Beginner’s Mind, with Random Lived Experience on Tap

September 5, 2025

Beginner’s Mind, with Random Lived Experience on Tap

The Paintbrush of Impatience

watercolor class
not as expected but so
what, grandma moses’
brush dashes, splashes color,
paints its own way to flow zone

—dotty seiter

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*Cogswell’s Grant*
10.5 x 8″; watercolor and ink on paper
landscape
2025

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Notes about poem and art:
• “Paintbrush” is a tanka, a poetic form about which I knew nothing until this summer—31 syllables arranged in 5 lines (if in English) of 5, 7, 5, 7, 7, with no rhyme nor specified meter. I elected to follow the syllabics to ‘force’ myself to tell a story succinctly. Further, by definition, the third line must transition from descriptive and image-focused beginning lines (called kami-no-ku) into a reflective metaphor, simile, or personification for the closing lines (shimo-no-ku). The subject matter can vary, but many poets choose a subject that’s emotionally stirring or quietly profound. I wasn’t aware of the content guidelines for tanka, so any adherence to those constraints was accidental on my part!
• I recently availed myself of a watercolor workshop offered at a local senior center. We were given a photo reference of the barn at Cogswell’s Grant located in nearby Essex, MA. I’m pretty much a newbie when it comes to watercolor and I’ve had little instruction or practice in drawing but, what the heck, in for a penny in for a pound. I have plenty of experience with (a) not knowing what I’m doing, (b) experimenting to see what happens, and (c) impatience, and I tapped into all three with this watercolor study.

artist at play

in for a penny in for a pound, watercolor art class, wenham coa

Posted by:

Dotty Seiter

12 responses to “Beginner’s Mind, with Random Lived Experience on Tap”

carol lee

September 5, 2025 at 6:47 am

Tanka-panka whatever! The poem describes your attitude and open mindedness!

I was a bit surprised by the painting until I read your description. You will learn some new techniques in watercolor and how to use a reference image, which I still don’t know!

Looking at the larger image from the post I can see your use of large shapes, abstract treatment of the foliage! There is Dotty there! Have fun, experiment, and sometimes do your own thing!

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1. Dotty Seiter
  
  September 5, 2025 at 7:03 am
  
  LOL at your dashing past form (“tanka-panka whatever!) to celebrate the pith of the content. Perfect! And thank you!
  
  Thank you also for your feedback on my watercolor painting from teacher’s photo reference. So helpful to get your visual-language input on use of large shapes and some abstraction. I’m off to a difference class later today, different location, different instructor. I’ve set an intention to put curiosity and experimentation front and center.
  
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carol lee

September 5, 2025 at 8:26 am

Have fun too!

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1. Dotty Seiter
  
  September 5, 2025 at 9:13 am
  
  That’s my mindset going in!!! Thanks for affirming : )
  
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lolajovan

September 5, 2025 at 11:11 am

your fearless pursuit of new poetry forms and watercolor (a beast, I tell ya!) is so inspiring! Go, Dotty, go! Xoxoxo

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1. Dotty Seiter
  
  September 5, 2025 at 12:59 pm
  
  Your words of encouragement are perfectly timed, Lola. I just returned from a 2nd venture into a watercolor class—different senior center, different teacher, but I came away gasping for air at the rawness of feeling as though I’d never before created art in my life! But, go, Dotty, go! I’ll go back for a 2nd class in three weeks : )
  
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Joyful Puttering

September 5, 2025 at 1:43 pm

I read your poem guidelines twice and still didn’t understand. But I’m happy you ended in your flow zone. Good for you for taking on the free class and embracing your A B Cs. It’s a delightful little country scene and I love your trees!

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1. Dotty Seiter
  
  September 5, 2025 at 2:02 pm
  
  LOL re the poem guidelines! I followed the syllabics and that was plenty enough, and fun!, for me.
  
  I had no particular interest in painting an image of the barn at Cogswell’s Grant, but I have seen it in person so there’s that. And, over time, I’ve come to enjoy seeing my painting propped up on my desk.
  
  Tried a different watercolor class today and good grief is all I have to say about what I painted, but I think I’ll go for the remaining 2 sessions being offered later in the month in hopes I can continue to up my skills.
  
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roseanne333

September 5, 2025 at 9:33 pm

Dotty – your WC is lovely. Your enjoyment shows. I am learning a lot about poetry through your posts. I have never heard of tanka as a poetic form. You’re squeezing so much goodness from that course you took. ♥️

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1. Dotty Seiter
  
  September 6, 2025 at 5:57 am
  
  Thank you, Roseanne! In retrospect, my Cogswell’s Grant WC has won an unexpected affection from me over time. Went to a new class yesterday, and little to nothing of what I’ve learned on my own through my color swatches series seemed to connect. It’s painful to look at what I brought home w/ me! Nonetheless, I do plan to attend the two remaining classes after I return from traveling.
  
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Sheila Marie Delgado

September 7, 2025 at 4:23 am

Seems you are always learning something new, or trying something new. Go Dotty!. And I learn a little, right along with you. Thanks for the introduction to the style of poetry. That sounds challenging, and fun.

I love your so what. It is so you.

And your watercolor is AwEsOmE! Beautiful trees! ;o)

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1. Dotty Seiter
  
  September 7, 2025 at 5:35 am
  
  I am thriving on learning new things of late despite the many many messy moments and middles. Thanks for your affirmation, Sheila. I love that you picked up on the ‘so what’ in my tanka!
  
  Thank you for your appreciation of my painting adventure with this barn scene, and your taking notice of the trees! I have so so so much yet to learn about watercolor, but have come to appreciate what I was able to accomplish with this painting.
  
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