Sunday, May 1, 2016

Making a Mark in the World

Until very recently abstract art was of little to no interest to me. Even now, I only find certain pieces compelling.

I think the pieces I like hold an exquisite balance and interplay of two juxtaposed approaches. On one hand: intuitive, free expression filled with potential and possibility—marks and brushstrokes that are unplanned and spontaneous. On the other hand: thoughtful and successful decisions about color, composition, and tone.

I'm highly drawn to pieces in which I perceive at a visceral level evidence of a childlike, unselfconscious flow, absent of deliberation and purpose beyond the sheer pleasure of making marks. I think I'm pulled there because that free-flow is what my participation in creating art is calling me to do—to let go of precision and planning and naming and measuring and remembering and applying and fussing, or to at least put them all in their place, or maybe just put them aside temporarily.

Don't need to know why, just need to get into that free-flow.

I watched a short video clip featuring Krista Harris today, after which I immediately stood up as if pulled by a magnet. Went to my studio, grabbed canvas board, picked up a charcoal pencil, and started making marks. No plan, no preconceived ideas—just marks. And then paint.

Felt great!

Now I'm following my nose, letting those first marks lead me. It's fun to see evidence—in impromptu use of texture, pattern, horizon lines, mediums, and collage—of the experimenting I've done over the past half year or so.




To be continued …









8 comments:

Unknown said...

This one is lovely ... interesting to see how much more "flowy" this is, compared to the more geometric work you've been doing lately. (Note: Emmy just asked me to read what I'd written. I showed her your art-in-progress afterwards, and she said, "Oh...that IS pretty!") (She also added, thoughtfully, as I typed her comment into the phone, "I guess you're going to have your phone for the rest of your life!")

Unknown said...

I love you gma love Emmy

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Thanks for your comments, Meg. This piece really did just flow right out of me; I almost stopped after what you see in that very first photo. But, no, I did not stop!

Yes, much more flow than some of my other more geometric stuff. And who would know, just seeing me sipping a latté, for example, that all this geometry and flow and scribble and swirl and line is roiling around inside? Gets me to wondering about what-all lies beneath the surface of all whom I meet!

Love that Emmy was taking in the viewing and responding to art.

I guess you ARE going to have your phone for the rest of your life! Perceptive one, that Emmy!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

I love you, Emmy. Love, Gma

Sheila said...

Wings...petals...sails. A bunny portrait? Love the evolution, love the movement and the textures are so interesting. As always - intriguing!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Sheila, wings, petals, and sails, oh my! Love that you see all that, and a bunny, too! I am so enjoying working on this piece—it's truly coming from within.

Gillian St George - Painting with Passion said...

Dotty....Great post. Appreciate also the link to Krista Harris (although I have to exert control to not binge-watch art videos all day once started). Just the tidbit on using charcoal and then glazing liquid (I think) to smudge the lines was a help. Also what you write & your choice of words, is poetic and addicting. Hugs....G

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Hi, Gillian! Thanks for your kind words about my post, and for your made-me-laugh words about the addictive nature of watching art videos. Wasn't it fun to watch Harris paint over the charcoal?

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