Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Best Laid Plans

Best Laid Plans, acrylic on canvas, 14" x 18"
With the posting of this painting, my first impulse is to say, like William Kentridge ,  "My job is to make art - not sense."

But that wouldn't be quite true.  I almost always find meaning in my abstracts.  All I pay attention to as I paint them is the marks and colors and textures and shapes - yet meaning appears.  They make sense to me.

Go figure.

I'd say more, but I've decided not to.

What do you see?

And if you can't quite beam to wherever I'm at, never fear, I have some representational paintings in the works right now.







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23 comments:

  1. AnnOctober 22, 2014 at 9:26 AM

    Wow. So glad I popped over for a visit. Love this!

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    1. Dan KentOctober 23, 2014 at 9:58 PM

      Thank you!! What a delightful first comment! (Because I was unsure whether anyone would even show up for this one, and I am so pleased you like it!)

      Delete
  2. UnknownOctober 22, 2014 at 12:30 PM

    Dan, I find that even when we think we are venturing far into unkown territory, language and meaning finds its way to our fingertips. Well done, keep going!

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    1. Dan KentOctober 23, 2014 at 10:01 PM

      Thanks! I thought of your art as I painted this. I began with marks all over the canvas freeflowing in the way you do it but ultimately felt the need to add a glaze, bolder shapes and line.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousOctober 23, 2014 at 8:54 AM

    Dan,
    Love the painting. I'm imagining how nicely this will go on the wall of my office.

    If you keep work like this up, we are going to need to discuss financing terms. Beautiful.

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    1. Dan KentOctober 23, 2014 at 10:03 PM

      Thanks Jay! I'm so glad you like it - quite unlike the watercolor abstracts, right? But cousins, nonetheless.

      Delete
  4. Cathy HoltomOctober 23, 2014 at 12:34 PM

    Love the texture, this is my favourite so far!

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    1. Dan KentOctober 23, 2014 at 10:04 PM

      Thanks Cathy! Wow - your favorite! The texture comes from many layers. Indecision pays! :)

      Delete
  5. Mari Brown and ColourblobOctober 23, 2014 at 1:57 PM

    Dan, you're back!!!
    Good to see that you have been painting (start to wonder where you were, hope all is going well).
    Love the textures in this painting and even if you used straight lines it has no feeling of sharpness or hard angles, its the texture and the colours you selected.
    Love it and I see calm within the darker side (the right hand side, its like northern lights after a storm)

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    1. Dan KentOctober 23, 2014 at 10:08 PM

      Aye Mari, one of these days I'll e-mail you and fill you in. I've definitely been wondering about you and family as well.

      I love your analogy to the northern lights - it made me look again. Such a northern thought - it never would have occured to me. :) That part of the painting was done with a glaze over impasto. The effect in person is a glowing depth. I was surprised and pleased. Thanks!

      Delete
  6. Dan KentOctober 23, 2014 at 10:12 PM

    Richard Jordan said: I say yea, but I can't say I see anything other than some geometry and
    some very pleasing colours and shapes. Those with better imagination may see more of course and over time, so might I. On first look my gut said I like it, so good enough for me.

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    1. Dan KentOctober 23, 2014 at 10:12 PM

      Thanks Richard! Saying yea is enough for me. I was hoping to hear from you, abstract fan that you are. Thanks so much for your support!

      Delete
  7. UnknownOctober 25, 2014 at 5:42 AM

    This is great Dan. Reminds me of a kite.

    I apologise for misunderstanding on the last post, I thought your technique was mad not you :D

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    1. Dan KentOctober 25, 2014 at 4:43 PM

      A kite! I like that. Thanks.

      I did not misunderstand your comment to the last post - I knew just what you meant. It was my attempt at humor. Sorry if I caused you any worry. Trans-world misunderstandings. It's no wonder half of the world is at war. Sigh.

      Delete
  8. Dan KentOctober 25, 2014 at 4:43 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. Capt Elaine MagliacaneOctober 25, 2014 at 10:43 PM

    I was at a Sterling Edwards seminar/workshop earlier this month, and he did an abstract as one of his demo paintings. I must admit I've never much cared for abstracts, but something Sterling said is that with an abstract everyone (including the artist) see something different in the painting… and that is why people buy them because they SEE something they like in the painting. Earlier today someone posted an abstract on Facebook, a woman was critiquing the painting and liked the spot of pink (which I could see in the mostly shades of green painting), and the addition of the figure was a nice addition. Well I looked at that thing right side up, flipped 180 degrees, larger, smaller squinted at it… there was NO FIGURE that I could see anywhere on it….. so long story short… don't tell anyone what you see, let people see what they see… and that's enough. I think I'm beginning to like abstracts a little more… and I like yours very much.

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  10. Pam HugginsOctober 26, 2014 at 10:02 AM

    Elaine summed it up nicely. She's very smart, you know.

    As a former textile artist, I really enjoy this painting. It almost looks like a felted piece which is pretty amazing since you've done it with paint!
    I look forward to your next works. It's always a joy to see you post.

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  11. Celeste BerginNovember 2, 2014 at 12:48 PM

    As someone who paints mostly representational, I almost always see something "real" in abstract. In yours I see mountains and valleys (or highs and lows). It is definitely directional and I might even say...I see a volcano. It's very powerful. :)

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