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 Thunder Road final image

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Thunder Road 3 panel 36 inches by 9 feet.
Just few dabs of paint, the cleaning of the canvas edges, and the name, date and signature and this work is finished.  It has been over a month. The song Thunder Road, all ten versions in the collection,  have now a total number of 273 plays.   It would have been more except this last week, the music filter was set for Bruce Springsteen, so another 150 songs were given a chance to be heard.  Of those the one song that stuck a chord, surprisingly was Youngstown, especially the live version.  There will never be enough time in this lifetime to get to that music, but it’s effect lingers, as Thunder Road will for weeks to come.

How would this painting rate, with its rival Hallelujah, and with this artist progress?  The darkness of Hallelujah’s background and the power of blue is hard to criticize, and could have been used with Thunder, but that seemed redundant.  The strength of the violet strip in the middle of Thunder does give it a snap that the Hallelujah lacks.  Thunders eight notes are a lot more intricate in design and colors, but it is not sure that is better then the simpler , and maybe stronger, Hallelujah. The more complicated colors relationships, and shapes use in Thunder, does add considerable more interest.  The notes themselves in Thunder spin across the canvas and are more interesting then the dimmer and basic design used in Hallelujah.  Hallelujah’s word is stronger but its thickness did not seem appropriate in Thunder. Also, more important in Thunder, was that its words blend more with the whole canvases muted color theme.

One thing that grew over the weeks with Thunder, that strongly resembles Hallelujah, and even exceeds it, is its emotional impact of being music of faith. Thunder is not a song about God saving the poor soul, that cannot save itself.  It is bigger then that. It is about the strength of faith in the beliefs of two people, to lift themselves up and above that they once where. Thunder is about a chance for salvation.  Thunder is about a belief greater than any pray to God.  Thunder is about people taking control and responsibility for their own destiny.  Thunder surprised  this artist, and hopefully Thunder will stir a better understanding of what true salvation is about.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Thunder Road image8

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Thunder Road 3 panel 36″ by 9 feet.

Looking for the individual strength of this work to surface, completely, with today being a month into it and more work to go.  This closing phase can be the difficult and long trying to unite the whole work by connecting the pieces, smoothing out the details, refining the impact, balancing the flow, and excepting its limitations.

Today will be a hard day to make much progress being tired and emptied by work, but the energy will return as night approaches and the feelings come back. It is all fine, nothing less is expected, this artist is not ready to go it alone, and work pays the bills.  It is all about switching gears, a phrase that is well understood.  The music helps, listening to Bruce singing Youngstown, The Ghost of Todd Joad, Eyes on the Prize, and Thunder, gets the mind in focus encouraging the heart to remember why. Louder is better.

There is a concern that this work maybe too decorative.  There is no response, the paint just went down that way.  The smaller circles inside the notes certainly kick the flow across the canvas.  There is a concern that there are just too many circles populating this work. That could be, but it is too late now, but that may play into future decisions.  Every little style changed must be push to its limit just to wear out its vision, and open a path to the next, next.

Time to close the eyes and spread the fingers and slowly move across the canvas feeling the paint, feeling the connection, feeling the music, and touching the art.  When you can you should touch the art. Sure that is a rare privilege, but leaning forward and staring hard is not good enough, with this art touching is considered very desirable, and very well welcomed.

Scott Von Holzen

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S_V_H Thunder Road image7

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Thunder Road.
Last night the feeling, that feeling of connection came back.  It occurred while doing some added brush work on the background in the open areas.  It was felt, and it felt good, and it was about time.  This canvas has been the main focus of attention since April 16th.  Strange, unlike most works in witch that into mood maintains itself fairly well, with Thunder there has been a lot of indecision,a lot of Bruce Springsteen music, a lot of life distractions, and a lot of exhaustion. Still slowly moving to completion this work will eventually find its own identity that will be finely tuned.  Thunder will then stand on its own magnificent self, a  visually triumphant .  At less that is the plan.

There was a thought that the eighth notes could be see as representing a stain glass look.  This than could represent a religious twist on the meaning of Thunder Road.  Interestingly, just after 9/11 there was a segment, on CBS Sunday Morning, about the correspondence’s friend who had died in the Twin Tower.   At his funeral Thunder Road was played.  That has stuck.  Maybe, there is more, and this artwork has much more to say then Oh Thunder Road.

Consistent with previous works there are many diverse colors, and like Hallelujah green was introduced on the Ties, and no where else. Still, this work needs a lot of work, especially with the notes, and right now there are no ideas.

The current art book being read is Portrait of Dr. Gachet.  Enjoyable, with many interesting details about this artwork and the art industry.  But, what spun things was the mention about there being fake Van Goghs.  That has lead to a lot of searching and reading.  It is interesting that there are paintings not painted by Van Gogh that that are worth millions  because just maybe, it is a work by Van Gogh.  So what does that say about art? Does it say that the demand for Van Gogh is so big that the really real hand of the artist,  is not that important? It is a wonder. It can be put to rest that the tens of thousands of brush stokes on all of these works of art have all been done by the hand of this artist.  Not sure if that is worth anything, but unlike Van Gogh that coped out, this artist is going to stick it out, just to see.  Just to see if it was worth the journey.  Just to see, and to know.  Hey, it helps that it is all documented here for everyone not to see.

Scott Von Holzen