storytimewithjoe | Artist update

I cannot even begin to describe what a HUGE stress-relief it is to have made progress!!! Shortly after getting home from work last night, I served up a batch of leftovers, and then sat down to work on a scroll. Looking over the absolutely luscious calligraphy done by Adelheit, I choked down that typical “blank canvas” anxiety, mixed up some gauche, and got to work. I have no idea why, but for some odd reason, the painting went quickly – REALLY quickly. By the time I stopped at around 10:30, I was probably about 85-90% done. WooHOO! Since this is due at GWW, and I have no time between now and then to work on it, I was having these nightmare visions of having to work on it AT the event, which would be less-than-ideal.

Plugged into the ipod, I had a sequence of Tori Amos tunes going through my head while painting. Why Tori? I have no idea. You’d think that I would pipe into something medieval to get into the right frame of mind, right? Not so much. It would probably be counterproductive for me to try painting to a scroll when a salterello comes onto the player. My feet would no doubt begin to move to the dance beat, and it would show in the painting. But why Tori? I just tend to zen out, for whatever reason. Maybe “Sleeps with Butterflies” helps me to channel Melesse so that I can quickly crank out a work of art? Maybe other songs make me think of Missy Mo, leading to the same results? Who knows what makes our brains work the way they do?

In typing about this, I remember years ago having a conversation with a group of friends about background music. In this instance, we were talking about sewing. One friend piped in saying that she could not have any kind of music or background distraction, as it interfered with her ability to concentrate. Another friend talked about turning on the radio and just listening to Top 40 music. Another friend suggested popping in classic movies for pleasant background entertainment and inspiration. Then, butting her way into the conversation, a particularly obnoxious person offered the fact that she always watches Gone with the Wind whenever she sews. Just as everyone began to roll their eyes and politely stay quiet, Satan possessed me temporarily as I retorted sharply, “No WONDER all your dresses look like old curtains, darlin’.”

When you get creative and/or artsy, what do you like to have as your background white noise?