One of the first remarkable lessons I learned from studying Georgia O'Keeffe was a story she wrote about listening to music as she painted. Her story goes as this..."I never took one of Bements's classes at Columbia University, but one day down the hall I heard music from his classroom. Being curious I opened the door and went in. A low-toned record was being played and the students were asked to make a drawing from what they heard. so I sat down and made a drawing, too. Then he played a very different kind of record-a sort of high soprano piece-for another quick drawing. This gave me an idea that I was very interested to follow later-the idea that music could be translated into something for the eye."
I took this lesson and applied it to songs I found that inspired me and when I listened to the music I would get lost in it... In doing this I found myself going into my own world, my first sense of my art zone. The music would play, I would sing out loud and often make up my own words...just lost in the moment of having that paint brush in my hand, unconsciously selecting and making paint colors that pleased me, and the feeling of the brush's sensuality upon my canvas. My art zone is the most beautiful place in the world filled with joy beyond belief. It is my place that in time I have learned to slip into and create.
The paintings I chose for this post are:
"Music-Pink and Blue 1", by Georgia O'Keeffe, 35x29.
"The Color Of Pleasure", by Jan Ketza, 48x72
Lesson 3 from O'Keeffe...Paint to Music
