Monday, October 26, 2020

Books and Bookmarks (1)

Re books:

The library will only let Sidda and me 

check out two books at a time, 

which drives us nuts. We live in the country, 

I tell the librarian, 

we need more than two books to last us! 

My daughter and I are fast readers, 

we are avid. 

But the old bat behind the counter says, 

Two books a patron, 

that’s our limit, 

no matter where you live. 

Sometimes I watch my daughter smuggle 

an extra book out,

and even though I know I should, 

I just cannot bring myself to stop her. 

Sometimes you just have to reach out 

and grab what you want, 

even when they tell you not to.

—Rebecca Wells, Little Altars Everywhere


Re bookmarks:

How did I get started painting bookmarks? 

I don't recall. 

Maybe I took a painting I'd made that I didn't like and cut it into pieces? Or perhaps a narrow strip I'd trimmed from a larger painting caught my eye? 

No matter. What's not in question is that I began painting bookmarks.

One appeal of painting bookmarks is that they are what is referred to as tiny art. I love both elements of that descriptor equally: (1) the tiny amount of real estate in a bookmark and the resulting relatively tiny amount of time required to paint it make for satisfying short-order gratification, and (2) a 2 x 6-inch bookmark is no more and no less art than a 2 x 6-foot painting or a 2 x 6-yard mural; each is a self-contained world that knows no boundaries.


She Lived Inside that Book for Days
2 x 6"; acrylic, ink, and pastel on paper
abstract
2020
sold


6 comments:

carol edan said...

Your tiny creations are much bigger than the 2 x 6 foot/yard painting/mural! Far more difficult in spite of the real estate!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Aren't these tiny creations crazy, Carol? Tiny is just one measurement —— once I step into the space and start working it opens to a world beyond measurement. Not unlike stepping into the pages of a book. Thank you for your observation.

Lola (Jen Jovan) said...

"self-contained world that knows no boundaries"....and they live inside of other worlds, bound and papered - yet can leap from bound world to bound world with reckless abandon. I love love LOVE your bookmarks!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Are we having fun or are we having fun!!! Yes, yes, yes to boundariless self-containment and leaping from bound world to bound world! We are book and bookmark junkies for sure! Thank you for love love LOVING my bookmarks, Jen : )

Sheila said...

She lives inside that book... YES! Oh the JOY of reading. :) I'm so blessed to be the caretaker of one of your GORGEOUS bookmarks. Color me Grateful! :)

dotty seiter: now playing said...

I'm so honored to have you be the caretaker of one of my bookmarks! And I am blessed to be the caretaker of some of your art postcards —— postcards who let me know in no uncertain terms that they were in fact bookmarks!

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