Blocks of Abstraction: Two Cut-Ups

Reading Austin Kleon’s blog on the Calm of Collage yesterday led me to Lynda Barry’s quote: ā€œSometimes we are so confused and sad that all we can do is glue one thing to anotherā€, which led me to digging out some of the sheets in my “failed paintings on paper” pile, cutting up a couple with scissors, and finding a seldom-used stick of glue.

The first was a “tree painting”, done in watercolour that hadn’t gone anywhere (and wasn’t destined to as I’d added a black cat peeping out behind a tree). Once I started moving the squares about, it started to feel like it was a depiction of the pond from February’s project.

The second was a demo painting of kilt rock, that had random ink on the back. Once I’d cut it up, I found I preferred the ‘wrong’ side of quite a few of the squares. Moving the blocks around, it started to feel like a collection of “low tide shore”.

I rather like the results. Think I might well be reaching for the scissors and glue again today. Whether I will stick with “definitely failed” paintings or have the courage to cut up some “might still be made to work” paintings remains to be seen.

2 Replies to “Blocks of Abstraction: Two Cut-Ups”

  1. This really inspires me to have a go. I’m out in the garden at the moment but we are expecting rain this afternoon……?

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