The cool thing about making art that's inspired by music is that I am always one web search away from discovering a new favorite song.
As I create more themed collections of my art, I am provided with more and more opportunities to explore bands and singers I have overlooked in the past, sometimes with delightful results.
And sometimes not.
I am very much a creature of habit when it comes to my music.
This makes a certain sense, in a way. Visually for me the world is chaotic, loud, disjointed and often overwhelming so it makes sense that when I seek out music or other sounds I prefer things that are gentle, soothing, and familiar.
I'm sensitive to sound to begin with, so being unexpectedly confronted with something loud, jarring, or unpleasant gives me the urge to cover my ears and howl like a basset hound. I have managed to hold on to my dignity enough not to resort to that, but I have more than once had to leave a store, restaurant, or other public place because I just could NOT deal with whatever was playing in the background at that moment. Like it was physically painful. ,
I guess that makes me a little difficult, but it's better than biting someone, which feels like a real possibility if I'm left stuck someplace where I'm overwhelmed both visually and audibly.
Hooray for online shopping.
The thing is, though, I like discovering new music. Having a new song to love is the best feeling ever, well except for maybe dog cuddles and the quiet rumble of a purring cat, but as far as human made sounds, finding new music is one of the best, so even though it's risky I tend to find the payoff worth it.
And if finding a new song to love also inspires me to make new music that's double best.
But the catch is that I can't fake it.
People think that "painting music" is easy. All I have to do is slap a few strokes on a colorful background, stick a price tag on it and wait. However, it isn't that simple. if I don't enjoy hearing a song, if it doesn't resonate with me in a pleasant way, I can't get anything from it. The art I try to make in those circumstances feels forced, and it shows in the final piece. Or failed piece, I should say.
This approach disappoints some people, but it saves an awful lot of time. It means my work has a built in fail safe that guarantees my authenticity because if I'm not feeling it, I can't paint it.
I am bound by Shakespeare's commandment and must to my own self be true.
Image of The Plays of William Shakespeare vol 1 provided by The Met's Open Access Initiative
- Title: The Plays of William Shakespeare, vol. 1, containing The Tempest, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Merry Wives of Windsor
- Author: William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon)
- Editor: Alexander Chalmers, A.M. (British (born Scotland), Aberdeen 1759–1834 London)
- Editor: George Steevens (British, Stepney 1734–1800 Hampstead)
- Illustrator: Henry Fuseli (Swiss, Zürich 1741–1825 London)
- Engraver: James Neagle (British, London 1765–1822 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Engraver: William Bromley (British, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight 1769–1842)
- Printer: C. and R. Baldwin (British, active London 1804–10)
- Publisher: F. C. & J. Rivington (London)
- Publisher: John Johnson (London)
- Published in: London
- Date: 1805
- Medium: Illustrations: etching and engraving
- Dimensions: 8 9/16 x 5 9/16 x 1 1/2 in. (21.8 x 14.2 x 3.8 cm)
- Classification: Books
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1971
- Object Number: 1971.559.10(1)
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints