Category: 2011

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

Chopin Valse Op.64, No.2 image8

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

A Chopin Waltz.  This three foot by eight foot canvas is finished.  There was drifting at the end.  Usually there is a battle between the art and the artist but this time the art just let go, and the artist walked away.  A final  image with greater detail will be posted to scottvonholzen.com in the next few weeks.

The artist the web master and marketing person is just behind.  The painting comes first, and the blogging is put up to keep the documentation going,  and just maybe it is to let whomever out there know that the quest, the journey, the path forward, the dream, the habit, the fear, still lives on.

Not sure but this should be the end of the oval note: not enough action, enough movement, enough character, enough interest to keep on using them.  The pink tie is much loved and the use of color bands that work with the music are the best of this work.  Those two features move the art forward.   Luckily, this is still happening. Someday it will all be a big repeat, but for now there is more to come.   Even a marginally successful painting like this, at this stage in the art, can have an influence which will show on the next work.  So starts a favorite of the artist, they all are, I call your Name.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Ain’t No Sunshine image4 final

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

First the slang word ain’t is detested, and yet when sung by Bill Withers it seems to work.  It is cold in Wisconsin and  today the general weather seems to be effecting the concentration and drive.  Last night was spent painting in some, and cleaning up, sharping some edges, and signing.  Tonight, this work will be gone over and let go, but the mood, right now to start another, is lacking some enthusiasm.

Lately, there has been a number of these two foot by six foot canvases and they are starting to look somewhat repetitive.  There is a anxious creative need to do a Classical work to shake it all up, but the feel for this music has been weak, and unimpressive.  The music is searched out and played and the information is gathered about how great the work is, but it is hard to be convinced.  Do not know where this comes from.  Time was spent browsing Mozart, and Vivaldi, and just recently Chopin’s waltz Op. 64 No. 2.  The canvas is only eight feet by three feet a must to break this two foot binge of lately, which means about 32 notes.  That few of notes for a Classical piece makes it is hard to find a start and end point.  The start point is going to be a start it here because the measure breaks with the previous measure. The end is harder because a lot of good classical music just keeps moving.   Lucky in this Chopin piece there is a rest that pauses the action and a start that can be chopped off.  Also, a nice early version of this music was found in the Public Domain.   So, time to pump up the creative juices and plunge ahead.  We shall see, if the music fits the height and if so it should be a go.

Back to Ain’t No Sunshine.  There has been a lot of enjoyment listening to the six different versions of this music by: Bill Withers, Aaron Neville,  Bobby Blue Bland, Buddy Guy, Eva Cassidy, and Sting with David Sanborn.  With this variety it has kept the music fresh.  Enjoyed putting down round notes, but would have like them to be larger, like in Winter.  The colors of this work amaze, because they come not from preferences but from the need of the work.  Strange, the work drives the colors, that is driven by the music that in this case comes from a personal arrangement.

A lot of time and frustration was spent with the three ties. Originally they where a lighter green. All have all been washed off and repainted, and changed in style, to try and make them look fresh. Every work of art moves the art forward.  The problem with the style of the ties is that the forward movement has been in a number of different and scattered directions.  Similar to the creative path of the eighth notes which have lately stopped changing in jerky steps with the painting of Naive Melody.

The words are strong and colors sharp and fitting with the music, an exceptional work that challenges the Birthday painting and makes the interesting Cry Me A River, finished near the end of November, seem dated in style.

Scott Von Holzen