Monday, March 13, 2017

Paint All Over Creation

OK, I started this piece—the second in a possible series—wanting to play with paint, mark-making, and pastels. Pretty quickly I felt the call to tap into some uninhibited, childlike free-play. Then after a bit, the painting wanted structure and refinement so I responded accordingly.

I reached a point where the painting felt complete.

I gave it a title.

I perched it on a shelf in my study (where I tutor) which gave me the chance to glance up and see it from a few feet of distance off and on for the rest of the day and into the next.

Oh.

Not done.

Wasn't sure where to go. Felt familiar constriction—fear of 'wrecking' what I liked in the piece. Gave myself a quick talking-to: So, do you want an incomplete, unsatisfying painting that sits in a drawer because you don't want to display it? What'll happen if you go back in and start playing with it? Seems to me that you either won't like it or you will. If you don't, status quo. If you do, good to go!

This piece feels crazy-quilt busy but I like it.

It has asked respectfully that I title it and post it for sale but if it hasn't sold in four weeks to please cut it into quadrants, play with the resulting volunteer compositions, make them into postcards, and send them out into the world.

Deal.


All Over Creation
9x12"; acrylic, ink, pencil, collage, and chalk and oil pastels on watercolor paper
abstract
2017

detail
detail
detail
detail





8 comments:

carol edan said...

First I like this piece. It is quite busy,but the blues seem to bring it all together. There is some amazing Mark making. I really love your narration. Whether it goes off to new home or is made into postcards, it's a success!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Carol, thanks for your comments. I appreciated your observation that the blues seem to provide a bring-it-all-together cohesion to the busyness. Thanks for your delighting in the mark making. And thanks for your enjoyment of my narration. It'll be fun for me to see what life this painting lives now.

Anonymous said...

Hi Dotty: just wrote a whole piece of prose as a comment, then my browser did something unexpected: whole comment gone. (Hey, been there before ;-)). Anyhow: I love the playful atmosphere that your artmaking is radiating right now!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Oh no! I'm so sorry to lose your whole piece of prose! Thanks for your enthusiasm for the playful atmosphere that my art making is currently radiating. I so value your support!

Marissa said...

Dotty, it was fun watching your art pieces each week in Jane Davies class. I loved all your commentary. At first I was sad that we would not be connecting on a common platform. But now I have come to expect you in my inbox everyone and I love reading and seeing what you are creating. I had knee surgery in January and have kinda list my groove. I just need to slap down some paint and I know I will get right back in. Keep up the explorations, I love it!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Marissa, so glad you left a comment. It was definitely a transition to go from the intensity of Jane's class last year to suddenly having no common platform to keep momentum and contact going. Thanks for subscribing to my blog, and thanks for your encouragement to keep up my painting explorations. DON'T LOSE YOUR GROOVE! Do just what you suggest above: slap down some paint and get back in. Do it. I'm not taking no for an answer. Get something on paper, take a photo, and send it to me!

Today!

Sheila said...

For me the greens yellows, and that pinkish orangeish "neutral" knits this together nicely. You're a multi-line linguist! Scribbles and dots, dribbles and spots. Scratches and splots! LOL. I found myself staring at the whole, and at each of the details.
It is "crazy" busy, but I find myself thinking of what it would be like to curl up under this colorful quilt for a long winters nap. LOL

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Love the color feedback, Sheila, and the feedback on "All Over"'s being knit together. Thanks for crediting me as being a multi-line linguist—I've long wished to be multilingual! The idea of a long winter's nap wrapped in this colorful crazy-quilt is quite appealing.

Post a Comment