Abstract Composition No.5

Abstract Composition No.5, David Plotnick, Acryllic on Gesso, 22 x 10 in, 2010

This was inspired by organic lines found form a brush inadvertently moving against a piece of paper I was sketching on.  Again there was no real black in this piece as mentioned in my 2nd composition, but a placement of colors from the bright orange make the dark orange look that much darker.  I also wanted to make use of the space in the piece so I established the use of a slightly more geometric use of lines to differentiate form the organic shape.  A colleague mentioned that it looked like raindrops, I like that.  

Abstract Composition No.4

Abstract Composition No. 4, David Plotnick, Acryllic on Gesso, 11 x 10 in, 2010

This piece was inspired by one of the black and white drawings I made for my Surface class.  It was a close up of my nose and my forehead, but I inverted the lights and darks and decided to use the natural palette of a mannequin in my room.  I felt that something was off-putting about it, it lacked a stronger balance and was not that exciting.  So splatter of opposite colors within opposing colors established the balance and added a thrill about it.

Abstract Composition No.3

Abstract Composition No. 3, David Plotnick, Acryllic on Gesso, 11 X 10 in, 2010

When making the idea of this piece, I was working on a bench with paint spilled on it and there were cuts in the table and the paint fell and was divided in those cuts.  I do not know if I truly captured the visual language of the bench in some sense I capture the essence of the paint being led and transformed by the cuts in the table.  In terms of the color composition I looked at one of the buttons of my hat which possessed a dark burgundy color, and the yellow came from an aged part of a fake skull I have in my room for sketching purposes.

Abstract Composition No.2

Amoeba, David Plotnick, Acryllic on Gesso, 4 x 6 1/2 in., 2010

I was looking at a coffee stain at the time and the organic shaping popped out at the time.  I was using a palette I created out of the colors of the dustbuster in my room.  There is no true back or white in this work.  these are different shades of blue when couple with each other increases their contrast, making the lighter blue whiter and the dark of blue blacker.

Abstract Composition No.1

Abstract Composition No.1, David Plotnick, Acryllic on Gesso, 2010

I was observing droplets of glue and they don't come off as perfect circles.  Sometimes they congeal into folding blobs and sometimes they fuse together.  the colors were inspired by object in my house like blue dice and a shade of tan I found on a mannequin.  Looking at it now the colors together give the appearance of thousand island dressing dripped on a blue background.

Black and White Facial Portrait #2

Black and White Self Portrait No. 2, David Plotnick, Acryllic and Gesso, 9 x 12 in, 2010

I caught a light source peering from the room I was working in.  Naturally, following the light give exposure to certain parts of the face creating an illusion of depth.  These shapes of white and black read together as my face amazingly.  The fact that the black spot creates indentation in my cheek is a baffling yet exciting phenomena.

Black and White Facial Portrait #1

Black and White Self Portrait No.1, David Plotnick, Acryllic on Gesso, 9 x 12 in, 2010

When doing this assignment I was looking to capture light form behind me.  It is interesting how the blob of black coalesce to give form to something.  Little blotches of  white read as light to the viewer and the information gives the illusion of features in my face so distinct and accurate it is almost magical.

Creative things to Do in A Cemetery #2: Discover Wildlife

Plant Bug, David Plotnick, AFO, 2010

I found a pinecone by a tree near a gravestone.  It was furry and blonde and felt and instantly connected to the idea of wildlife.  Furry bugs do not actually exist!

Creative Things to Do in A Cemetery #1: Product Placement

Singular-Raising the Dead, David Plotnick AFO 2010


When I was walking up a hill I noticed from where I was standing, a slant in the elevation of height in the Mausoleums, and looking down at my cell phone, an idea was born...