Author: Scott Von Holzen

I am currently renewing an artistic adventure that first started in 1974, and ended in the early 1980's. A casual comment restarted the quest in art in 2004. Now, at night I am surrounded by artworks done and in progress, shelves full of art books, my music collection playing through a classic NAD amp and a pair of solid, classic free standing speakers, my piano, violin, blues guitar, and saxophone. So all is musical no matter what I am up to in the studio. Since I was a kid I have had the urge to be creative Now, in my later sixties, I am determine to know. I want to follow this to the end to see what these paintings, and all this music amounts to. This is probably the last great adventure I will have, so I am all in. So, watch out for nonstop music, canvases with multiple panels, with paint spread thick or dribbled on, words with meaning, and results that will challenge, push the meaning of music, and may even splash back. This blog's real purpose is to document my story in the making, and you are welcomed to follow along. Thank you for your support. Scotty Von Holzen

S_V_H Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons – Summer- adagio” image5

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons 5 panels,  12 feet in length.  I have completed the main features of this painting.  The efforts now will be on sharpening the edges, improving contrast and  the intensity,  a lot of cleanup, and improving the color and improving the flow.  The background will need some rework to pop-it, and to add interest.   When  talking flow I am referring to the music, which moves across the canvas from left to right.  Every artwork strives to display motion.

The inspiration for these 4 eighth notes, comes from the work of Leo Valledor.  Here is a link to a gallery with some nice examples of his hard edge abstractions. It has been a challenge come up with  designs  for interesting eighth notes.  The last successful depiction of them appeared in the painting Body & Soul from November 2011.  The just completed 2012 Birthday painting shows just how out-of- ideas this artist had to represent the eighth note.

In this work, I needed to finally move beyond Body & Soul.  We  do see this in the triangles, and curved shapes, that make up those four eighth notes.  They remind me of different types of sails attached to the masts of the notes, catching a strong wind.  Although, the look in Body & Soul  works the use of the circle in those eighth notes does resemble other objects in that painting. In this work every part now has its own, style, that will surely evolve.  I should mention that I have fond memories of sailing,  a long time ago, on Lake Mendota in Madison. Little did I know that they would end up being depicted in an artwork.  Doing so feels good.

Listening to Rag Doll – The Four Seasons.  I cannot believe I still like this song. Maybe, it is because I remember this song playing at a  dance when I was maybe 16 or 17 years old.

Stop (Think Again) by the Bee Gees.  What is going on here?

Michael Jackson – Blood On The Dance Floor.

A very mature Sara Vaughn in a nice version of My FunnyValentine  along with one of my favorite County Songs (rare) Unfulfilled by Jessi Alexander

Prince – Purple Rain

Little Bombs – Aimee Mann

Vivaldi – Concerto Grosso In G Minor RV578

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons – Summer-adagio” image4

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons – Summer – adagio,  painting number four of  thirteen needed to complete this series. This artwork consists of 5 canvases with a total length of 12 feet (3.66m).

This painting is coming along, slowly, and will reach a month of work in two more days. This project is similar to the last Autumn piece.  A regret is that taking this long of time to complete a work, at times, can  take a toll on enthusiasm and concentration. Still, I have not found a way or the need to round the corners. Surprisingly, the need to complete this series has not diminished. It is as if Time does not matter, at less when painting Vivaldi.

Listening to Pearl Jam – Gone

Bill Evans – Young And Foolish

Next up is there are four eighth notes, represented in music as this symbol.


Unlike the Birthday painting that also had eighth notes, this time, the search is on to find a new way to depict them.  Of course that will take extra time.

Listening to Red Vines – Aimee Mann

Electric Light Orchestra – Rock And Roll is King

Seal – Don’t Cry

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons – Summer-adagio” image3

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Vivaldi twelve feet in length.  The first photo taken with two White Lighting flashes, using white shoot through umbrellas bounced off the studio ceiling. No matter how I worked the image in Photoshop the orange, used in the above upper images, appears red in color.  It is difficult to duplicate the shades of acrylic paint, and  frustrating  with the amount of time lost, trying to fix the image.  A good likeness for the Cloud that compares well with the artwork will always be a challenge.

The next move was to take the painting outside, and place it in the shade. Looking at this second image there is a difference: the orange is actually orange.  Although both of these images where shot RAW and adjusted, there is something about that huge natural light source that has its advantages.

This video certainly is interesting, in its imperfections, and spontaneity.  The canon 7D  made this video in one take.  Can you tell.  There is only one way to go from here and I really do hope you check back whether you “appreciate” the effort or not.

Listening to Smokin’ Joe Kubek – I Saw It Coming

This is certainly an odd-shaped painting.  Notice that little 4 by 4inch canvas on the left top that depicts that one high note.  Here is another video for this music. The painting comes into play at about 1:25 seconds into the music, and is the third rumble.

The Birthday painting on this last Tuesday, and the continuing business at work, did drained me throughout the rest of the week.  I will get back on track slowly on Monday, and gain momentum on this fourth in a series of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons,  as the week progresses.  That is usually how it works.

Some Final Thoughts on the Birthday painting:
The painting will be strung and taken to work for display.  Not much will come of that, but at less an artwork moves out the door. I do not see the Birthday painting as that creative of a piece. The thought was that since everything goes so much faster, on that one day,  that the opportunity to get crazy with new ideas, would just happen.  It did not happen.  Instead this years Birthday painting turned out as a continuation of last years Van Gogh Birthday painting. It is what it is.

Check on my website for new pricing of the on-line artworks.

Listening to Delbert McClinton – I’ve Got Dreams To Remember

Watt Ever – Phil Keaggy

Chic – Le Freak

Scott Von Holzen