Category: 2012

S_V_H Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons(Spring)” Largo finalimage

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

This finishes the second canvas in this thirteen part series the painting of Vivaldi’s  The Four Seasons. This canvas is just over 120 inches(3meters) in length with a maximum height of 26.5 inches.  This painting was finished last evening but over an hour was spent today for touch-up.  The goal is never to perfect the paint. It has been only to give a good first impression of a quality technical effort.  Perfecting my painter skills will never be goal.  If it was then I could have painted this work on a computer, which would have fail miserably. From a viewing distance these lines looks perfect, but it is the moving in and seeing all of their imperfections that gives the artwork a personal depth.  That is the IT of art. That is especially important if all of those tens a thousands of brush strokes have been applied by a single hand.

Listening to B.B King – Paying the Cost to Be the Boss

Simon & Garfunkel – The Dangling Conversation

Blues Is the Road – Sonwy White and the White Flames

The Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing

Some final thoughts on this artwork:  it has been a  surprise to see how well this canvas turned out.  Understand, this music on its own, would never have been a choice for this artist to spend over a month to complete.  Of course checking the play count Vivaldi’s Spring Largo has been played well over 60 times which did help to sink it in, and with familiarity comes understanding and appreciation.

The Verve Pipe – The Freshmen

The different colors for my notes work well even though the bright colors are only on the outside. The thought was to have them represent a variety of spring flowers.  Painting the insides with more common varieties of greens, slows the movement down  and locks them in with the background. The words speak about a pastoral of spring flowers.

The swirling light violet lines above the music are quite different from my ties in the previous canvas. They pop quite well out from with the stripped blue shaded rectangles. This style will carry over, as a rejection of  Summers Alegro Non Molto ties that now seems used up. The other ties that are darker in violet without  the added contrasting background look good, and let those more important ties, that are the heart of this music have the importance they deserve.

The far right with the vertical blue stripping,  and my two  half notes  which with that stripping,  are there to slow down the works final movement.

Above is a personal depiction of what is called a trill that is heard in this work. That small addition took more time then expected to create. The drawing with the use of heavy paint, and complementary colors reinforce the  feel of this musical ornament.

The signature is more modest on this canvas, and yet enough to help balance the side..

Bach: Concerto for 4 Harpsichords in A Minor, BWV 1065 -Mvt 1  A favorite that will be painted.

Tori Amos – Little earthquakes

Bob Seger – Night Moves  revives ones youth.

Van Morrison – Domino

Next up is the challenge, a real challenge, the second part of the Autumn concerto, Adagio Molto, which means very slow.  Yes this music is slow and not that interesting.  This is the third in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and also the third middle movement. There is a reason.  This series is a growing and learning process, and these smaller, less riskier parts of this great music give this artist the opportunity to stretch out,  trying different techniques, and  ideas that will evolve this style. There is still a lot of discovery yet to come.

Art is about the Art of.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons(Spring)” Largo image4

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons RV 269 122 inches (3m) in length, and the second in the 13 part series that celebrates these four concertos.  Link  HERE and at the 25 second mark the painting follows the flow of the music.  It has always been felt that when viewing this art that there should be music present, and turned up.   For sure,  the music can survive  without this art, but I can say without doubt, that this art needs music to be appreciated, and to be connected.

Tab Benoit – Drownin’ on Dry Land

Listening to Naughty by Nature – Hip Hop Hooray

Duke Ellington w/ Ella Fitzgerald – Satin Doll

The Art Deco lines, seen in the above images,  are something new.  They are, the  result of a felt need, to move away from the tried and proven style for representing a  musical Tie, that can be seen in Summer Allegro non molto.  Also, in those ties the continuing influence of Sean Scully, for example,  can be seen.  But now looking at them there has been a change in thought.  In some way, could it be possible to  Rothko those  boxy blue rectangle,s that are supporting and enhancing those ties, or at less soften them to better match the mood of this music.

Canned Heat – On the Road Again, a classic favorite.

The Funk Brothers – You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me.

The words need to be punched up somewhat, and so does the overall green background look, that has become somewhat common.  Since the backgrounds purpose is to do more than be an abstract painting, that sets the mood for the music,  it would nice to find a better, stronger, more creative, and original style.  There is a lot of discovery to be done.  The original ideas for the backgrounds came from the influences of Rothko, but little of that is being seen here. There is the need to take another look at Rothko and other artists like Hans Hartung, for example. For now the thought is do something with the large rectangle that holds the words.   A change here would pop the message, and strengthen the bottom part of this artwork that now appears to be top heavy.

Listening to Patty Griffin – Peter Pan

Shakin’ Stevens – Hot Dog

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons(Spring)” Largo image3

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Spring Largo about 120 inches (3m) long  and for the most part 24 inches wide.   The Italian words chosen from Vivalidi’s Spring sonnet are, “the pleasant flowery meadow,” using Google translator.  Other translations include “On the flower-strewn meadow,”  “..the meadow, in full flower,”  and “…the flower-rich meadow.”  You have the choice to pick your favorite.  Anyway, since these sonnets are almost 300 years old, and languages change in meanings over the years, who really knows what the correct English translation should be?

Listening to Beethoven’s Piano Concerto # 5.

It is obvious that the different colors around this music represent the flowers.  Another couple of things, the flowery stems of violet and dark purple, are made longer than the usual.  This was done to slow the music down.  Also, these dark purple circles inside the flowers are there to slow the music.

Otis Redding – I’ve Been Loving You to Long.  A great classic R&B song.

One interesting note is that this main canvas is composed of a four foot piece attached to a 6 foot piece.  In the past all multiple canvases have been composed of the same sizes, or part of a combine with a smaller center piece.  The surprise was the first time this work was moved in order to be photographed, how out-of-balance it felt with the four foot left side carrying all the weight. With that thought it mind,  the final decision to use only a sixteen inch by forty-four inch canvas, attached to the light six foot, made sense not only in a musical  but also an architectural way.

Prince – Purple Rain

Even though the background is done for now, there is going to be some changes, too boring, to improve this works originality.  Also, you see looking at the full image, that the drawing above the two yellow flowers, which symbolizes a musical tie, is heading in a new direction.  That is happening because, this artist hates, and fears, the routine, and each of these works demand, in their own right,  originality. What will be seen with each of these Vivaldi works is a gradual maturing of an artistic understanding, and the evolution of the depiction of his music.

James Brown – Get Up Offa That Thing

Shirley Horn – If You Go Away.  A classic that should be heard more often.

Scott Von Holzen