Tag: Music

S_V_H Stand By Me image1&2

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Stand by Me 24 inches by 6 feet.  This is the second image.  Below is the first image of the work done on that day.  This is a small canvas compare to the just finished Hallelujah.  The thinking is that smaller works take less time, are less demanding emotional, use less paint on smaller less expensive size canvases (all these  personal works are being done without any belief that any of them will every be sold in this artist near future),  can be more experimental, more risky in style, and of course, easier to brush aside if things do not turn out as expected.

When starting this work, the previously work, Hallelujah,  was looked at for direction, and style. Listening to a number of variations on Stand By Me,  this music felt looser then Hallelujah which has lead to a painting with sharper edges, and contrasts. Since Hallelujah stayed away from the greens, it was decided, before hand that no matter the work, greens where going to dominate.

Originally, the first choice of the flow of this music, started where this work now will end.  The problem with the first choice was that the only words that worked where, “stand by me.” This seemed at first unavoidable because the choice,  seemed the obvious, it was punchy, plus it was a good fit for this six foot canvas.  Still, those words are too much apart of that music and so their meaning would be the songs meaning, and that thought did not settle well.

So, the flow was move back a few measures (musical measures do not exist in this art, yet they are a huge necessity in the real music world) in order to use the words “just stand darling.”  Those words have a lot more twists in their meaning, meaning they can go beyond the music, which is the desired choice for any of these artworks.  To repeat what has been said before, yes this work,  like every other one done over the last five years, starts with music that hopefully appeals to people, and whose titles are  simple the hook.  The real value to these art works is the transformation, on stretched canvas and paints, the music from music to art.

Scott Von Holzen

The website is behind so many work.  That was a shock.  This week, the webmaster, me, will make available higher quality images.  In a few days check out www.scottvonholzen.com

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S_V_H Hallelujah imageFinal

Published on by Scott Von Holzen1 Comment

Hallelujah is near completion.  The final, final image will be posted on the website  scottvonholzen.com.  This is an impressive painting. It was started around February 27th and will be finished tomorrow March 23rd.  Not bad to complete such a large work, under a month.

That means this artist can do a minimal number of ten foot paintings of twelve a year.  So, to put that in perspective, maybe fifteen such large works could be finished in a year.  To be a full time artist, this artist needs a gross income of sixty thousand.   So, that means this work must sell for four thousand.  So, in taking  those numbers and other considerations, four-thousand it is.  Better buy this baby now, it is only going to get more expensive.  Just think, this is probably the only work that is ever going to be done that celebrates the music of the Hallelujah.  This is it, there’s not going to be anymore.  This is a one-of-a-kind.   And, she is a beauty.

This work has broken with the previous I call your Name.  That is never easy, for it cannot be told how many times Call was searched and studied for the next move to be made for Hallel.  Finally, there came a moment that the head turning was getting to be a distraction.  Then that was it:  Call was wired was and upstairs it went to be hung on a living room wall to replace the Christmas song.

Totally, this artist has forgotten the name of that December canvas.  It is amazing how much is put into each of these works, and then when it is over, it is just that, over.  Later when looking at a finished work it is similar experience, detached from, that a stranger would have seeing one of these painting for the first time, and being pulled in by curiosity.  It works that way. Each of these works are meant to work that way. Each demands to be treated that way.  That is how they work and that is how this art works.

Scott Von Holzen

S_V_H Hallelujah image9

Published on by Scott Von Holzen

Modest update for Hallelujah a 36 inches by ten feet two panel work on canvas.  Spent two evenings trying to decide what colors to use for this musics one word,  Hallelujah.  The first color was Burnt Sienna, and then no matter what dark or light shades of Sienna that were used, it just did not look right. Even trying the other brown colors, failed, so then the shift was to the acrylic Green Gold at the end of last night.

Last night,  after seeing that color dry, it was a quick decision that green was not the answer.  Finally, magenta was chosen, for its tint, and magenta had not been used on the three quarter rests.  It is also a color that would not interfere with the green slur. The five eighth notes where also a color problem the drag on. There was a need for an additional color to complement the existing three , acrylics Indian Yellow Hue, and Iridescent Copper, with the oil Yellow Ochre.  Because of this need to harmonize these notes a slightly tinted Raw Sienna fit in logically after all the other attempts created too much contrast or too little interest.  More finishing needs to be done to deepen the color and to sharpen the edges.

To keep art on the mind there is always an art book being read, and currently it is Portrait of Dr. Gachet.  It is interesting to see some of the details around the flow of Vincent Van Gogh’s art after his death.  Fascinating, and somewhat disquieting  that he should take his life, with all the advantages he had over other artists.  It would be fascinating to know just what he was honestly thinking that is only hinted at in his letters. His end fate must have been on his mind for awhile: he had to acquired a gun.  His death seems silly, and selfish, at times, and the true purpose of his fatal decision will never be known.  Even with Vincent Van Gogh, then and now, it is all about the Image.

This Artist, honestly sees only a very, very long road.  This Artist sees the evolution occurring.   This Artist seems the fragility of this dream.   This Artist sees no other way.  This Artist is going for the ride. This Artist lives the Image.

Scott Von Holzen