Music Inside Paint

I want to take a minute and talk about music. I would say it's the single most important source of inspiration for my painting process aside from personal emotions. I love music and what it does for me in the long, long, LONG hours I sit in front of a painting.

{This tiny dancer took inspiration from Elton John's Tiny Dancer}

{Strutters strutting - inspired by Strutter from Kiss} Allll the live long hours I've mentioned planted in front of an easel can be gruesome. They can be the antithesis of inspired. And when you have a deadline and NEED to be inspired to get through a painting, music in headphones is your best bet. Or at least it is for me.

In that music I allow myself to be open to wherever a particular song wants to take me. With this last series of paintings for Before I Hide Away - Tool, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Ween and Mastodon were in HEAVY rotation, supplying the perfect amount of depth, heaviness and wonder - taking me from point A to point Z. The music mixes with the emotions each story is based on in every painting. It clears my mind from any distraction, and helps me tune in to every brush stroke...which otherwise can be difficult for me.

{"Oblivion" carved on the inside of this figure's arm as I sat listening to Mastodon's Oblivion} Listening to Mastodon was a great way to feel empowered when I was stuck in uncertainty and needed to just trust myself to pull a painting out of it. Their music has such positive aggression and strength. I definitely needed that at times.

{"Your Song" from Elton John is one of my most favorite Elton songs, I incorporated it here} My show title "Before I Hide Away" was borrowed from a lyric in Tool's "Reflection" that I was listening to over and over (among other songs by Tool), I changed it a bit to suit my show. Lyrics set to music have such a surreal quality, and so many fill my mind as the hours press on while working. Annnnnd you never know where, how or what will spark new ideas.

{My painting titled "I Don't Hear You Anymore" was completely sparked from that lyric in Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" after years of it swimming inside my brain} The actual circus feel to this last series was inspired by Pink Floyd's "The Trial" which has a very surreal sense of losing your mind. I was able to see Roger Waters perform The Wall at the Coliseum in LA. I just about died it was so inspiring. And when he finally got to The Trial...guh, I can't even tell you...

{"Here Alone With You" illustrates what music means to me, among other things} Music is everything. I'm envious of musicians. They're so naked in the world, even more so than artists. I love them for it. So thank you thank you Elton John, Pink Floyd, Tool, Ween and Mastodon for what you've given me.