Friday, September 8, 2017

Counter Stretch

I have worked on a small scale with a bunch of detail and a heap of deliberation for several days. Fun, engaging work that stretched me as an artist. Very satisfying.

But, whew, did I ever need a counter stretch today.

Pulled out that free 16x20" canvas again and followed whatever impulses made themselves known—slapped on some wrinkly orange collage paper, painted some mars black, veiled some of the black with titanium white, and scribbled with Krink white ink. Down and dirty, maybe 15 minutes total.

Felt terrific!

free canvas #1
16x20"
work in progress

14 comments:

carol edan said...

It's great to get free and do what you feel, sometimes gets some great results.Love how the black plays with the white. Lots of spirit with this piece!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

The counter stretch felt delicious. I am loving all the various stretches as I paint of late. Here—loved getting my fingers in matte medium and pressing the collage into place, loved holding my long brush way at the far end and letting black play out on the canvas, loved the scratchy feel of the krink pen as it moved over the surface, loved not consciously composing.

carol edan said...

What is a "krink" pen?

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Krink is a brand name, and I have one of their steel-tipped paint markers; the steel tip sits on a somewhat stiff squeeze bottle. Someone somewhere along the way mentioned them in response to a question of mine, and I decided to purchase one (pricey, as I recall). It has some gloss and has an unevenness and unpredictability when used on many surfaces, and I like it.

Lola (Jen Jovan) said...

It is so exciting to see you work BIG! I've not heard of Krink , but now I will have to check it out. Thanks for the tip!!!

Janet Bradish said...

Agree with Jennifer - exciting to see the big canvas. And 'free' canvas adds to 'freedom' of painting!! I like the layers you are building and adding the black is great - giving you some different values to paint on! Looking forward to seeing this paintings journey. Now off to do my 'counter stretch"....love that too!!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Thanks, Jen. BIG has felt great the couple of times I've picked it up my 16x20 canvas recently. Meanwhile, I've still got all sorts of small starts on the table, too. Hard for this girl to stick to one thing. So I don't!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Hi Janet, thanks for the votes of confidence. No idea where this particular big will go but, as best I can, I will let it and my intuition lead.

Sheila said...

So 70's Retro-Mod. Mad Men cool. Love the black marks. Edgy and a little "fun" Halloween scary. Boo with a smile.
I can just make out a figure in the white. Facing left, looking up. Left arm reaching out... Samurai maybe? ;)

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Sheila, LOVE hearing your takeaways—the figure! the Samurai! I see him!

The Hallowe'en colors caught my attention, too, LOL.

Thank you.

Simone said...

Hey! So nice to see you painting big again! Such wonderful colors!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Thanks, Simone! I'm going back and forth between big and small right now depending on how much time I have and how much focus.

Katie Jeanne said...

I want to know your secret for getting free canvas!! :D I probably will find it, if I keep reading backwards, eh?

dotty seiter: now playing said...

See September 4 post entitled Uncle Dotty : )

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