lays down washes of color, mostly greens and browns, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere, then he uses the graphite to add a layer of chaotic lines, like branches, perhaps, or just a way of animating the surface. The process seems almost improvisational, capturing a fleeting impression of the forest rather than a detailed rendering, and it feels as though the artist is inviting us to participate in its construction. The energy of the marks suggests speed and spontaneity, a quickness that belies any clear distinction between a sketch and a finished painting. In the end, it's the immediacy of the materials and the making that gives this work its character, blurring boundaries between art and craft.