Powerful Contrasts

Zoltan Boros was the Grand Prize Winner in International Artist magazine’s Challenge No. 148 Wildlife.

Zoltán Boros was born in 1976 in Subotica, a city once located in the southern region of Hungary, but now a part of Serbia. Now living in Pest, Hungary, Boros has been interested in wildlife and hunting-themed artworks since childhood.

His artwork is primarily based on native wildlife species, and as a hunter himself, Boros can directly observe the behavior of the subjects he captures in their natural habitat. A self-taught artist, Boros has received international recognition for his wildlife art, with artwork appearing in exhibitions around the globe, including the Weatherby Auction in Reno, Nevada, Holt’s Auction in London, and exhibitions in Spain, Germany, Austria, Canada, the Netherlands, and his native Hungary.

The lion’s gaze, white pencil drawing, 12 x 8 in.

The artist works with both pencils and oil paints and is captivated by the rich world of lines and monochromatic tones in graphic art. “The shapes that emerge from the unique set of curves and straight lines, interspersed with soft dynamics, are still my favorite. It is no coincidence that many famous artists consider this technique to be the basis of all techniques. I love the simplicity, the broken structure, the ‘naked truth’ of graphics,” he says. “The basis for everything must be rock steady drawing skills. Here, the viewers’ eyes should not be distracted by bright colors and an almost kitschy cavalcade of colors. You have to have a good knowledge of anatomy, and of course, being able to draw is no disadvantage. Even today, I always draw as a form of relaxation.”

Raven, white pencil drawing, 8 x 12 in.

Commenting on his use of oils, he says, “Those who try to paint with oil choose a difficult job. It looks simple but to turn colors into shapes masses takes real magic. The brushstrokes must form the shapes and the curve of their surface. I am not a fan of photorealistic representation. That’s what photography is for. I practice the realistic branch of painting, but I put a lot of emphasis on creating a personal illusion in my paintings. I trigger the viewer’s imagination, but I leave it up to them to decide what the final image will look like. I leave space and opportunity for the viewers to fill the picture with their own imagination.”

Wild boar in rapeseed field, oil, 15¾ x 12 in.

Fox on hill, white pencil drawing, 8 x 12 in.

One of Boros’ recent works, The lion’s gaze, is a powerful portrait of a lion looking directly at the viewer. The drawing was done with white pencils on black paper. “I have visited several countries in Africa to study wild animals in their natural habitat. Wherever I have been on this continent, the gaze of a lion has always captivated me. There is something very terrifying [about them]. It is as if I am looking into the past, into the ancient times. I wanted to convey this feeling in this drawing.”

Capercaillie rumble, pencil drawing, 8 x 12 in.

Another recent white pencil drawing by Boros is Fox on hill. “The fox is a short animal, so it is usually depicted from above, because that is how it is seen,” says the artist. “I thought I would try to change the perspective and show him from a different angle. It was important to faithfully reproduce the soft texture of his fur, so I used fine lines and meticulous detailing. I depicted the hill with just a small, almost insignificant line, drawing a few details on it. I also created his tail in this way, placing the main emphasis on the white end of his tail.”