Posts Tagged ‘music’
Tuesday, June 19th, 2007
continued exploration of original art
Jazz 3 – digital painting / original art prints – Dan Beck 2005
When I am not sure what I might want to write about, I frequently go to the home page of Outhouse Studios and click on the Gallery Chance card – kind of reminiscent of playing monopoly.
If by chance it takes me to a gallery like the Abstract Art Gallery – I might have to click on Image Roulette – which transports me to an original image and digital painting for that day.
What is fun and probably not accidental about the above piece is that I was thinking about this process in the last day or two. I did a multitude of abstract drawings and paintings long before I ever started working with the computer. They were mostly about trying to convey a feeling – more about the energy and thought I put into the piece than thinking about colors or form.
The piece above – was done listening to some jazz from my collection – I can’t say what at this time – but something I was in the mood for – and simply having fun – being both inside the music and inside the art.
It was done in the style of a meditation – little internal dialogue – observing without judging and being the connection.
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Tags: Art, color, digital painting, music, painting, prints
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Monday, June 18th, 2007
and original blue clouding
Blue Clouds at Evening – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007
Sticking with my theme of original art – I opted to come back to this piece. I don’t know that it will ever reach my all time favorites. In fact, when I saw the blue clouds that evening – I was more struck by the unusualness than the beauty.
Had this been part of an abstract color experiment – or some bizarre reference to a “blue period” – it might actually be more accessible.
But I think because the unreal was actually real – it makes the whole work a bit fanciful – even for myself – who saw the blue clouds that night … and never since, and never before.
So the image will probably always be unique and the original prints – though likely multiples – will always be as intended … and always original art prints.
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Tags: Art, color, music, Original Art, original_art, painting, prints
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Monday, June 11th, 2007
approaching the vast task at hand
Field Phlat – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2006
The fields seem like they go on forever. Imagine the feeling of having to pick all those fields – imagine a world which seems to intertwine with your body itself.
Imagine both the magnitude of harvesting out of necessity and both the importance and smallness felt all at the same time.
Though my world is nothing like the strawberry pickers, I identify with this figure. His world is vast, beautiful and seemingly endless. His task is not ever fulfilled by himself but he must nevertheless start the process.
He is in pause – from beauty, from vastness, from being overwhelmed, by just the humbling nature of where to begin.
It is in our nature to work the impossible…
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Tags: Art, fields, music, Original Art, original_art, painting, prints, strawberry
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Thursday, May 10th, 2007
after seven years observing, I have finally seen the air hoe
Air Hoe 3 – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007
There will be art prints available for the above piece – but I am in the process of rethinking how I want to offer these. So be patient or not, and I will figure it out.
Almost a month ago I featured a new digital painting. At the time I commented that I would explain the posture of the last figure at a later date. It was not consciously trying to recreate what I had seen, but when I sketched in the figure, I saw I had included a figure a lot like the above.
I will say – that I actually saw a field worker playing his hoe momentarily like a guitar. Since I didn’t hear any music, I assumed it was not plugged in and he was playing the air hoe.
For reasons I will not explain here, I used the same figure in three different digital paintings – proving once again – that I have no issue with breaking my own rules.
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Tags: Art, color, digital painting, music, painting, prints
Posted in Digital Paintings | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 24th, 2007
simple but ambiguous
My Series 4 – digital painting / art prints – Dan Beck 2005
This piece looks better to me than the last time I wrote about it.
I have written a number of times about how color is relative to its neighbor – just as art is relevant in relation to its context. So it should not be a surprise that the conditions of the viewer are probably just as big of a factor as the art itself.
Today it is calm out – overcast and mellow. I am sitting at a computer screen playing my own image roulette – because it is time to write even though my mind is on music.
Trying to keep things simpler – not adding more than is necessary – is a mantra right now – so the simpleness and directness of the above digital painting has more appeal than before. I love the smoothness of color on the textured background.
And for whatever reason, I find more than enough ambiguity to satisfy my imagination today.
See Also
- My Series 4 – art print options and availability for above digital painting
- Dream with Mantra – not sure if this is the artist’s real name or a persona – but always worth taking a look at other people’s art
- How to Change the World: Mantras Versus Missions – found this rather amusing – but also curious about the blog title – without reading much further – seems more about status quo than changing the world – but than again what isn’t?
Tags: Art, color, digital painting, music, painting, prints, texture
Posted in Digital Paintings | No Comments »
Friday, April 13th, 2007
recent experience affects creativity
Typical Mountain Color – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007
Well yes – this really isn’t typical mountain color – but is more a case of saving a piece with a title before knowing exactly where it is going.
The mountains are beautiful here and they have this look and feeling which I try to communicate frequently. They change a lot, but there is always this wonderful patchwork of color.
When I started painting this piece – I was drinking out of a pseudo Van Gogh mug. I approached the painting with more abandon and colors than I might normally – it felt like the right thing to do.
The figures came in to play because 1) I wasn’t done painting, 2) I felt it would make the piece more interesting (colorful), and 3) because I caught two men resting on their hoes recently (even though these are shovels) – something I don’t normally see.
The third figure seemed necessary with the rest of the composition. His posture will be discussed at another time.
See Also
- Field of Hoes – how could I not think of this piece – a number of people have said it looks like a band of musicians out in that field – plus original art prints are set up for purchase
- Van Gogh – an interesting take on his use of color – with imbued meanings throughout – perhaps even more credit than the spontaneous style we can all see – but such a lovely image to make the discussion come together
Tags: Art, color, composition, creativity, mountains, music, painting, prints
Posted in Digital Paintings | No Comments »
Sunday, March 25th, 2007
Time, Space, and the Endlessness of Creativity
Jazz 3 – digital painting and art prints – 2005 – Dan Beck
Music exists in time and space, but not so much in vision – though one might not know that with the advent of music videos and of course live performance from the get-go.
It is not two dimensional and it is more than three – and I am not sure exactly why I say that. But like vision it can stay with us and reappear at a later time even though it is long gone.
How the above is like music is a tough call, but I know it to be. I know it was about the music I was listening to – moving to the beat and feeling the place inside.
Sometimes I feel art is time based as well – only working in a certain place and time – but creativity fortunately seems to be endless.
See Also
- Jazz 3 – art print options for above digital painting
- TBA Festival 2006 – apparently there is a time based art festival in Portland – last years offerings demonstrate the breadth of the concept
- Introduction to Time Based Art (course offering) – my understanding of time based art was always – limited time and changing over time – such as using organic matter – this course is almost the antithesis.
Tags: Art, creativity, music, painting, prints
Posted in Digital Paintings | No Comments »
Friday, March 16th, 2007
CD art before recording – digital art before purchasable prints
Red Eye Recordings – cover art – Dan Beck 2007
I like the phrase art before the cart – just like I enjoyed art cart rather than shopping cart.
I am hoping to record some of my music from the last year or so. I came up with the concept above for a CD because my eyes got infected and I felt well enough to play guitar and sing – and even felt quite inside the music.
I was also concerned about using my eyes too much – though obviously not so concerned that I didn’t do the art work first. So naturally – I have a cover without the recorded content. Well I have recorded one piece – to be shared another day.
The other aspect to this phrase “Art Before the Cart” is that there will always be new pieces of digital art on this site – visible but not set up for purchase – it is the way it is – despite my best intentions.
Expectations of impulsive got to have an art print of that digital painting having seen it once on the internet are not really mine – but please don’t hesitate to write if something strikes your fancy – just email or comment below.
Just thought it should be said…
See Also
Music at Outhouse Studios – listen to music, read about the process – and get a flavor for that aspect of my creativity and of course – 1danband
Art Before the Cart – in the interest of saving my eyes – I did a google search for this phrase (in quotes) – only been used once. At least I am in good company.
Tags: Art, creativity, music, painting, prints
Posted in Digital Paintings | No Comments »
Monday, March 5th, 2007
time equates to value – should art stand on its own?
Hoe Dance – digital painting / art prints- Dan Beck – 2005
I think it is pretty obvious that my artwork is not starting from a photo. I think by definition digital painting is starting from scratch. But I also think the lines are blurred.
On the one hand, a work of art or music for that matter should stand on its own – one likes it or doesn’t. On the other hand, it seems to have more value as we grasp the amount of time that has gone into the preparation (study and practice) and the actual amount of time spent on a piece.
The general formula and thinking is the more time the more valuable – an equation like we use for most work in our world. Curiously, some of my best music and best art comes quickly at the time – but that does not take anything away from the work which lead up to it.
I am sure that I have taken some shortcuts along the way – I think that actually is normal . But I am proud of the work I have done to hone my skills and develop my vocabulary in both art and music – it is not pressing a button for a bass line or tracing a photo as the author of this article (which prompted today’s discussion) was so disturbed by.
But as much as I believe in my developed skills and taste, I want my work to stand on its own.
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Tags: Art, digital painting, music, painting, prints
Posted in Digital Paintings | No Comments »
Saturday, February 24th, 2007
painting a scene one’s own
Sky Over Mountains – digital painting – Dan Beck 2007
No it doesn’t look like this and yes it does look like this. A couple of days ago when the sun was setting I glimpsed the most magnificent sky over the mountains – I couldn’t really position myself correctly to see it fully, but I know…
The sky was streaked with pink. Portions of the clouds were incredibly bright white; and a blue sky was still apparent in places. I didn’t make this up, I just made it my own.
Like when a musician takes another person’s song and takes it to his own place; it is my goal as an artist to take a scene or portion of a scene and give a feeling and twist that only I would give it.
I am very pleased with this latest digital painting – hope it works for you too.
Happy Birthday
See Also
- Valley Sketch – similar sky – not quite as intense but a good example of a somewhat similar piece
- All Along the Watchtower – video form the Isle of Wight – Jimi Hendrix plays Dylan like it’s his own song – even if you are not a Hendrix fan, it is worth checking out the colorful outfit
- Butterflydancing: Photo’s - site with the “magnificent sky” photo also has some other shots worth taking a gander at – pretty fun really
Tags: Art, color, mountains, music, painting
Posted in Digital Paintings | No Comments »
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