Monday, March 6, 2017

Finding My Brave Spot

If my nephews got fearful when they were little guys, my sister encouraged them to find their brave spot.

When I stopped painting Friday, I thought, Done, and I was pleased to have stopped before getting past a point of no return.

But …

But …

But I knew this piece needed just a little more wind. A little more fresh air. A little more something to blow through it with a sweet pop!

Instant freeze. What if I wreck it? What if my ideas don't work?

Had to find my brave spot.

Fresh Air
9x12"; acrylic, graphite crayon, charcoal pencil, pastel pencil, and oil pastel on watercolor paper
abstract
2017

detail
detail
detail

7 comments:

carol edan said...

Oh that "brave spot". So illusive, tries to hide away, saying "leave it alone, so what about that mark, the rest is good and working etc". etc. Glad you found it!!! Love that extra bit of contrast! Gives me courage!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

I'm all about sharing the courage these days. I gain so much from the posts of others' venturing into their unknowns and fears, and I am committed to letting it all hang out at my end, too. I sometimes wonder if I'd be painting without the generously shared experiments of others.

Thanks for your thumbs up for my extra bit of contrast. That was precisely what I had to find my brave spot to aim for, win or lose.

carol edan said...

Always a WIN WIN!

Janet Bradish said...

High Five Dotty! Yes, that bit of added contrast makes the whole painting 'sing'! Love the 'brave spot' - it is hard to take that next step to get there but when you do - magic happens! You told your inner critic to hit the road - and gave your 'brave spot' muse space to play. Love the detail pics and so glad you shared your thoughts! I am now going to head to my studio and find my 'brave spot'! Take care and have a wonderful day

Sheila said...

I see blooms starting to form. Love each of the details. The colorful marks on top of paint. Continue to charge courageously ahead :)

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Thanks, Janet. Glad to hear that the added bit of contrast made 'Fresh Air' sing for you. I do love finding that brave spot and moving boldly into whatever. There's truly no telling what will evolve but, for sure, magic will NOT happen in the absence of moving forward! Enjoy a brave, bold, boisterous time in your studio : )

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Thanks, Sheila. Your words come at just the right moment—I have a work in progress that, how could this be?!, ALSO needs me to find my brave spot so I can charge courageously ahead. On I go …

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