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 image1

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Hallelujah  is a 3 foot by 10 foot canvas.  The thought is to use narrow, across the canvas rectangles, with different shades of blue to create some base interest.  This canvas is hard to photograph because there is not enough room to backup and have the whole image in the picture.  This image was shot at an angle and the perspective was fixed in Photoshop.  Usually these preliminary images are shot with a add on Canon Flash, 580, but with this image there is going to be a need to light the far side better.

This song has always been a possibility, but the timing was never there.  Then while buying a bike, the salesperson commented on the floor room music that this version of Hallelujah was not his favorite.  That was all it took, a connection, that was not just the artist.   There is no remembrance of which version he was commenting on, but after listening to a dozen covers, the original efforts by Leonard Cohen, are the best followed by K.D. Lang.

 

This is the 150th post.

Scott Von Holzen

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S_V_H I Call Your Name finalImage

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

I Call Your Name is finished.  This work surprised the artist, as much as the 2010 Birthday painting: it stopped what was, and lead this artist onto a different path.  Near the completion of this work there was the added feeling rising  that Call did not care about any finishing touch ups, or any particular fine tunning.  It was saying it was fine with a little roughness left intact.  Of course, this artist still worked the canvas, with dabs of paint here and there, although it was completely unnecessary, sometimes it is hard to let go.

Some works speak more then others.  Some works are shy, while others are aggressive in their demands.  I call your name was neither of those descriptions.  Call simply knew long before it was obvious that it was something quite different.

The artist learns from his art. The artist thrives with his art.  The art risks it all for the art. The art saves the artist. The artist saves himself.  To the art the artist means nothing. The art is selfishly relentless, forever demanding of the artist, and fearless. The art is, the artist is.   That may not be the equalizer for surely there will never be enough strength or time for the artist. The art will win. The artist will lose everything, without regret.

For this artist It is all about the journey. Thank you

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H I Call Your Name image5

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

I Call Your Name,  but what do you call this artwork of the same name?  The one response that was heard was Art Deco.  That is interesting for Art Deco is an artistic and design style that is much appreciated, but never figured into what has been painted.  Still, the look is great and today the feeling is that this is an artistic moment.

These realizations have occurred a number of times in this artistic career, with the last being the Birthday painting.  It has been that way for over the five years of this art project, and over the next ten years there is going to be many such moments, each better than the last.  That is how it works, that pause that surprises, is what keeps the artist moving forward, no matter the cost,  at all costs.  It is these few moments in the many hours of painting that are the nudges, the pat on the back, the unexpected complement, the self realization of just why all the effort is worth all the effort.

On the bookshelf are are dozens of Art Books that detail that path taken by hundreds of Artist, each deserving, each rewarded or not based almost on a flip of a coin.  There are no guarantees, there has never been a naive understanding of what needs to be done to overcome obscurity.   That point is what good does a creative artist accomplish if the work does not get seen by other artists and the influence, hopefully grows which just drives the moments further.  It is fun, the dream, the challenge, the goal, no matter, it is all worth living. If you got it, you gotta do it.

Scott Von Holzen