S_V_H Under Pressure image 2

underPressure_2Here we have Under Pressure  with the stripping refined. Image one has almost entirely been covered up with a translucent blue coat, or  a muddy light magenta.  I have now the beginnings of a refined presentation that is rougher, and edgier, offering a not-so-perfect look at Art as Life. That is how I am calling it. I do not know what else to make of it. Bottom line, this background is good enough for now.

Here is another video of David Bowie live:

Up next I will be cutting up pieces of wood to make the music. I have already completed an interesting,  and different wood add-on that will certainly give this artwork its own identity. Again, I am finding it hard to explain the what,  and why behind my reasoning for some of the things that are showing up on these late artworks.  I do know that I am certainly enjoying what appears to be spontaneity in my decision-making. Making those quick actions actually play well with the rest of the artwork is the challenge. However I from my ideas, what I am doing, now, brings to me a sense of greater creativity.  That is a path I wish to run down.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Under Pressure image 1

underPressure_1What I have here for you, is Under Pressure a Classic Rock song recorded by the group Queen along with David Bowie.  This is the first image of this artwork.  What you see is me putting down some paint, to get this project rolling.  What I like about this first image is that I have roughed in some stripping, something I have not done in the past.  This is interesting, and totally without any logic, purpose, or plan beyond I like blue paint,  and that the strips add contrast to whatever I am up to.

The painting consists of three panels with a height of about 25 1/2 inches, by about forty-six inches in length.  Here is the music.  This video, which confused me at first,  is actually a mix of two different live events,  one staring Freddie Mercury from the band Queen, and the other , a tribute concert for Freddie Mercury featuring, in pale green, David Bowie.

I must say I have not appreciated the music of either of these two rock stars, beyond the hits.  I believe the only album I owned by David Bowie called Reality that dates from 2003.  My favorite song is Bring Me the Disco King.  Here is a live performance:

Trying to get a better feel for the music of David Bowie I found this live performance of Ashes to Ashes.  In this video Bowie kinda has that Robert Palmer look:

I may find more videos for I am on a path of serendipity discovery of the music of both Queen and Bowie.

 

Scott Von Holzen

 

 

 

 

 

 

S_V_H It’s so hard to say Goodbye Final Image

itSoHard_FinalImageIt’s so hard to say Goodbye was hard to paint, and I must say I am glad to say goodbye to this artwork. This project stretched out over a month starting before the Holidays, and ending in the middle of January.  My original idea was to pay tribute to those of our family that past in 2015, and this artwork ended up being an experiment in woodworking, and attaching wood to canvas in interesting ways. Now, I do not know what I have here.  Fortunately Time may help me understand what the final meaning of this painting will be in my eyes and those of the viewer.

In the way I handled the color in this artwork I see a similarity to the recently completed Embraceable you. My reasoning for using solid coloring for the music flow cam from my use of so much wood.  I ended up spending a lot of time producing all the custom wood pieces for this music.  My thinking then became that by keeping the coloring simpler this would be a simple, clean look,  and help save time.  Although, I still ended up going three weeks over my goal, I would say much of that spent time was for reasons not related to this Art.

I like the use of the wood, because of its thickness accomplishes an important goal of mine to improve the depth of an artwork, which it does,  far better than  applying paint in coats.  Of course,  I saw a lot of thick paint in the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh, and I did take a long look at the work of Gerhard Richter, but heavily applied paint at best became a layering technique for me, because thick paint reminds me too much of past abstract musical art, the antithesis of what this Art stands for.

Bottom line, It’s so hard to say Goodbye, is an experimental and transitional artwork, in the use of wood add-on pieces in different ways.

Of interest,  I received this on the 15th from WordPress:

wordpress

I must say blogging this Art into my sixth year has been educational, difficult, demanding, frustrating, tiring, worrisome, and most important a wonderful tool for documenting the real purpose for starting this blog.  I still have much more blogging to do. Vincent Van Gogh wrote 903 letters, and this post will be my 447.

Without any doubt, I know that the best is yet to come.

Scott Von Holzen