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 my Brother my Patron

Published on by Scott Von Holzen
Roger Lee Von Holzen

This bog site has existed for over ten years with the sole purpose of documenting this artist’s journey. That is what it has done and also that limitation is why at times it has failed to do. It turns out there is more to this story than me creating art. It is time to acknowledgement this art’s greatest patron, my brother Roger Von Holzen. Here are the images of the artworks and prints that hang in his home and a rental of theirs. Added to these pieces are the other art items, including prints which he gave to friends and associates, and his pivotal help in the sale of two other major artworks.

I have not been to my Brothers home for many years. It was an eight-hour drive to Missouri, and his considerable busy social and work related travels, and his many other travels around the world, made planning a trip to Missouri seemed a distant idea. Lucky for us, he and Myk traveled North each year to our family reunion and occasional visits. I am certain if I would have asked them they would have found the time and insisted on a visit. Our move to Eau Claire help cut travel time to seven hours, which made the difference.

There I was finally back at his house and the moment I walked in his front door, the artwork over the fireplace took my heart and breath away. Roger and his husband Myk, on a visit in 2008, bought What’s New, painted in 2007. My heart continued to fill again with emotions each time I walked into another room and there was another artwork or print on view. I knew the art he bought from me. What I did not know was how much this art meant to him. I should have known. I should have been more grateful. If only I would have.

Roger passed from my life on the morning of August 9th. I held his left hand, my other Brother Jeff held his Right hand, while Myk whispered in his ear, and around us were his closes friends and hospital staff. All of us were there for him until his last breath unselfishly allowed us to let go.

2020 Myk and Rogers last visit to our new home
I will always Love You

In 2017, I created this artwork for Roger as a gift for Myk. I remember Myk chiding Roger over the artwork’s theme song sung by Whitney Houston. Roger smiled and pushed gently back, defending his feelings.

Life is for the living, and I will try harder now to live it to my fullest. Roger certainly did. What he stood for and taught me was to do things while you can, whether it is creating great art, traveling to enrich your life, or attempting to connect with those you care about. Roger reminds me every day that the time is now, for the future may have other plans. I now understand Roger’s sentimentality over a song whose words speak about his love and devotion. Roger will remain a missing part of me that I can no longer touch, hug, or share a smile. I breathe for him in remembrance.

Scott Von Holzen

SVH “Sold” Walking in Memphis

Published on by Scott Von Holzen
Walking In Memphis 2019
Walking In Memphis 2019

Before I talk about the sale of Walkling in Memphis, I would like to comment on this image of Jaime O, the person who questioned me about why I gave up painting. This photo of Jaime in front of Twinkle and Gold Rush is how I see and know him. I see his pride in what this art has accomplished and, importantly, his part in this artist’s comeback. Well deserved. The question he presented to me back in late 2005 came from one of our many conversations.

Jaime O picture at my CVA exhibition in Wausau

Jaime’s office was across the hall from mine. And since I did not have a window, and he did, in search of a break or a change of scenery, I would often venture into his office. This occurred more often in the midafternoon, let’s say from 2pm and on. When Jaime was in his office, and not on the road selling, and it was around that 2pm time he would this tendency to get a little sleepy. To help refocus both of us, I would check my watch, listen to hear if he was on the phone, decide that world of IT was safe for this moment, and only then wander into his office.

I enjoyed his view, but it was a conversation I was in search of. Either of us would start it with a tease. Jaime was then, and probably still is, a world traveler selling to many markets. This allowed him In this spare time abroad to visit the local art museums and such. I, of course, found this art connection interesting and one I wanted to converse with him. That was something Jaime enjoyed. He not only understood great art, he also throughly enjoyed talking about himself. Although I always felt engaged with our conversations, no matter the subject.

It was during one of our exchanges around art that he questioned me about why I gave up painting. That became the change moment that may have helped instigate my shift away from traditional photography and into digital photography. Eventually, his words spun me around, away from photography and back to art that I had abandoned in the early 1980s.

I gave him an artwork as a thankyou in early 2006. Finally, I remember one brief conversation we had when he said that my name, “Von Holzen.” sounded like an artist or high end stereo equipment. I thought that was a wonderful comment. Years later, neither of us knew I would develop the potential to become both.

Gift to Jaime, Beethoven’s 7th Symphony

This is the video I received on my phone with the Owner of the company saying, “sold,” for Walking in Memphis.

Late in my fifties, I returned to a two-year tech school for five semesters to earn a decree in Computer Information Systems. This company then hired me for their IT department. Almost all these smiling faces I worked with, supported, exchanged stories, debated with, learn from, care about, and still miss today after being away for five years. They are from the sales department of the company I worked for fifteen years. The name mentioned in the video is a great work friend and one of the company’s top salesperson. I received this video from him and we still exchange text messages to this day. Of course I took this photo that like Jaime’s image clearly displays the character of this special friend of mine.

Walking in Memphis sold for $4,000 dollars. This is my largest single sale ever. Once again, I want to thank the company not only for their generosity, about also for their remembrance of my many enjoyable years serving their needs. As for the two person show at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, Wi that was a disappointment. Although I am pleased to show and split the sale monies with them, nothing else came out of that effort. I did not expect to “Break on through to the other side,” but no feedback? Only experience was gained. I expected such and was proven right.

Scott Von Holzen

Play that Song, the Artwork, finished

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

These are the words with the music. I am not displaying lyrics, only words. In the early days artworks had a word or two. In time that changed as their number became more common and complicated. That was when a remembrance came to mind.

In my earlier summer job days I worked at my father’s car and truck dealership doing whatever I was told to do. While there I was in awe of the sign painter and his beautiful hand lettering who painted the customers’ truck doors. I thought of him when adding words became increasingly important. Seeing back to his slow motion painting and precision lines influenced my lettering style and personalize my the font style I used. It was as if I was assuming the position as a lettering painter. My artwork word standard became a challenging and time-consuming task. For example, I wanted to make sure all the letters looked similar and had the right width, height and spacing.

It was only recently when I was going to fill entire canvases with words that I came convinced that my precision letters and the time this type of lettering required no longer made sense. My alternative because a looser and more like my natural hand printing style. Besides, I thought after painting all the words, my next step would be to take a pallet knife and scrape parts of them away. I added another reason for my lettering change with this project.

When standing back from the artwork and seeing the words, the thought came to me: I was looking at graffiti. Now, I do not know if that is the right description for graffiti artists certainly are better word craftspeople, and better at using more elaborate fonts. Maybe my wording is more a reflection of the hand printing style used by Jean Michel Basquiat who was not a graffiti artist. All the words in this artwork are in my natural abstract graffiti style, which fits this music filmed in the city and works with the darker background and the scrapping.

The image above is the artwork in a near finished look. This is the first artwork using the technique where the music is held onto the canvas with magnets. When I hung the art pieces to the canvas, to take a photo for an exhibition, I knew the top coat of paint was still sensitive to scratching and could easily be damaged by the pressure of the magnets. Now days later, as the top coat is hardening, I am testing lighter strength magnets with different covers to prove that they are a viable hanging option that can be easily moved and removed.

I have not signed it yet, nor have I built the aluminum frame that enables it to by hung and supports the music. I was in a hurry. I wanted to meet the deadline for a major local show at the Pablo in Confluence Center in Eau Claire. My submission application made it in on the 24th meeting the deadline. My current stand is to not do group exhibitions, especially if there is an entrance fee, but this show is the exception. It is the most important art show in this area and more so I want a one-person show from the Pablo. This is an example of pay to play ($20 entrance fee) and playing to find a way.

Part of the Exhibition application

I will know by July 30th if this artwork makes it in the Jurored exhibition. I will then build the frame and add the music. The drop off is not till September. Otherwise, it will go to storage, and I will have another reason to hate group exhibitions.

Scott Von Holzen