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 Hallelujah imageFinal

Published on by Scott Von Holzen1 Comment

Hallelujah is near completion.  The final, final image will be posted on the website  scottvonholzen.com.  This is an impressive painting. It was started around February 27th and will be finished tomorrow March 23rd.  Not bad to complete such a large work, under a month.

That means this artist can do a minimal number of ten foot paintings of twelve a year.  So, to put that in perspective, maybe fifteen such large works could be finished in a year.  To be a full time artist, this artist needs a gross income of sixty thousand.   So, that means this work must sell for four thousand.  So, in taking  those numbers and other considerations, four-thousand it is.  Better buy this baby now, it is only going to get more expensive.  Just think, this is probably the only work that is ever going to be done that celebrates the music of the Hallelujah.  This is it, there’s not going to be anymore.  This is a one-of-a-kind.   And, she is a beauty.

This work has broken with the previous I call your Name.  That is never easy, for it cannot be told how many times Call was searched and studied for the next move to be made for Hallel.  Finally, there came a moment that the head turning was getting to be a distraction.  Then that was it:  Call was wired was and upstairs it went to be hung on a living room wall to replace the Christmas song.

Totally, this artist has forgotten the name of that December canvas.  It is amazing how much is put into each of these works, and then when it is over, it is just that, over.  Later when looking at a finished work it is similar experience, detached from, that a stranger would have seeing one of these painting for the first time, and being pulled in by curiosity.  It works that way. Each of these works are meant to work that way. Each demands to be treated that way.  That is how they work and that is how this art works.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Hallelujah image9

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Modest update for Hallelujah a 36 inches by ten feet two panel work on canvas.  Spent two evenings trying to decide what colors to use for this musics one word,  Hallelujah.  The first color was Burnt Sienna, and then no matter what dark or light shades of Sienna that were used, it just did not look right. Even trying the other brown colors, failed, so then the shift was to the acrylic Green Gold at the end of last night.

Last night,  after seeing that color dry, it was a quick decision that green was not the answer.  Finally, magenta was chosen, for its tint, and magenta had not been used on the three quarter rests.  It is also a color that would not interfere with the green slur. The five eighth notes where also a color problem the drag on. There was a need for an additional color to complement the existing three , acrylics Indian Yellow Hue, and Iridescent Copper, with the oil Yellow Ochre.  Because of this need to harmonize these notes a slightly tinted Raw Sienna fit in logically after all the other attempts created too much contrast or too little interest.  More finishing needs to be done to deepen the color and to sharpen the edges.

To keep art on the mind there is always an art book being read, and currently it is Portrait of Dr. Gachet.  It is interesting to see some of the details around the flow of Vincent Van Gogh’s art after his death.  Fascinating, and somewhat disquieting  that he should take his life, with all the advantages he had over other artists.  It would be fascinating to know just what he was honestly thinking that is only hinted at in his letters. His end fate must have been on his mind for awhile: he had to acquired a gun.  His death seems silly, and selfish, at times, and the true purpose of his fatal decision will never be known.  Even with Vincent Van Gogh, then and now, it is all about the Image.

This Artist, honestly sees only a very, very long road.  This Artist sees the evolution occurring.   This Artist seems the fragility of this dream.   This Artist sees no other way.  This Artist is going for the ride. This Artist lives the Image.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Hallelujah image8

Published on by Scott Von Holzen


Hallelujah photo from Friday night.  Family was here this weekend, and the home improvement project was building another bookshelf to fill with Art and Music books.  It is quiet now, they are gone home.  It was the standing watching their car slowly disappear down the road,  that is most difficult.  To go from the voices and noises of many to the slowly dying engine sound of a white Toyota van traveling away puts everything in perspective.

What is above was completed in a couple of hours time early Friday night, before they arrived.   It does not look like much, but a lot of time goes into thinking. And again a big wall of frustration for this artist is a need for more colors that just may not exist, or possible he has not discovered, ….yet. The search continues, but for now relief was found for the eighth notes in Iridescent Copper, Yellow Ochre,  and Gold Ochre.  This music which is listened to every night is sad, but inspirational, and also an inspirational challenge, that is much enjoyed.

It is the Music.  It is the Sound.  It is the Deliverance. It is the Spiritual. It is the Salvation.  It is Art.

Scott Von Holzen