Tag: Bruce Springsteen

S_V_H Heaven’s Wall image 2

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

heaven_2

Heaven’s Wall is a small experimental work that is not moving along fast enough for me. Although I am giving this project my best effort, that I have over two weeks of work into this artwork, and the finish is not near, bothers me.  Of course I paint in my world, and that world hates schedules, and lately life has disrupted my stream of thought with walls along my imaginary path.  I guess in truth, so it goes, and so must I. That means,  lets move this discussion to what is going on here in this second image.

I mentioned early that there is way too much stripping going on in this work.  I said I wanted to counter that,  and now you see what I have come up with. I did not want to go too crazy here.  I only wanted to try something new that I was sure I could pull off.  And I  accomplished that by keeping my efforts small and consistent across the canvases. This then becomes a realization of a new idea. My mind then churns over this idea, evolving it to where I eventually become aware of further possibilities. This then gives me a new choice to move this art forward, if I take it, which I always do.

That is what you see, in its beginnings,  in the image above. This is not break through painting.  It is me building on the past efforts of others, and it is me finding possible opportunities to create some dramatic backgrounds in the future. I am partnering with this art, and I am evolving with it. There is so much yet to learn. That is what this art through music is telling me.  In truth, once again,  I am a blue collar painter confronting each new artwork’s challenge. They all speak in one voice, make me different.  Try harder.  And oh yes, try that new idea.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Heaven’s Wall

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

heaven_1

This is another Bruce Springsteen artwork. It is small.  I have had second thoughts about painting this music.  My concern is that I have already painted three other Springsteen works: the beautiful and marvelous Thunder Road, the large Man at the Top, and the lately finish Ghost of Tom Joad. Since this work is a petite forty inches in length, I felt this size makes this work an easy to handle experimental work, which may be the reason it slipped in.  I do like this music for its  uptempo music.  I have wanted to paint a gospel song, not for its message, so much, but for its emotional spirit that is so catchy. For now this is music will suffice for this genre.

It surprises me that I am using so much stripping on such a small work.  I did not expect that, and I am not sure exactly what I am trying to accomplish with all this horizontal moment. I do know,  because of concerns about all the stripping, that it may be time to try another idea out for the backgrounds.

Actually, I do have that idea: I would like to try to create some hard edges with some shading to cover the strips in some form of a Cubist  style,  or better in a Futurism look like what I saw while visiting the Reading Public museum.  The painters of Futurism made efforts to display speed in their paintings. I may be able to create a better sense of movement across these three little canvases by using a combo of these two styles. Here is first, a Cubist painting by Picasso, followed by a Futurism work by Balla. Both images from Wikipedia

Pablo_Picasso,_1910,_Girl_with_a_Mandolin_(Fanny_Tellier),_oil_on_canvas,_100.3_x_73.6_cm,_Museum_of_Modern_Art_New_York.250px-GBallaArt

The fact that I am looking for a new technique, is enough to tell me, that this may be the right time, and the right size artwork,  to try some thing fresh.

Here is a YouTube version of Heaven’s wall.

 

 

Scott Von Holzen

 

S_V_H The Ghost of Tom Joad Final Image

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

The Ghost of Tom Joad final image

I have completed The Ghost of Tom Joad. This artwork proves to me that it is easier to test new ideas when working on a smaller size canvas. I used two new techniques in this work that I plan on developing, and experimenting with in future paintings.  The first one is drip painting.  Dripping paint is not a great artistic breakthrough. It is a technique that I have ignored, until I stumbled on a dripping method that was convenient to use, consistent, and with fairly precise control. The second new technique, if you look closely at the enlargement,  you will see a number of small square wooden pieces that I have attach to this artwork.  I am fascinated by the unlimited opportunities that attaching painted pieces of wood to canvas can offer.

These two methods each can add interest, and more important depth, in edition to using multiple layers of canvases to make that three dimensional, sculptural look possible.  But not every artwork works well with layered canvases.  Now,  with the option of dripping, and adding small wooded pieces to the canvas surface,  I can give even a traditional flat rectangle artwork a little of that three dimension look.  I am always after this to better reflect the depth of the music I am portraying.

My original idea for The Ghost of Tom Joad  was to use earth tones to keep the coloring muted and the contrast lower.  I found out once again, that it was hard for me to limit my pallet.  I may have an opportunity to actually limit my pallet with this years Birthday painting, at the end of July.  My Birthday painting I start and complete in one day.  A simpler color scheme, with smart use of tints and shades, could save painting time,  and be an opportunity to experiment with a cleaner appearing,  less cluttered looked.

 

Up next is another small artwork, and a Blues Classic, Sweet Little Angel. I cannot seem to get enough of B B King so I thought it was time to do one of his own classic songs.  Since this is a Blues piece I can see this as an opportunity to create a simpler artwork.

Scott Von Holzen