Guitars and More Guitars to Paint

Posted on February 27, 2018 by SusanG

Since the refocus for me involves art and music, it seems only right to combine the two. If you’ve been following the progress of the Ovation painting then you’ve probably guessed that this the main way I’m doing that. It’s fun. And there are a lot of interesting instruments out there, guitars in particular, that are works of art in their own right. Whether it is the design, the engineering, the craftsmanship, the finish, the inlay, or just they way they have aged. They are beautiful and I want to render them onto canvas or canvas board.

With that in mind, this last weekend I headed off down to South Carolina for a guitar show. I went specifically hoping see some interesting guitars and to take pictures. I know. I’ve had a few people express surprise that I didn’t purchase another one. What can I say, I wasn’t in the shopping mood. Ok, there was one that might have tempted me a little. Not enough though. I didn’t even ask to play it.

I did see some great stuff. Though, I was lamenting to a day job co-worker that I didn’t see much odd stuff. Then I looked through some of the pictures I took and realized, that wasn’t entirely true. While I saw a lot of Gibson, a lot of Gibson, and a lot of Fender, Gretsch, and C.F. Martin, I also saw some Silvertone, Harmony, Hagstrom, and even a Palir. I saw a Mosrite Bass and a solid body electric from Ovation. There were others as well, those just happen to stand out.

I was looking for a few things in the guitars I photographed. Aged and played. I wanted guitars that showed they had lived and they had been played. And preferably not relic-ed to look that way. That’s a cheat and disappointing for me. I want to see the life in the instrument. And there were some great examples there. Unusual. I wanted shapes that were different or configurations that were different, or even interesting colors. And also good examples of the particular instruments. I did see a few choice Telecasters and Stratocasters, and some lovely Gretsch guitars, even an acoustic Gretsch. That was cool.

So here are some of my favorites from this weekend.

 

 

 

As I noted, the idea is to be able to use some of these for reference to create new artwork from, thus the reason for wanting something different. There are quite a few that I think will be fun to get started on. And a few that I will get started on and regret it because of the detail. And yes, several of them are red.

I am bit excited to get started on a couple. So much so that I’m even thinking about preparing the canvas board to see if I can work out the issues I have with the two pieces I’m still working on. Of course if I do that, then I’ll have to start sketching it in and one thing will lead to another and I’ll get started on it and distracted from the Ovation painting that I’ve been working on so diligently lately, and the Gretsch that I will get back to once I get the Ovation done. Or maybe not. I think I can stay focused on the current pieces. I’m really interested to see them finished. And here’s an updated look at the Ovation painting.

The other reason to stay focused and finish these two pieces is that I’ve learned quite a bit doing them and I would like to be able to take all of that to the next fresh painting. That’s a topic for another post though.

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Settling Into Things

Posted on February 20, 2018 by SusanG

Now that I’ve settled on something of a direction, that doesn’t feel like I should be looking around for the next best option, I’m starting to settle in and get to things. Not that that’s going perfectly smooth. There is still clean up to do and there have been a few things interrupt the forward momentum. Still, I’m staying on track and the interruptions and minor detours are not near a wear on my patience as they might have been a few months ago.

Finding more focus has been nice for so many reasons, not just finding my patience not as tested. It’s also made it easier to clean out book shelves and closets. It’s made it easier to decide I don’t need to spend money on something that really is just going to get left laying around. It’s my version of the simplifying thing that seems to be the trend these days.

Having a more limited focus does not necessarily translate to having more time. As I said there is still clean up to do that includes not only cleaning out, it also includes cleaning up, litterally. Unfortunately the past few months of craziness have lead to a bit of neglect in taking care of my home. And quite frankly, it’s a mess and needs a good scrubbing. I’m only just starting to distribute the resources I recovered, in the form of time and energy, from the other things I was doing, into the things that need doing as well as the art and music. It’s going to take some work.

I say it’s going to take some work because without those other things to worry about, I tend to get a bit lost in whichever I’m doing, art or music. I do a little better in the art room than the music room. Working on the art for too long tends to lead to hand cramping and a tight back so I’m fairly good at setting a timer and taking a break after about an hour. But I have this play list for windows media player, of this one singer, that, at the moment the play list is about 3 hours long. It’s on shuffle repeat. So. I take a break, check email and get a fresh cup of tea and then right back to working on the painting. When it comes to the music room that’s another story. About the only time I remember to set a timer is if I have to go some place. Then, I’ll set a timer. Otherwise, I can go in there with the best intention of only spending 30 minutes, or an hour working on something and the next thing I know, I’m at an hour and half, maybe three hours. You would think sore fingers would stop me, and it used to. The more I play, the longer it takes to get to that point. It’s more like a grumbling stomach or eyes that will no longer stay open that stop me.

I am going to have to make some effort to be a little more disciplined for the next couple of weeks. I really need to haul off the stuff I’ve set aside to get rid of. I’ve also got some business stuff to tend to. And I really need to get the place cleaned up before I head off to San Antonio the end of next month. My neighbor will be coming in to check on my birds and I don’t want the place to be embarrassing.

Now that I’m making the shift to just the music and art, it’s time to really look at how to make that work. Somethings I can see how they can work and can be scheduled to fit in the day to day, and somethings I think are going to take a little more thought and planning. For example, I have an idea for a new piece of art to be a new business card. It’s a 3D modeled design and I’m thinking of using Blender for it instead of 3DS Max. I’ll need to figure out where that fits in everything because I’ll be learning a new application again. Or relearning. But I still have other art and music to work on so I don’t want that to take over. Yes, there is a reason for wanting to use Blender and I’ll get to a full discussion of it another day, for now, it has to do with this refocus. I also want to do some experimenting with the guitar paintings. There are some things I’ve discovered with the prep on the current paintings that are causing a little trouble for me. I think I can overcome that but I need an opportunity to test it and that won’t come until I start a new painting. I’m also considering using a different technique to create the paintings. Which is another topic to discuss another day. Trialing that will need to be worked in somewhere as well.

It’s all good though. I’m moving in a direction that is making me happy and I don’t feel like I’m flailing around trying to grasp whatever I can.

Before I close out this post, here’s a bit of an update on the music and art front.

While I don’t have the video from last week’s Blues Jam edited yet, I did get to work on the Ovation painting this week. So here’s a look at that. I started on the Flame Red that separates the quilted part. I think it’s going to do what I want. I will need at least a second pass at it to get it vibrant enough. That’s a ways off though. I want to finish a full pass of the Flame Red first.

And the guitar is back from repair again. As the Muppets sang “Movin’ Right Along”.

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Being There and Rolling With It

Posted on February 14, 2018 by SusanG

No doubt you’ve noticed the tardiness of this post as compared to the last few months or years of regular posting days and times. There are reasons for it and none of them are related to why I thought I might be tardy with a post. It’s not because I was sitting here agonizing over every word and turn of phrase.

It is, more a case of, what I was going to write about and how I wanted to approach it was still simmering in my mind when my situation changed. I was no longer going to be spending the evening sitting at my computer writing or practicing a song or working on a painting. Instead I was called to assist someone when they needed a bit of help. It was my privilege to be able to be there for someone who needed a little extra help.

I could get philosophical about the whole topic and take an entire post to discuss it. And I may, another day. After I have thought about it enough to present a point of view clearly and without sounding odd or preachy. For now I will say that I think it is a gift and a privilege to be called on to render aid and/or assistance, no matter how big or small. And we are fortunate when the universe sees in us a potential to be the light, a rock, or whatever is needed for another.

Now I’ll get off my soapbox and move on to some other thoughts I had about my week because it didn’t happen quite as I had originally expected.

This week, as I was practicing guitar I thought I’d get out my PRS that I had just had repaired. It’s nice and light, really versatile. I was thinking that if it was feeling good I might take it to the jam on Sunday. That is not what happened. I plugged it in to tune it and got no signal from it at all. Nothing. That was disappointing. So I packed it back in its case and set it aside so I could take it back to the shop. Which I did.

The day I took it to the shop, though it was time I hadn’t originally planned on spending driving there and back, I still managed to get the rest of the things done that I had hoped to, I picked up some veggies, went to yoga, had a decent dinner. I even had a friend over for a chat and baked apples and after that I worked on the Ovation painting. Things were moving pretty good. Right up until that point. I was really late getting to bed which meant I was going to be later than normal getting up the next day. Sure enough.

So the plans for going out that Saturday night to watch a guy, who sometimes comes to the blues jam, play an acoustic show started looking like a maybe not. But maybe if I could get a nap in after Taekwondo. And. That didn’t happen. With the stuff I still needed to do to get ready for the next week and the time spent booking my travel for next month’s trip it wasn’t looking realistic. As I found out the next day, it wasn’t such a bad thing that I didn’t make it. The venue had plumbing trouble and had to close early so he only played a single long set.

And still, I was up too late to make use of the early alarm I set for both weekend days. Sunday came and I needed just a bit more sleep. Followed by. Oh crap. There is no way I’m going to get that done and that done and that done for tomorrow and go to yoga and go to the Blues Jam. Something had to give. Well, it wasn’t going to be laundry. That would not be the best choice. Ultimately, it was the yoga that had to suffer. This time.

Then it was Blues Jam time. I got to play two sets again. Yes I sang, again. The results were a little mixed but not terrible. Yes. There is video evidence. It needs to be edited before I post it so look for that soon-ish. As always, I had a great time. So much fun. I do learn something every time I go, even if it’s not something specific. It’s something that for me is sort of absorbed. And I come home wanting to learn something more. Whether that’s a song someone else played. How to tackle a lead part. A new song to sing. Whatever it is. I just want to get better, and better. And that’s what’s been so great about going to the Blues
Jams this time around.

There is always a tangential topic or four with regards to the jams, playing music, playing music out and all of that. As well as there being so many other topics. For now, I’ll call it good and share the latest work in progress of the Ovation painting. I’ve finished the second pass of the crimson and now there are a full 6 strings as well as frets. It’s coming along.

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Refocusing…

Posted on February 6, 2018 by SusanG

As part of trying to make this blog better I’m also doing some refocusing. Not just the blog but things in general. I’m making a bit of progress with that however, I’m still working on it. It doesn’t happen over night for me. I go in fits and starts and a few stutters too. So some postings are going to fall back to the old update format.

Part of the process involves a clean out of things that I’ve accumulated that I no longer want, need, or have an interest in. This is where my biggest success has been, so far. I managed to clean out a bunch of games. And even a game console. I was able to trade in the games and console for some extra cash. That’s a real bonus. I got rid of stuff, made a bit of space, and got cash to put towards next year’s trip. I’m hoping to have a similar result with a bunch of books I’ve pulled off my shelves to get rid of. I may try to take those in this next weekend so I can finish cleaning that room.

I’m expecting, as part of this refocus, to get back to more art. I have the two paintings I’ve been working on for way too long now. The Ovation painting and the Gretsch painting. I want to finish them. And, I’ve seen some really beautiful and interesting instruments in my Instagram feed lately that would be fun to paint so I want to free up some work space as well as time for them. Also, I’m going to have to track down either the actual guitars to get pictures or good promo photos for reference.

Refocusing is going to involve music as well. I’ve finally gotten back to playing after a few years of not being able to and there are a few things I want to do and learn there so I’m likely to have something to say about it. I might even post some recording of what I’m working on. It might be a while though. I’ve got a piece of gear that will help with that except I still need to learn how to use it. And, I’m still reading the manual for it.

The goal of making my writing and postings better is still there. I had intended that to mean my posts would be more articles than just basic, ‘hey this is what I did this week’ posts. However, I recognize that I still need to provide periodic project updates. After all, that is what got you to stop and have a read to begin with. And with out them you’ll probably get bored with my random ramblings. And, I suspect some articles won’t really be for everyone as not everyone has the same level of interest in the things that I get enthusiastic about.

As an example. A very patient work mate gently informed me, or made me aware, I’m a music geek. Now I wouldn’t have thought that and I’m still not sure I completely agree with it. However, he said this just after he spent five minutes listening to me tell him about the cool part of this book I am reading being that it is written by the recording engineer on the album Rumors and he was discussing the difference in the consoles the song Rhiannon was recorded on versus the console he mixed the radio mix on. So, since that’s the discussion my work mate is basing his assessment on, I’ll accept it.

Now, I recognize that you’re more accustomed to me running on about art projects with lots of pictures so the shift not just in adding article type postings, but also to adding the music postings may be a surprise and not at all what you expected. Fair enough. I think I’ve only really just hinted at my musical leanings over the last few years. If even that. So it probably seems a little out of left field. No worries. Hang in there with me and find out where it does come from. Trust me, it really doesn’t come from left field.

I still have plenty of 3D digital art projects I want to do so there will be more of that.  That’s not going away with the refocus. There will be more of the paintings of guitars. Lots of guitars. And some music stuff.

So art and music. What’d you think? You along for the ride? I’ll try to make it interesting and as fun to read about as I imagine my co-workers think it funny to watch me talk about it, in full animation.

And as a little bonus to close out. Here’s an updated picture of the Ovation Guitar painting. That second pass of the crimson is almost done. 

 

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Liner Notes!

Posted on January 30, 2018 by SusanG

Ah the joy of a new CD or record. I can’t wait to open it up and read the little booklet inside or the sleeve that the record is in. Those liner notes. Good ones tell the story of the recording. I love liner notes. We won’t discuss bad ones here. But good ones. Oh yeah.

When I was a teen and I would get a new CD or record the first thing I did was open it up and read the liner notes. Usually while I was listening to said CD or record for the first time. I still do this. I love reading the lyrics to the songs. And who wrote them. And even the names of the publishing companies they are under. You can learn things about the writers just through that. And then if they list the musicians, singers, arrangers, producers and such as well, that is always more fun. Oh, and the recording studios. You can see who might have played with whom and maybe where connections were made. There might even be a guest artist who played or sang on a song or two. Like, Joe Walsh on an early Andy Gibb song. Or Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham on the Bob Welch song ‘Sentimental Lady’. Or finding Toni Tennille from The Captain and Tennille in the credits of Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’. Yes.

You can even learn bits with the thank yous that are sometimes included. That’s fun because you might get a hint at someone who was involved but maybe not really credited.

I love good liner notes. I especially like the ones that really tell about the recording. Maybe something about each song or the whole idea behind the recording. Like why they wanted to make it. I also like the ones to CD’s that are a compilation, like a retrospective or Greatest Hits, where someone has written a tribute to the artist or even a history of them and their place in music history. I’ve come across a couple of these lately that really shed light on the significance of the groups they reference.

Liner notes are why I still have CD’s and records. Liner notes are what we don’t get with our digital music. Liner notes help to tell the story of musical history. They tell us that George A. Nevermind wrote the song ‘Sugar Walls’ on Sheena Easton’s ‘Private Heaven’ album, and, well, we all know George as Prince. Or that Phil Collins played drums and produced a track on Frida’s (from ABBA fame) record that included the ‘80’s hit ‘I Know There’s Something Going On’. Liner notes tell us that Diane Warren who wrote Cher’s hit ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ co-wrote songs with Desmond Child and even Michael Bolton. And, if you didn’t already know, you would learn from the liner notes that ‘Islands in the Stream’ is a Gibb brothers song. Liner notes are how we find out all these sorts of things.

And liner notes are why I don’t really purchase my music digitally if I can avoid it. I would rather have the physical copy of the recording, even as I run out out of self space. I’d rather have the liner notes and then have to rip the music to my computer to get it on my phone, than to not have all the great information and story there in those liner notes.

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