Rorschach Gone Wild, based on “Shining” 
original “shining”
Discourse upon “RORSCHACH GONE WILD”
This exemplifies an approach to creating a new painting which I have used in various ways for my abstract watercolors.
I lay down a design using a variety of colors and means of modification (salt sprinkled onto the wet surface; plain water added to a section of paint a bit before it dries, plastic wrap crinkled over wet paint…)
Then I add form to it in some way, e.g. highlighting areas with brush lines. An earlier post, “Abstract Flow”, uses the same approach, with glazes of darker paint highlighting shapes I saw in the first state.
In this case, I wanted to paint out parts of my starting design. For this piece, I scanned the original watercolor and went to Photoshop for further manipulation. That way, I could experiment with several approaches without losing the original. I experimented with blacking out a few parts of the painting until I liked the effect, and added a black background; copied and flipped the design to face the other way and placed the two versions together to form a different effect; and outlined all the colored portions. I kind of liked it. I showed it to my husband (a neurobiologist), who said, “Oh! A section of nerve cord!”…
But he also saw two couples kissing (the “Trump Kissers” — can you find them?). Meanwhile I saw two conjoined turkey carcasses, and a Rorschach butterfly.
I hope someone who sees this will tell me what they see here!
the original (“Shining”): 1. indicates some of the places where kosher salt was sprinkled on the still-wet area and allowed to dry, then brushed off. 2. indicates two areas where I dripped plain water onto a partly-dry area of paint to create flow patterns.
Oh, Margy! It’s endless the things I see!
First, I saw Barack Obama’s ears, thus his form hovering behind puffy orange clouds – rather than his face, he has turned into a feline creature – rather lion-like.
In the lower lobes, the black negative space become herons in flight, moving in opposite directions as they flap their wings in unison.
I see a kissing couple whose brains are in sync, as evidenced by the snakes black line that moves from head to head.
Little seahorses, or maybe embryo twins on the lower part… I’ll stop at that, but more things appear, the longer you look, and shifting the figure/ground is essential to continually seeing new shapes! Very fun!
Oh boy! Your answer is better than I imagined in my wildest dreams… thank you for re-imagining this! It is so sad that you will be leaving the gallery; I just hope that you will continue to visit this online blog and leave your insightful comments.
Today I see the helmets of hockey goalies with sturdy faceguards, standing back to back. Beneath the head area, protective shoulder pads. So maybe that’s an analysis that comes from our need to be on guard against the outside attack of CoVID … The bright colors tell me this is a challenge taken with optimism. Do know I will continue to support this online Salon with commentary, Margy, so make sure you keep me “posted.”
And, the shining piece looks like a battle plan now! Troops are on the move. I like this “explanation” of the effects of kosher salt / water – a great metaphor, really, for substances that easily become one in a “solution” – you make me think of so many things!
First I see a chipmunk-cheeked face with incredibly expressive eyebrows and strangely, no eyes.
On second glance I start studying the two birds, created by negative spaces below the circles. The birds are sometimes flying toward each other, or both flying in the same direction–sometimes to the left and sometimes to the right, depending on how I look at them.
It’s amazing how this alien amoeba, quietly floating through outer space can take the shapes of earthly beings below. 🙂