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 The Pretender final image

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

The final image of The Pretender from the music by Jackson Browne.  This first thing that is noticed is how small this painting is to those canvases that are around it.   The second perception is how strong this work stands, and how easily it makes its presence apparent in the room.  Obviously, it is the addition of the three other canvases that feel to be well placed, well balanced, and together add interest and uniqueness to the work. Although far from perfect, this artist never strives long for perfection.  Artistic perfection is a journey, a quest, an adventure, but never the goal.

Again, the colors appear, a little strong on my monitor, but a lot has to do with lighting, and this image is as close to reality as time an effort permit. Another thing that is wondered about with this type of work is how do you frame them.  I believe, to stabilize an artwork over time, a good frame is important, and yet, look at the challenge.  The thought is that someday to frame the main canvas and do cut outs around the three smaller attached pieces. Since the smaller canvases are fairly heavy and well constructed, they will probably maintain their shape well into the future, if the main canvas is well framed.

This work comes off well.  The words used can relate to the music, but they also can have many different meanings to the viewer.  The colors are varied and interesting, and they seem to all work well together, and with the music.  The work flows nicely from left to right with a soft beginning and a dynamic ending.

Now, next up is a very, very large project.  What this artist needs to do to make his statement is that is going to be attempted next.  This artist plans on over the next couple of years to do  Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.  All twelve parts will be done on thirteen canvases starting with Summer RV 315, part 1, the first minute or so, of the Allegro non molto, which is the thirteenth work. This part of part one of Summer, just feels right to do as a separate work, especially considering how different it is from the rest of the Allegro. I do understand that there is a huge amount of knowledge that has to be learned about Vivaldi and this music, but for now I am going by this artist rules, until future knowledge says else wise

Then when all the pieces of The Four Seasons are completed, and framed, the thought is to put them on exhibition.  The plan, right now, is to put each Season in its own area and have the music playing in the background to match. The location for the first display will probably be here, where I live, and then hopefully we can go on the road, maybe to Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago.

We shall see.  Right now this is all only a dream.  Not a single thing as been accomplished so far, besides the birth of an idea. There will be many obstacles, and not just time and money. We will all learn what this artist is made of.

Thanks, to all of you that have commented and click the Like button.  We are on our way.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H The Pretender image5

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

The Pretender 20 inches by 5 feet (1.524m) with three add on canvases.  The colors are appearing a little on the bright side on my monitor, so there is still some work to be done, to offer a realistic representation.

This week and more, have been filled with interruptions and other obligations, but no matter,  the time that is spent with this work have produced, small, but productive efforts.

The song and the words of The Pretender are soft and reflective, while still maintaining a rock beat.  This is a constant reminder when it comes to color choices.  It is important to maintain the mood of  this music, so that is why the blues and darker purples are there. The splashes of bright color add musical and artist contrasts, because, in many ways, this is an upbeat song:  it is the excepting of one’s own fate, and then getting on with it.

Musical slurs are a part of this painting. You see a lot of them on the lower right added canvas.  They have been evolving, in style, a lot this last year.  The  issue with slurs has always been how to make them stand out. That is where the different colored boxes help to do.  The boxes eliminated the need to work with the painting’s background color.

Now, after doing a number of canvases, with this  slur -in-box style, there has been some questioning. Going back to Van Gogh, again, and looking at a number of his olive tree paintings from 1889, the wonder is could Van Gogh’s late style be worked into these slurs, to open up the look?  Hum?

Hopefully this artwork will be done this week, which would be about a month spent.  That time spent is to long for a work of this size.  But, since finished works are display only a few months and then stored away, it may be time that is do to it.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H The Pretender image4

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

The Pretender the music of Jackson Browne.  Why, are there not more colors.  Sure there are a lots of reds, yellows, blues greens, and some mixture of them all, but at times, they all appear, in their groups, to be much the same no matter what names they are given.  I need more colors.  It feels limited that there are only three primary colors red, yellow, and blue. I could use a forth.  Until then I have been mixing combos like Diarylide Yellow and Indian Yellow Hue, or Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold and Quinacridone Magenta, just looking for something different, that works.

Listening to Love Shack – The B-52’s

Not caring about those splotches of blue on the shafts.  When that happens, and it happens without notice, something is going to have to be done to make them work with the painting.  Everything evolves, and what looked decent at first can, like now, lose its appeal as other shapes and colors come forward. At times colors are tired, and then over painted, when they fail to work.  It is all very subjective: a quick look and the answer is clearly, yes or no.  There is rarely the feeling of that will have to do, except at the end.  When it is over, and time to move on, then good enough, is just that, good enough.

An artwork grows from nothing to something. It is that something that holds, at first all the big dreams and expectations of the artist.  And then, reality finally sets in hard after a few weeks, and the artist accepts what the painting always did know: time is not unlimited, but life is, and whatever that final something is is all that can be expected.  Time to move on.

Seal – Kiss From a Rose

There has been a lot of distractions interfering and limiting art time, this week. But out of all the interference and idea has developed to finally market this art. When this work is completed, that next new project, large in scope could change everything, and could span a couple of years.  We shall see.

Listening to Vivaldi – Opus 3 no2 in G minor -L’estro Armonico

Scott Von Holzen