Inspiration from Music

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"Maria" is the first of my new earthlings celebrating the rhythm of music. She is also the very first earthling created specifically for myself and (sorry) not for sale.

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An artist's inspiration is a personal thing, but I don't think I'm alone when I say music is a huge presence in my studio. Over the years, I've usually had music playing while I paint. The choice of music has varied from jazz and blues, folk and rock, to dramatic movie scores, but it has always made a difference.
Sometimes the music is just in the background, setting the mood while I work away. (Okay, yes, there may in fact be dancing involved as well.) Sometimes the song itself has helped me visualize an idea. In fact, I've created some paintings which I could only work on when I listened to a specific recording. Other times, the music provides the very energy that propels the direction of each brushstroke. A number of years ago, I presented a series of paintings in a solo exhibition entitled The Art of Jazz (see several from this series under archives here).
This year my earthling series is taking the connection one step further. The earthlings themselves are responding to the music. This seems appropriate as I consider music is the universal language. I don't believe there is any country, any culture, which does not create its own music flavoured by a unique history and influences. Listening to music, playing music, dancing to music. We don't just hear music. We feel music. We create song with our own voices. It moves us like nothing else. I don't think folks are unhappy when music is involved. In fact, it usually pulls us together.
I also believe the earth itself has its own rhythm, its own song. It comes from the ground beneath our feet, the wind, the ocean, and all the creatures who call earth home. I just hope we all take the time to listen, to learn to really listen and understand what this beautiful planet has to teach us. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all dance together.