Musings of A.C.S.

Here is a sculpture I made in the Spring of 2018. I know this isn't a great video to show this sculpture in, but it is the only format I have of it right now. @zellpopedragon was listening to the McElroys' Adventure Zone OST, while I took this video, so you'll hear that in the background.

I will take pictures of this sculpture and make a follow up post of it. ☆

This is an abstract representation of my relationship with violin. I used that stained glass window effect I was experimenting with earlier, and implemented it on this piece as a way to express what violin means to me.

The layering of sporadic, intense colors of paint, symbolizes my passion for music and violin, as that is the foundation and background of my studies with it, but that creativity and love is reigned in meticulously with practicing, as represented by the precise black lines balancing and contrasting the vivid, wild colors. The black lines are brutal to execute and much more difficult to do than painting freely and using colors however and wherever I feel. The whole process of making this sculpture is a physical analogy for what it is like studying violin performance. The black linear grids shatter and break apart the colors as to emphasize the parts of the colors that require attention at the "appropriate" intervals, like the way in music there requires that discipline to bring out certain aspects of the song/piece of music at the right times.

Here is the brilliant Maxim Vengerov performing the gorgeous Sibelius Violin Concerto. I listened to this performance countless times as I worked on this sculpture.

I absolutely adore how Itzhak Perlman plays violin, and how he interprets Paganini is absolutely awe inspiring. How could I not be moved to paint when listening to such thought provoking music? Paganini, a legendary composer and violinist, and hearing the world class virtuoso, Perlman.. what a time to be alive to be able to hear such music!

This painting on a woodblock I named in honor of Paganini's notoriously difficult violin caprices.

"Paganini Capriccio"

Paganini's Caprice No. 24; in particular, was one of the first pieces by Paganini I ever heard, and Alexander Markov was the first violinist I heard play it. It sounded like magic to me as a kid, and to this day, it enchants me everytime I hear it.

It is like a siren song to me, and makes me want to be able to make that kind of music come alive so I can share that experience with people too. I have a lot to learn as a violinist, as I am still aspiring to one day share my music with people online, so I will make violin videos eventually too and share them. I am nervous to share my music/interpretations because I care so much about this, but I know I really should just do it. I'm interested in sharing my practice vlogs, because I've been waiting and practicing for over 10 years to be "good enough" to share a polished musical performance/work with people...But time marches on, and perfection is an endless journey, because there are always things to improve upon. When I do post violin videos, I know they won't be perfect, but violin is just such a big part of my life too, I know I really want and need to share it.

Here is that video I watched as a kid of Alexander Markov performing one of the most challenging violin pieces ever written. So passionate, astounding, fantastical!

I really want to share these videos of music and musicians who have inspired me, so I'm on a bit of a rant because I'm so passionate about this. It is so exciting to know whoever reads this and watches/listens to these performances, will hear, learn, and appreciate these things too.

I had a dear friend recently tell me that great things deserve to be shared.

That really changed my outlook on social media and sharing my personal works/passion projects/interests/passions/and all that jazz. So that is why I'm finally using my tumblr like this instead of keeping follows and the like, to myself.

Annnnd speaking of great things deserving to be shared, here is another incredible violin piece by Paganini played by the amazing Ziyu He! Another one of those performances that is magically mesmerizing. Such a powerful and masterful performance! I must have listened to this hundreds of times, I love this performance so much. I often have this on repeat on my playlists while I paint and sculpt. ☆

♡Vincent Van Gogh is one of my earliest inspirations, as he is amongst the first artists that I learned about, and this mixed media work was an endeavor in trying to figure out/study that expressionism style of his. Though I did do my own experiment along the way by doing an acrylic painting under layer, and then went over the top with some oil pastels.

I am happy with the result. ♡ =)

Took some pictures of the progression of painting, "Beyond Two in Counterpoint Romance". I know it may be silly to name a bunch of seemingly random colors on a canvas, but with this abstract art of mine, there are personal contexts and associations.

Painting helps me make sense of the world, and more specifically, abstract art is a way for my mind to process ideas and thoughts. Ideas and thoughts aren't always concrete focuses like the subjects of realism, like the literal paintings of a tree or a person.

Sometimes the very idea of the subject(s) is/are enough to inspire a thought process to create art.

This kind of art helps the artist express and reflect on ideas like beauty, romance, conflict, etc.

"Beyond Two in Counterpoint Romance"

06/12/2017

“Maria”

“Manuela” 

Rest in Peace...

I was inspired by Philip Glass's, "Metamorphosis" album, so I named this experimental acrylic painting after his album, as I do to honor music that inspires me like this.

"Wichita Vortex Sutra" is one of my favorite pieces by Philip Glass. ♡ The whole progression throughout this album to that finale is so inspiring and fantastic. Once again, I had that piece stuck in my head, so I listened to it over and over again until this painting was finished.

I found this mix of an Allen Ginsberg poem read aloud over, "Wichita Vortex Sutra" and I really enjoy listening to it. I think it is an awesome blend of art forms, and is truly wonderful.

This painting is really special to me, it's one of my favorites I've made so far. It is also one of the few I've made that I had this overwhelming desire to name it, so I decided to name it after this one piece by Erik Satie that I just couldn't get out of my head...so I listened to his piece, "Nocturne No. 1" over and over again until I finished this painting. Erik Satie composed so many hauntingly beautiful pieces that just have a way of lingering in your mind. I decided to name it after this piece as a way to honor that hauntingly beautiful melody. ♡