I had been working on a painting that seemed to get prettier by the moment. It had so many lovely areas that I was almost too scared to work on it, for fear that I might ruin something. Yet despite these strong areas, the overall effect was weak and uninteresting. Finally, in complete frustration, I scrubbed some India ink over a large area of the paper, blocking out some of the more pleasing areas,
but creating a problem that demanded I resolve it (emphasis mine).
I had no lovely areas to worry about as I picked up work in progress from a few days ago, but I was so grateful to Cobb for having articulated the idea of creating a problem that demanded I resolve it.
Today's goal in the studio was easy to fulfill: create a problem. Or two.
I slapped a bunch of white torn-tissue collage over most of the painting, forgetting, of course, my recent experience with matte medium. Once again, underlayer colors bled through to the surface. Problem #1!
Then, I got the impulse to make a strip of checkerboard black and white. Why? Couldn't tell ya.
Tomorrow I'll enter my studio knowing my task is resolution.
 |
| today's starting point |
Today's goal in the studio was easy to fulfill: create a problem. Or two.
I slapped a bunch of white torn-tissue collage over most of the painting, forgetting, of course, my recent experience with matte medium. Once again, underlayer colors bled through to the surface. Problem #1!
Then, I got the impulse to make a strip of checkerboard black and white. Why? Couldn't tell ya.
Tomorrow I'll enter my studio knowing my task is resolution.
 |
| 5x8" work in progress with problems to resolve! |
15 comments:
This should be a very interesting study. It reminds somewhat of my next lesson variety. "By striving for extreme variety - making pieces that lack unity as much as possible
within the given parameters - you may gain some insight into what creates unity. How
much variety can a composition stand? How much does it need? Can you really get
away from a sense of unity, given that the “picture plane” holds all the elements? !" A quote from the lesson PDF. Me thinks that I will learn a lot from your exploration.
Well, this is way excellent fodder for me to carry with me tomorrow. I'm impressed that you're even looking at your Jane Davies lessons, but grateful that you are! I love her way of questioning. Her establishing inquiries for her art. Let's see what we both might learn from my explorations in the next two days. Delighted that you're along for the ride.
This is exciting Dotty!! You have given yourself lots to explore and work with. That checkerboard strip is bold and yes you have extreme variety but what an exciting place to work from.
Even as recently as maybe 6 months ago, I think this would have had me scratching my head, not to mention thinking "ugly." Now, I can't wait to see what will happen! Indeed, an exciting place to work from.
I am drawn to the Black and White checkerboard; I love pattern in addition to texture and this work in progress has both. Looking forward to seeing your next step!
Thanks for your encouragement and enthusiasm. I look forward to seeing my next step, too! No clue what it will be.
Dotty...this is so very striking...rich with energy!! Beautiful!!
Thanks, Ophelia. Fun to hear from you! Stay tuned … it'll all change tomorrow. With any good fortune, some of the very-striking-rich-with-energy beauty will shine through.
Looked especially for the connection. Next week back to the lesson plan!Even the first few have helped me this month.
I love the "one of these things is not like the other" aspect. (do you remember that song from Sesame street?) Love where this is now, but so excited to see what is coming next :)
I started singing as soon as I read "one of these things"!!!
I love where-this-is-now only because it presents such interesting challenges; in and of itself it's kinda ugly, in my eyes. Such fun, though, to have your excitement in my pocket as I set out to resolve the mess I've made. Thanks, Sheila!
I immediately started singing, too!
I love the orange peaking from the left side, and of course the black and white graphic-ness. Very cool looking, Dotty!
Thanks, Laurie. I'm letting paint dry for at the moment, before proceeding with the transmutation of one half of the above …
Love that Dotty, and love that you both started singing Joany!
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