Nspiration

As an artist, I find inspiration in many places. Music, specifically jazz, is an impactful source of that never tires. Years ago I began learning piano. A friend and amazing musician, Phil O'neal began directing me on how to learn to play piano. I was a terrible student but the desire for the expression in this medium didn't cease and I began thinking of music visually. The thought of how to represent sound using color and shape began to consume me. I sketched ideas as I learned more music theory. This is not a new concept as other artists have achieved this idea. I discovered Bill Buchman about 4 years ago while researching projects to teach my students. The more I looked at his work, the more I realized that his work looked the way I felt inside when listening to music. As I read about him, I found we share a interests. We share the art of writing poetry and playing piano. He plays professionally with a band while I am a beginner but the connection is there. Bill Buchman successfully integrates the feel and movement of music into his work, which is something I've always wanted to achieve in my own work. An artwork that inspires me is Bill Buchman's Breakdance II.

Buchman's piece reflects the energy and movement of jazz music. Diagonal lines in warm colors zig zag across the canvas like the solo of a trumpeter in a band. Lines of color dance intensely across the organic shapes beneath them. The painting is layered in values of cool and warm colors. Organic shapes filled with values of blues hover along the left and top edges of the space acting as the bass of the song. Breakdance II is painted with a looseness and fluidity that I have lacked in my work for years. His work is the opposite of mine. I tend to paint with control that is almost stagnant, while Buchman dives head first into the rhythm of music and allows that rhythm to direct the flow and placement of the media. After being exposed to his creativity, I began painting with less control and more improvisation. Breakdance II is one of many of Bill Buchman's works that inspire me to become the artist I've always wanted to be.

Visit Bill Buchman's site and become inspired.

www.figuredrawing.org/abstract-art-mixed-media-on-paper-archive/