The Conductor

Often when I paint, I listen to instrumental music or jazz. I have never felt that the music ever influenced my painting. It does help me to relax and eases my mind so I may “feel” the paints and it makes painting more enjoyable for me.

The vibrant blues, greens and yellows move rhythmically against the textured pristine, white background. The movement in this abstract is so free and flowing, I can literally feel it. Perhaps, it stems from having played a musical instrument for years during my lifetime? Or perhaps I allowed the music to intuitively guide my palette knives through the paint?

I am not sure exactly. I do not recall which artist nor what key the music was written but it obviously got into my soul that day as well as my palette knives. Kandinsky believed music could be painted in colour, believing he could see colours when listening to music and heard music as he painted. This neurological phenomenon is called synesthesia or “joined perception”.

I am definitely not Kandinsky, but after finishing this one, I may have to change my thinking about what I listen to as I paint.

This abstract has deep, richly painted black sides and a gloss varnish was added upon completion, conveying a state of wetness. The abstract is signed, titled and dated on the back and ships with a Certificate of Authenticity. By signing the painting on the back this allows the painting’s orientation to be rotated in any one of four directions as desired. This alla prima, acrylic abstract is painted on superior solid birch wood cradled frame, (not plywood), with palette knives; measuring 18″ x 24″ x 1-1/2″ in size.

Screen image is representative of the original painting; color may differ slightly from screen to original artwork.