Listening to Nina

I've been a huge fan of Nina Simone ever since 1998. That's the year the Coen brother's The Big Lebowski was released. I purchased the soundtrack when it came out, and included was a song that crawled under my skin immediately: I've Got it Bad & That Aint Good, sung by Nina Simone. Up until then, I had never heard of Nina Simone, but that quickly changed.

It's hard for me to pick a favorite Nina Simone tune. The "video" I selected is one of her more upbeat songs. This song also showcases her talent at the piano. I listened to this song, and dozens more while completing the last piece in the Women Singing series.

Nina, 24 x 20"

All of the Women Singing pieces are available in my Etsy shop, and on my website.

Listening to Janis

Every now and then (rarely) I get asked to explain my inspiration for a piece of art. I just can't do it. The words don't come out right. Or my words seem lame. Or while gathering my thoughts, the listener gets distracted and walks off. Whatever.

My inspiration is a combination of music and color.



Three years ago I completed the Women Singing series. Each piece was all about color and music and how they combine in my mind.

I know this video is somewhat lame. But I had to find my favorite Janis Joplin song and it had be the vision I had in my head when I created my Janis piece. This song has gotten lodged inside of me. I know it can never be removed. Kind of a good thing. Kind of a bad thing. Even on the most beautiful and happy of days, the melancholy of this song alters my view of the world. As if I were wearing a pair of Janis' funky sunglasses.

Janis, 24 x 20"

Janis, detail

If a mad scientist were to cross Emily Dickinson, Janis Joplin, and the weird girl in back of the Home Economics class who could do nothing right, you would get me. I might appear quiet and geeky, but on the inside, Janis is raging.

Women Singing (Again)

Many of you have seen these pieces before on this blog. Now they can be purchased on Etsy.

Nina, 24 x 20"

Janis 24 x 20"

Elis, 24 x 20"

Astrud, 24 x 20"

These are tributes to some of my favorite singing women, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Elis Regina, and Astrud Gilberto. I wrote about these pieces in a little more detail in an older post.

Today I went into the studio to work. I had some bits and pieces of ideas laying about. I panicked, I paced, I put something together. I'll see if these new ideas hold water and then I'll take some photos.