Painting

Two New Paintings…or a Diptych?

I can't decide whether this is two paintings or one diptych?

Painting #1:

YellowDashes-wm
I took a photo of it in black and white — to make sure there was balance:

Yellow-bw-wm
And here are some details:

Yellow-detail1-wm
Yellow-detail1-wm
Yellow-detail1-wm
Painting #2:

RedBurst-wm
And a photo in black and white to check the balance and composition without the clutter of color:

Red-bw-wm
And some details:

Red-detail1-wm
Red-detail1-wm
Red-detail1-wm
And here are the two paintings together:

Diptych-wm
What do you think?  Do they belong together or perfectly fine apart?

I'd love to know!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

203 thoughts on “Two New Paintings…or a Diptych?

  • Together, the longer I study the last photos. What grabbed me was the continuation of the plus marks. Love these!

    Reply
  • Together, the longer I study the last photos. What grabbed me was the continuation of the plus marks. Love these!

    Reply
  • Together, the longer I study the last photos. What grabbed me was the continuation of the plus marks. Love these!

    Reply
  • Together, the longer I study the last photos. What grabbed me was the continuation of the plus marks. Love these!

    Reply
  • Together, the longer I study the last photos. What grabbed me was the continuation of the plus marks. Love these!

    Reply
  • Together, the longer I study the last photos. What grabbed me was the continuation of the plus marks. Love these!

    Reply
  • Together, the longer I study the last photos. What grabbed me was the continuation of the plus marks. Love these!

    Reply
  • These belong together!

    Reply
  • These belong together!

    Reply
  • These belong together!

    Reply
  • These belong together!

    Reply
  • These belong together!

    Reply
  • These belong together!

    Reply
  • These belong together!

    Reply
  • i also vote together! (though each could stand alone, i think together is greater than the sum of the parts)

    Reply
  • i also vote together! (though each could stand alone, i think together is greater than the sum of the parts)

    Reply
  • i also vote together! (though each could stand alone, i think together is greater than the sum of the parts)

    Reply
  • i also vote together! (though each could stand alone, i think together is greater than the sum of the parts)

    Reply
  • i also vote together! (though each could stand alone, i think together is greater than the sum of the parts)

    Reply
  • i also vote together! (though each could stand alone, i think together is greater than the sum of the parts)

    Reply
  • i also vote together! (though each could stand alone, i think together is greater than the sum of the parts)

    Reply
  • Together. There are repeat symbols in each of them like the circles and pluses. But there also seems to be a directional flow between each that moves th3 eye around like the feather that starts on the left and moves to the right and the crosses on the left hand piece and the one that is on the 2nd one.

    Reply
  • Together. There are repeat symbols in each of them like the circles and pluses. But there also seems to be a directional flow between each that moves th3 eye around like the feather that starts on the left and moves to the right and the crosses on the left hand piece and the one that is on the 2nd one.

    Reply
  • Together. There are repeat symbols in each of them like the circles and pluses. But there also seems to be a directional flow between each that moves th3 eye around like the feather that starts on the left and moves to the right and the crosses on the left hand piece and the one that is on the 2nd one.

    Reply
  • Together. There are repeat symbols in each of them like the circles and pluses. But there also seems to be a directional flow between each that moves th3 eye around like the feather that starts on the left and moves to the right and the crosses on the left hand piece and the one that is on the 2nd one.

    Reply
  • Together. There are repeat symbols in each of them like the circles and pluses. But there also seems to be a directional flow between each that moves th3 eye around like the feather that starts on the left and moves to the right and the crosses on the left hand piece and the one that is on the 2nd one.

    Reply
  • Together. There are repeat symbols in each of them like the circles and pluses. But there also seems to be a directional flow between each that moves th3 eye around like the feather that starts on the left and moves to the right and the crosses on the left hand piece and the one that is on the 2nd one.

    Reply
  • Together. There are repeat symbols in each of them like the circles and pluses. But there also seems to be a directional flow between each that moves th3 eye around like the feather that starts on the left and moves to the right and the crosses on the left hand piece and the one that is on the 2nd one.

    Reply
  • They’re beautiful and would be lovely hung either way, but I vote for them to be together. There seems to me to be a very natural flow between the two that speaks to me.

    Reply
  • They’re beautiful and would be lovely hung either way, but I vote for them to be together. There seems to me to be a very natural flow between the two that speaks to me.

    Reply
  • They’re beautiful and would be lovely hung either way, but I vote for them to be together. There seems to me to be a very natural flow between the two that speaks to me.

    Reply
  • They’re beautiful and would be lovely hung either way, but I vote for them to be together. There seems to me to be a very natural flow between the two that speaks to me.

    Reply
  • They’re beautiful and would be lovely hung either way, but I vote for them to be together. There seems to me to be a very natural flow between the two that speaks to me.

    Reply
  • They’re beautiful and would be lovely hung either way, but I vote for them to be together. There seems to me to be a very natural flow between the two that speaks to me.

    Reply
  • They’re beautiful and would be lovely hung either way, but I vote for them to be together. There seems to me to be a very natural flow between the two that speaks to me.

    Reply
  • I like them together the yellow feather/flow brings them together

    Reply
  • I like them together the yellow feather/flow brings them together

    Reply
  • I like them together the yellow feather/flow brings them together

    Reply
  • I like them together the yellow feather/flow brings them together

    Reply
  • I like them together the yellow feather/flow brings them together

    Reply
  • I like them together the yellow feather/flow brings them together

    Reply
  • I like them together the yellow feather/flow brings them together

    Reply
  • though each can stand alone, i prefer them together. exponential impact!

    Reply
  • though each can stand alone, i prefer them together. exponential impact!

    Reply
  • though each can stand alone, i prefer them together. exponential impact!

    Reply
  • though each can stand alone, i prefer them together. exponential impact!

    Reply
  • though each can stand alone, i prefer them together. exponential impact!

    Reply
  • though each can stand alone, i prefer them together. exponential impact!

    Reply
  • though each can stand alone, i prefer them together. exponential impact!

    Reply
  • I like them together, simply beautiful work Julie☮️

    Reply
  • I like them together, simply beautiful work Julie☮️

    Reply
  • I like them together, simply beautiful work Julie☮️

    Reply
  • I like them together, simply beautiful work Julie☮️

    Reply
  • I like them together, simply beautiful work Julie☮️

    Reply
  • I like them together, simply beautiful work Julie☮️

    Reply
  • I like them together, simply beautiful work Julie☮️

    Reply
  • I like them together.

    Reply
  • I like them together.

    Reply
  • I like them together.

    Reply
  • I like them together.

    Reply
  • I like them together.

    Reply
  • I like them together.

    Reply
  • I like them together.

    Reply
  • Beautiful! But I’m going countercurrent, and saying separate, because I find that the bold red Xs in the first one overpower the second painting, so you can’t appreciate the subtlety of the second one. But that’s only an opinion.

    Reply
  • Beautiful! But I’m going countercurrent, and saying separate, because I find that the bold red Xs in the first one overpower the second painting, so you can’t appreciate the subtlety of the second one. But that’s only an opinion.

    Reply
  • Beautiful! But I’m going countercurrent, and saying separate, because I find that the bold red Xs in the first one overpower the second painting, so you can’t appreciate the subtlety of the second one. But that’s only an opinion.

    Reply
  • Beautiful! But I’m going countercurrent, and saying separate, because I find that the bold red Xs in the first one overpower the second painting, so you can’t appreciate the subtlety of the second one. But that’s only an opinion.

    Reply
  • Beautiful! But I’m going countercurrent, and saying separate, because I find that the bold red Xs in the first one overpower the second painting, so you can’t appreciate the subtlety of the second one. But that’s only an opinion.

    Reply
  • Beautiful! But I’m going countercurrent, and saying separate, because I find that the bold red Xs in the first one overpower the second painting, so you can’t appreciate the subtlety of the second one. But that’s only an opinion.

    Reply
  • Beautiful! But I’m going countercurrent, and saying separate, because I find that the bold red Xs in the first one overpower the second painting, so you can’t appreciate the subtlety of the second one. But that’s only an opinion.

    Reply
  • I like them together, they seem to balance each other out.

    Reply
  • I like them together, they seem to balance each other out.

    Reply
  • I like them together, they seem to balance each other out.

    Reply
  • I like them together, they seem to balance each other out.

    Reply
  • I like them together, they seem to balance each other out.

    Reply
  • I like them together, they seem to balance each other out.

    Reply
  • I like them together, they seem to balance each other out.

    Reply
  • I vote for them being together…bigger impact. Love the colors

    Reply
  • I vote for them being together…bigger impact. Love the colors

    Reply
  • I vote for them being together…bigger impact. Love the colors

    Reply
  • I vote for them being together…bigger impact. Love the colors

    Reply
  • I vote for them being together…bigger impact. Love the colors

    Reply
  • I vote for them being together…bigger impact. Love the colors

    Reply
  • I vote for them being together…bigger impact. Love the colors

    Reply
  • I like them together as well, but as individual pieces, not one on top of another. As others have said the flow and repetition of the elements makes them cohesive and much more attractive than a stand alone project. Great Job!

    Reply
  • I like them together as well, but as individual pieces, not one on top of another. As others have said the flow and repetition of the elements makes them cohesive and much more attractive than a stand alone project. Great Job!

    Reply
  • I like them together as well, but as individual pieces, not one on top of another. As others have said the flow and repetition of the elements makes them cohesive and much more attractive than a stand alone project. Great Job!

    Reply
  • I like them together as well, but as individual pieces, not one on top of another. As others have said the flow and repetition of the elements makes them cohesive and much more attractive than a stand alone project. Great Job!

    Reply
  • I like them together as well, but as individual pieces, not one on top of another. As others have said the flow and repetition of the elements makes them cohesive and much more attractive than a stand alone project. Great Job!

    Reply
  • I like them together as well, but as individual pieces, not one on top of another. As others have said the flow and repetition of the elements makes them cohesive and much more attractive than a stand alone project. Great Job!

    Reply
  • I like them together as well, but as individual pieces, not one on top of another. As others have said the flow and repetition of the elements makes them cohesive and much more attractive than a stand alone project. Great Job!

    Reply
  • they would make a great journal two-page spread.

    Reply
  • they would make a great journal two-page spread.

    Reply
  • they would make a great journal two-page spread.

    Reply
  • they would make a great journal two-page spread.

    Reply
  • they would make a great journal two-page spread.

    Reply
  • they would make a great journal two-page spread.

    Reply
  • they would make a great journal two-page spread.

    Reply
  • I do think they each work fine alone, but I love them as a diptych! Great work Julie!

    Reply
  • I do think they each work fine alone, but I love them as a diptych! Great work Julie!

    Reply
  • I do think they each work fine alone, but I love them as a diptych! Great work Julie!

    Reply
  • I do think they each work fine alone, but I love them as a diptych! Great work Julie!

    Reply
  • I do think they each work fine alone, but I love them as a diptych! Great work Julie!

    Reply
  • I do think they each work fine alone, but I love them as a diptych! Great work Julie!

    Reply
  • I do think they each work fine alone, but I love them as a diptych! Great work Julie!

    Reply
  • I definitely think TOGETHER. 🙂 They show a flow that creates a larger world with both images.
    🙂 Linda

    Reply
  • I definitely think TOGETHER. 🙂 They show a flow that creates a larger world with both images.
    🙂 Linda

    Reply
  • I definitely think TOGETHER. 🙂 They show a flow that creates a larger world with both images.
    🙂 Linda

    Reply
  • I definitely think TOGETHER. 🙂 They show a flow that creates a larger world with both images.
    🙂 Linda

    Reply
  • I definitely think TOGETHER. 🙂 They show a flow that creates a larger world with both images.
    🙂 Linda

    Reply
  • I definitely think TOGETHER. 🙂 They show a flow that creates a larger world with both images.
    🙂 Linda

    Reply
  • I definitely think TOGETHER. 🙂 They show a flow that creates a larger world with both images.
    🙂 Linda

    Reply
  • Either one can definitely stand on it’s own, but I think it is a stronger composition with them together. Love seeing your process!

    Reply
  • Either one can definitely stand on it’s own, but I think it is a stronger composition with them together. Love seeing your process!

    Reply
  • Either one can definitely stand on it’s own, but I think it is a stronger composition with them together. Love seeing your process!

    Reply
  • Either one can definitely stand on it’s own, but I think it is a stronger composition with them together. Love seeing your process!

    Reply
  • Either one can definitely stand on it’s own, but I think it is a stronger composition with them together. Love seeing your process!

    Reply
  • Either one can definitely stand on it’s own, but I think it is a stronger composition with them together. Love seeing your process!

    Reply
  • Either one can definitely stand on it’s own, but I think it is a stronger composition with them together. Love seeing your process!

    Reply
  • Definitely together ! Bigger visual impact !

    Reply
  • Definitely together ! Bigger visual impact !

    Reply
  • Definitely together ! Bigger visual impact !

    Reply
  • Definitely together ! Bigger visual impact !

    Reply
  • Definitely together ! Bigger visual impact !

    Reply
  • Definitely together ! Bigger visual impact !

    Reply
  • Definitely together ! Bigger visual impact !

    Reply
  • I see them as together.

    Reply
  • I see them as together.

    Reply
  • I see them as together.

    Reply
  • I see them as together.

    Reply
  • I see them as together.

    Reply
  • I see them as together.

    Reply
  • I see them as together.

    Reply
  • I like them both ways. If you hang them together separate framing would be my preference.
    I think the one on the right could use a bit more detail.

    Reply
  • I like them both ways. If you hang them together separate framing would be my preference.
    I think the one on the right could use a bit more detail.

    Reply
  • I like them both ways. If you hang them together separate framing would be my preference.
    I think the one on the right could use a bit more detail.

    Reply
  • I like them both ways. If you hang them together separate framing would be my preference.
    I think the one on the right could use a bit more detail.

    Reply
  • I like them both ways. If you hang them together separate framing would be my preference.
    I think the one on the right could use a bit more detail.

    Reply
  • I like them both ways. If you hang them together separate framing would be my preference.
    I think the one on the right could use a bit more detail.

    Reply
  • I like them both ways. If you hang them together separate framing would be my preference.
    I think the one on the right could use a bit more detail.

    Reply
  • I think they flow together

    Reply
  • I think they flow together

    Reply
  • I think they flow together

    Reply
  • I think they flow together

    Reply
  • I think they flow together

    Reply
  • I think they flow together

    Reply
  • I think they flow together

    Reply
  • I think they can stand up on their own, but they look so nice paired together. Love these!

    Reply
  • I think they can stand up on their own, but they look so nice paired together. Love these!

    Reply
  • I think they can stand up on their own, but they look so nice paired together. Love these!

    Reply
  • I think they can stand up on their own, but they look so nice paired together. Love these!

    Reply
  • I think they can stand up on their own, but they look so nice paired together. Love these!

    Reply
  • I think they can stand up on their own, but they look so nice paired together. Love these!

    Reply
  • I think they can stand up on their own, but they look so nice paired together. Love these!

    Reply
  • I like them alone, but think they are better together.

    Reply
  • I like them alone, but think they are better together.

    Reply
  • I like them alone, but think they are better together.

    Reply
  • I like them alone, but think they are better together.

    Reply
  • I like them alone, but think they are better together.

    Reply
  • I like them alone, but think they are better together.

    Reply
  • I like them alone, but think they are better together.

    Reply
  • Together, but, I think the one on the right is upside down.

    Reply
  • Together, but, I think the one on the right is upside down.

    Reply
  • Together, but, I think the one on the right is upside down.

    Reply
  • Together, but, I think the one on the right is upside down.

    Reply
  • Together, but, I think the one on the right is upside down.

    Reply
  • Together, but, I think the one on the right is upside down.

    Reply
  • Together, but, I think the one on the right is upside down.

    Reply
  • these paintings can stand alone or as a diptych. So depending on wall space, they can go either way.
    Great job!

    Reply
  • these paintings can stand alone or as a diptych. So depending on wall space, they can go either way.
    Great job!

    Reply
  • these paintings can stand alone or as a diptych. So depending on wall space, they can go either way.
    Great job!

    Reply
  • these paintings can stand alone or as a diptych. So depending on wall space, they can go either way.
    Great job!

    Reply
  • these paintings can stand alone or as a diptych. So depending on wall space, they can go either way.
    Great job!

    Reply
  • these paintings can stand alone or as a diptych. So depending on wall space, they can go either way.
    Great job!

    Reply
  • these paintings can stand alone or as a diptych. So depending on wall space, they can go either way.
    Great job!

    Reply
  • These are lovely! The directional flow and the repetition of patterns do provide cohesion. However, the two seem unbalanced to me. The Left seems heavier with more of the darker colors and holds my eyes on that piece. You checked the balance of each, but did you try them together in black and white? Of course, it could be me that is out of balance…it wouldn’t be the first time 😉 Both are beautiful, but I would hang them separately.

    Reply
  • These are lovely! The directional flow and the repetition of patterns do provide cohesion. However, the two seem unbalanced to me. The Left seems heavier with more of the darker colors and holds my eyes on that piece. You checked the balance of each, but did you try them together in black and white? Of course, it could be me that is out of balance…it wouldn’t be the first time 😉 Both are beautiful, but I would hang them separately.

    Reply
  • These are lovely! The directional flow and the repetition of patterns do provide cohesion. However, the two seem unbalanced to me. The Left seems heavier with more of the darker colors and holds my eyes on that piece. You checked the balance of each, but did you try them together in black and white? Of course, it could be me that is out of balance…it wouldn’t be the first time 😉 Both are beautiful, but I would hang them separately.

    Reply
  • These are lovely! The directional flow and the repetition of patterns do provide cohesion. However, the two seem unbalanced to me. The Left seems heavier with more of the darker colors and holds my eyes on that piece. You checked the balance of each, but did you try them together in black and white? Of course, it could be me that is out of balance…it wouldn’t be the first time 😉 Both are beautiful, but I would hang them separately.

    Reply
  • These are lovely! The directional flow and the repetition of patterns do provide cohesion. However, the two seem unbalanced to me. The Left seems heavier with more of the darker colors and holds my eyes on that piece. You checked the balance of each, but did you try them together in black and white? Of course, it could be me that is out of balance…it wouldn’t be the first time 😉 Both are beautiful, but I would hang them separately.

    Reply
  • These are lovely! The directional flow and the repetition of patterns do provide cohesion. However, the two seem unbalanced to me. The Left seems heavier with more of the darker colors and holds my eyes on that piece. You checked the balance of each, but did you try them together in black and white? Of course, it could be me that is out of balance…it wouldn’t be the first time 😉 Both are beautiful, but I would hang them separately.

    Reply
  • These are lovely! The directional flow and the repetition of patterns do provide cohesion. However, the two seem unbalanced to me. The Left seems heavier with more of the darker colors and holds my eyes on that piece. You checked the balance of each, but did you try them together in black and white? Of course, it could be me that is out of balance…it wouldn’t be the first time 😉 Both are beautiful, but I would hang them separately.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *