Friday, March 2, 2018

Who's in Charge Here?

I have an idea I want to capture in paint, a feeling actually, the feeling of a particular afternoon from a few weeks ago. Not sure how having a vague idea and a conscious desire to express a feeling will play out.

I select a 6x6" substrate (canvas board this time) that I painted in 2014 and never liked. Dab some colors on the surface straight from paint tubes.

2014 painting done at Prince Edward Island

Move the paint around with a scruffy hardware-store brush, a foam brush, and my finger. Scratch the surface with a metal skewer.

first layer of coverup

Keep adding and moving paint around, do a bit of stenciling with a piece of mesh.

additional layers

This isn't how I planned to start this experiment at all, but my thinking brain gets mostly usurped by my intuition and body who tag-team and take over.


12 comments:

carol edan said...

That's a very good question! We start out and then something takes over. I LOVE the first layer... the muted colors, the imagery, the scribbles. That's the stage where me would put it away for a while, but brave Dotty moves on and the explosion of color and feeling take over. Wouldn't be great if we could somehow change the opacity of the second layers like in photoshop to get a bit of both.

Lola (Jen Jovan) said...

wow....this is a fascinating transformation!!! Loving the tag team...

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Thanks, Jen.

I love the tag team, too! Where would I be without them? (don't answer)

Laurie Mueller said...

"The Land Rolls a little like the Sea"- one thing about you, Dotty, is every new piece is a total surprise-in color and in medium, and in character. I love that pink, and you can imagine a million things in that design. And this one, yes.. I love the tag team, too, and I enjoy just seeing where your brain wanders!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Don't know if it's a good thing or not that you're affirming my wanderlust, from one thing to the next but, since I'm not likely to change any time soon, THANK YOU! I'm glad to know you enjoy seeing where my mind wanders!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

hmm, I replied to you first thing this morning but now I see no reply here.

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Indeed, we start out and then something takes over. And, most of the time, I'm so grateful for the takeover!

I know there are ways to keep more of earlier layers visible as subsequent layers get added, but I'm usually moving along too impatiently or impulsively to apply the techniques!

Sheila said...

Why does this make me feel like I am looking up, at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Doesn't make sense but there it is. :)

dotty seiter: now playing said...

oh my gosh, I am keeping some lofty company these days! Thanks, Sheila.

Janet Bradish said...

Love where this is going, but also to see where you have been (art wise!) Gorgeous soft tones and neutrals. I am glad your brain got voted out - at least long enough to paint this!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Thanks, Janet. Here's my question for you: do you see the dog in this layer? —nose, snout, eyes, ears? In your hands, this painting could go in a canine direction : )

Janet Bradish said...

Yes!! Dotty - this would be a great pooch in your hands!! Was looking at your 'people' again and I can totally see you doing dogs. Looking forward to seeing where you go with this.

dotty seiter: now playing said...

thanks for your encouragement, Janet, although this painting 'went' in other directions several days ago; posts to follow : )

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