Lakeside

we explore our poland-road norton-pond rental

magic at “wicked
cute camp”—each and ev’ry room
conjures water views!

—dotty seiter

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Notes about poem and art:
• Our June vacation found us at Norton Pond in Maine in the lap of its lapping shoreline and the lap of rustic back-to-basics. It is my modus operandi when we go away to leave both the stressful and the wonderful at home, in favor of embracing the other-than-usual while away. That said, I do bring simple supplies with me so I can invite the other-than-usual into my away creative practice. In early June I packed with the intention to write short poems and play with watercolor paints. “we explore” is my first haiku from our getaway.
• The photo above represents the first post-vacation steps taken with this work in progress. I held a pencil loosely at its top end and made light meandering scribbles that got rid of the ‘blank canvas’ feeling by messing it up a bit as an invitation to make it my own. Then I grabbed a stack of sandwich-wrap papers on which I’d unloaded excess paint when finishing up past projects. Next I color-matched and glued torn bits of that collage fodder to various squares, changing the face of my painting. Very satisfying both artistically and as a way to stay connected to my time in Maine by continuing to interact with what I painted while there.



9 responses to “Lakeside”

  1. Surrounded by lapping water! Hope with lots of sunshine.

    Wicked and cute! Interesting combination!

    Love your messing around a distinctive grid pattern.

    Time to explore,enjoy, and rest. Gather you do have wifi!

    Like

    1. To be clear, I am posting now, belatedly, poems from our June vacation. During which, we did enjoy lots of sunshine, as well as some equally delightful rain.

      Re “wicked”: was that in the vernacular before you moved to Israel? I think it was in place when I moved to eastern MA in the 70’s. See this link <https://www.google.com/search?q=%22wicked%22+as+a+new+england+adjective&oq=%22wicked%22+as+a+new+england+adjective&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCTExNTI2ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8>.

      The cottage in which we stayed totally lived up to its name. A tiny wicked cute rustic 1930’s camp that very appealingly maintained its 1930’s-ness while also unobtrusively featuring “mod cons” such as wifi : )

      I had great fun messing around with my “distinctive grid pattern”—thanks for appreciating, Carol.

      Like

  2. Joyful Puttering Avatar
    Joyful Puttering

    Best idea ever: leave both the stressful and the wonderful at home, in favor of embracing the other-than-usual while away!

    I’m going to adopt that very thinking!!!

    Your haiku transports me to the pond, and I love how the subtle interaction with your checkerboard transports you back there too. Delightful post Dotty!

    Like

    1. MaryAnn, thanks for picking up on my noting that I leave both the stressful and the wonderful at home; it took me many years to recognize that, for me, a getaway wasn’t just a vacation from the stresses and responsibilities of home and work, but that getting away meant getting away from everything—fantastic friends, pleasant routines, and familiar comforts included, so as to embrace as fully as possible all the unknown gifts, stimulation, surprises, and nourishment that might come my way as a result of the change-up.

      I’m guessing that you, having just returned from a trip away, might be chock full of the away as you weave it into the fabric of your changed-by-change self back at home.

      Love that my haiku transports you, and I appreciate that you appreciate how my checkerboard transports me back to that pond setting also : )

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Joyful Puttering Avatar
    Joyful Puttering

    Yes yes yes!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. All those laps and lapping! And the soft jewel tones in your artwork add a “lapidary-ness” to these laps!

    I so appreciate your vacation practice of leaving stressful and wonderful at home, leaving room for all sorts of things. YES!

    The soft layers of this art piece are as satisfying as salt water taffy…yum. xoxo

    Like

    1. LOLA! Thank you for the gift of rare gems of midafternoon poetry in your comments … the jewel tones, lapidary-ness, and salt water taffy! I am lapping up the lyrical feedback with such delight! You’ve heightened my perceptions and affirmed the pleasures I enjoyed while painting. Thank you! xoxo

      Like

  5. Oh that sounds so delightful! Fun, Fun, Fun! ;o)

    Like

    1. Totally delightful! I was agog when we first arrived and checked out our digs, entranced when I discovered that even from the back of the house I could see the lake!!

      Liked by 1 person

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My Story

In 2014, I grab an unexpected opportunity to paint.

To make art.

I get hooked.

In 2015 I start a blog—a diary of my creative practice.

I post my paintings and their stories. The good, the bad, the ugly.

In 2025 I begin writing poetry and include a poem and painting in each post.

My compass points: shake hands with fear, be playful, get messy, trust my gut.

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