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 Woodstock artwork with frame

Published on by Scott Von Holzen1 Comment

This latest image shows the frame that allows me to wall hang artworks from 72 to 76 inches by three feet in height. This frame also contains the artwork’s sound system, and the magnets that are used to attach the artwork. On the left side is my new 20 watt stereo system, and the four-inch speaker boxes.  The quality of the sound has improved from previous systems where I started with a sound box for stuffed animals and a built in 0.5watt speaker.  Today’s system comes from the enormous improvements made by my first custom sound setup.  That stereo system used one-dollar and ninety-five cents three-inch speakers and a 2 watt stereo amp.

I believe the 20watt amplifier and my speaker choices are now good-to-go.  When I first added sound to these artworks getting them up and running was the concern.  This is my second 20watt system, which is a lot more complicated than my previous amplifiers, and considering all the soldering, everything went as planned, almost routine.  That means I now have the time to turn my attention to improving the enclosures that hold the speakers.  If I give their build a little more attention to detail, I think this can be a shortcut to improving the sound even more. 

Current 20Watt Stereo System with on/off switch

I have finished and signed the artwork Woodstock.  I will discuss this project, include a video, and talk about my last Christmas painting in my next blog entry.

Scott Von Holzen

Woodstock Image 4

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

This image shows the artwork project, Woodstock, with most of the add-on’s in place, and the artwork in a near finished look.  I have left all my temporary pieces of numbered tapes to record this moment that shows the system used to locate and place the beaming and all the other add-ons such as slurs, ties, incidentals, eighth note flags, and as a guide for the dotted notes.   Every one of these artworks builds on a past artwork’s style, but their construction needs vary from each other.   This photo may help future projects as I move from mistake to mistake and problem to problem.

Looking at the above photograph and then turning around to the artwork, the difference is striking.  The photo lacks the third-dimension, which then allows the background to dominate the artwork in a kaleidoscope of movement, shapes and colors.  Looking at the life-sized original artwork, the music physically stands out, creating a better balance with the background.  This allows to music to capture the viewer with its own up and down, and back ‘en forth animation.

Applying the music is the last major part of completing this project.  This will take several days.  When completed I will post a video.

Woodstock the artwork,  I define as fragile, makes showing it difficult. It is touchy to even move.  To display my artworks in public has always been a priority.   This work complicates show options.

I have done approximately 15 public viewings of this art using art shows and exhibitions since we moved with the first local show in the spring of 2017,  and ending early 2020 at the Hopkins Art Center.  The results are not mixed, with a heavy lean of expenses, token feedback,  no interest, no inspiration, no new opportunities,  little motivation to repeat, and little incentive to continue applying.  My take away from Art Fairs and group exhibitions is that they reset every year, and even if you are successful (your own definition) in time, even those offerings that where once positive will fade. 

That means if I would attend 100 more Art Fairs and group exhibitions, this art would eventually return me to where I started with nothing accomplished other than wasted time and monies.  Artists who create for the public art market for a time may attend more success, but again that too will eventually wind down for each year the local art market does a redo.  Knowing that, and even after repeated attempts, I have dropped one display opportunity after another.  A conclusion may be this art is not ready for the public art market, at less not for now.  For now, my now comprises two important and final (I have no other plans to show until they contain COVID), shows where I will display for the first time multiple artworks.

The first show will be a two person exhibition at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau,  this coming May.  The second show will also be a two people at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin.  Because of the Covid shutdown, I am waiting for rescheduling information.  My heart tells me both shows will end the same with little to show.  That does not alter my intentions to present two professional exhibitions that will display a brief history of this art and its music.  I know the value of this art. My task is to keep on explaining and displaying.  That keeps me keeping on the look for the next best opportunity.   No other choice exists.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Woodstock image 3

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Woodstock image 3 shows the music in place.   Different from the last work I did widened the music stems which allows me to attach my musical notes, incidentals, ties, and slurs to those stems.  This is consistent with my style before I left my studio for my current home office studio.  The wider stems have the benefit of more glue in contact with the canvas, allowing for a stronger bond.  I realized when moving my last unstretched artwork that any amount of twisting of the canvas can loosen pieces.  Maintaining the attaching of the music to unsupported canvas remains a concern.  These artworks present an uniqueness not seen in art.  Their freedom from a support, that has been a fundamental part of painting for over 500 years,  enhances that.

Next up, I will add all my embellishments for interest.  Finally, I have a decent rendition of the music Woodstock, and since I am not hurried to start another project, I would like to experiment with the instrumentation.  The complicated software I use for the arrangement requires me to switch my concentration away from art to the mechanics of music production.  My ability to process only one artwork at a time, also relates to my arrangements of the music.  That is why I try to complete the music before I build the artwork.  It all comes down to focus and success that moves me from one point to the next, one foot in front of the other, through one door and knocking on the next.

Scott Von Holzen