The music of Vivaldi, 3 panel 24 inches by eleven feet.  There was a lot of tweaking that has gone on with the background before adding the notes.  The confidence in what is being attempted with the background,  is just not there.   Even after all of those small modifications.  The idea is solid just the execution is in questioned.

Antonio Vivaldi’s music is exceptional.  This artist listens to his works and feels better connected to him, at this time, than the music of Chopin, Beethoven, or the perennial favorite Mozart.  Ah, Mozart. Understand at this point there is so much knowledge that is lacking that this artist can only base his musical validity on the  fact that music plays in his life in as many hours can be had.

Right now Imagine (painted) by John Lennon is playing on the computer.  On the way to work either the iPod, on the bike, or the SD card in the Pontiac are spinning the tunes. At work its the iTunes player and some 4700 of current 11500 pieces of music in the digital collection, played through a pair of decent speakers and a sub woofer, at any level desired.  This artist office room is near the server room which is far enough way from the rest of the office staff to be little of a distraction.  Maybe, a small distraction when walking by the office door, but that is done on purpose.

You see , when coming to and walking away from the office, the music is either a greeting or a farewell. Rare is the time that the job creates tensions that stops the music.  At home mowing the lawn, trimming and blowing all works better with ear protection and the iPod.  Even house cleaning, or home improvement projects, all go better with the help of the streaming service Pandora and the iPod. Going for walks also could not be done without the iPod.  Driving my wife’s car requires the moving of the music player to her car, because all she listens to is country.  Sorry, there is some rare, great country music, but most of it is, disposable. Now, listening to Vivaldi’s Concerto in G minor, huh.

Still there is the knowledge that the more this artist tries to better himself in the basics of Music Theory, or even leaning to play the piano, the more knowledge and skill is desired.   This artist is constantly humbled by those great Composers, and artists that bring life to music, and critical of his own lack of musical credibility.  Things will change, in time, if time permits.  With working full time, and other obligations, this artist is tired each day he returns home to the studio. So, yes things will change in time. If time is hopefully generous.  Now listening to Jackson Browne, huh.

Scott Von Holzen

Vivaldi 3 panel 24 inches by eleven feet. This art needs to evolve and move swiftly along, and that is what you are seeing above. Since this artist quit painting in the early eighties, and only restarted in 2005, a lot of time needs to be made up.   Of course, that will never really happen.  It is OK.   It is understandable.  It is what pushes this artist everyday.

Now, what are we looking at here.  It is a convincingly honest attempt if you understand that each of these works demands uniqueness.  It is a wonder that as this art matures that so many options find there way to the canvas.  So what we see here new is a representation of  the horizontal lines and spaces of a musical staff.  The swirly lines are also a representation of the horizontal lines and spaces of a musical staff.  This is a take off of the evolution of the Slur and Tie in this art. Sheet music has its rigid rules, but this art is flexible,  while staying true to the rock solid flow of the music.  That flow ties this art to a particular piece of music.  But from there, this art has little in common sheet music. So keeping the musical flow is a must but everything else is up for creative expression.

Is this a turning point, or directional change, not sure.  For sure the advantage of painting the horizontal lines in this matter creates added left to right movement, which is a paramount consideration.The first impression just turning and looking at the work is positive.  This may not be a masterpiece, yet, but  since the Birthday painting is coming up in a few days, there is a thought that this paintings influence will show up.  We shall see.

Scott Von Holzen

Vivaldi’s Larghetto.  While reading the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die, there is early in,a painting by Masaccio called Tribute Money.  What is special about this special painting was the interesting colors of the robes.  This painting is looking to that painting to see how the different robe colors contrast  and balance with each other, and how tints of blue, red, and green  can be used in the background of this painting to give this work that classical feel. That is the thought, but ideas have a tendency to evolve,  most of the time that is a given.   That then leads to a work going its own way no matter what great ideas are thought of at the start: Art just happens.

The heat and work has worn down any momentum that this work deserves.  It is even hard to put down these words.  Time for a break.  Break.

Looking at the painting after working some new colors into the canvas, there is a desire to try to find a new way of applying the colors.  Just think, artists have been using a basic tool, the brush, using all kinds of materials, from animal hair, to natural fibers, to synthetic, all connected mostly to a stick.   It is about control and precision, understandable, but still there is a drive to somehow find a unique style with this most used artist tool.  That probably will not happen not just yet, the time does not seem right, and the focus certainly is missing. Its like the desire to find new colors to use, somehow, someway of placing color on canvas is yet to be found that will satisfy the dream of this artist.

Scott Von Holzen