Monday, December 18, 2017

Slapstick 12/18/17

Today: some random collage scraps handpainted with black latex—can't remember when I painted them. Plus, a cockeyed notion to make something out of nothing. Slap. Stick.

I fiddle a bit and then, the first time I feel any sort of visual satisfaction, I stop.

Without evaluating whether or not the piece is 'complete.'

Without worrying it like a dog with a bone.

It's an experiment. It has fulfilled its creative purpose.

Now it will go on to live a happy life as a postcard sent from me to my dad in Maine. Hi, Futh!

4x5"; acrylic, collage, and pastels on paper,
mounted on card stock
abstract
2017
[gift]

10 comments:

carol edan said...

Wonderful contrasts here! Sharp shapes and amorphous! Light brights and black and a touch of script. Pleasing pleasing pleasing!

Lola (Jen Jovan) said...

You stopped! No dragging the bone around! Such discipline! Such restraint! It's quite pleasing....and that is one lucky dad to be receiving such a gorgeous postcard!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Carol, thank you for the visual feedback and letting me know you find this postcard pleasing pleasing pleasing. Woo hoo! In the making (a week ago now, I think), I couldn't quite see the forest for the trees, couldn't see the pleasing for the experiment. Now I look back and am pleased along with you—those contrasts, and the results of following intuition after hunch after impulse, have me feeling happy!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Jen, thank you for affirming my stopping! It's so hard, sometimes, in the moment to 'see' what I am doing, to have any perspective, to perceive any growth. My dad is a lucky dad in so many ways, and he does receive some pretty cool postcards from me … though he's also the recipient of some ugly ones as well! Still lucky, no matter what!

Janet Bradish said...

For a small piece it sure has a lot of impact! Love that little piece of collage - makes my eye stop and rest and then move again. Wow, wow, wow. It seems to me that your painting is changing ever so subtly over the past few months. And your thoughts on painting - the idea of just stopping, breaking the rules, letting things happen, responding on your support.....you are inspiring me Dotty - need to get back to my studio!! Your Dad will have a big smile on his face when he collects the mail and sees this!! Take care and happy painting!

Simone said...

Well done! The contrast between the black and the rest of it is really strong!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Janet, once again I so appreciate your observations, your taking the time to reflect on little changes that are taking place in my paintings over time.

Doesn't it just make you laugh that this is such a tiny piece of art? Glad that it packed a punch for you with the collage.

My dad isn't partial to abstract, but he's decidedly partial to me, so he's likely to have a smile one way or the other when he collects the mail!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Thank you, Simone! Perhaps because the start to this current series is soft with color and soft with edges, I have been called more than once to bring cut black collage into play for dramatic contrast.

Sheila said...

POW!! Great contrast, so dynamic. And the little bit of collage. A magnet for my eyes. But then I start to roam again, taking all the lovely colors and shapes in and enjoying every inch!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Sheila, thank you for your comments, and your echoing what others have said about the pow/contrast/dynamic aspect of this little postcard. So helpful to get your feedback. It all fascinates because, while I might be intentional in any given moment during the making of a painting, overall I am shooting in the dark.

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