"The Siren"

Hi! Whoa… 2 posts in a row?

Last night I tweeted that I was working on an awesome tattoo design. As promised, here it is! “The Siren” ; I’m super excited by it because of the speed I did it… it just “flowed” and I love when that happens. For some reason it was just relatable I guess. (I’m sure we all know people like this character, whether it be a woman OR a man…) I’m gonna go out on a limb here and assume you know that I am speaking metaphorically, not people that actually eat or kill you. Lol.

 

Although this is not related to Lee’s music I wanted to share it with you because 1) It’s a pretty kick ass design & I’m super proud of it  and 2) It has an awesome story.  Besides art (obviously), when I was in school, I LOVED when we learned about Greek Mythology. I love stuff like that, it fascinates me. It was much more interesting than real life history…it was a world created by folklore and magic. So… I was excited when a friend asked me to design a tattoo of a siren from book 12 of the Odyssey. She wanted it done in my faceless style.  I have not read this book myself, but I was sort of familiar with the story. It’s funny because about 10 minutes before I was asked to do this, I was talking to someone else about wanting to sketch a mermaid. I have been thinking about doing a beautiful mermaid sketch ever since Lee posted the pictures he did with his wife,Jonna for the Project Mermaid shoot she did. Project Mermaid is actually a very cool project and you can read about it here:http://www.projectmermaids.com/

So I guess if you think about it, it kinda IS Lee-related because if it weren’t for him inspiring me to paint and draw again… no one would even know I could draw, let alone ask me to design something that they want permanently on their body! I also probably would have not thought to draw a mermaid either, but I can not wait to see it after it is done. *actually if you want to appt Lee art to this concept... I just realized it works PERFECTLY with "stay away" don't you think? 

Lol it's almost like 6 degrees of Lee DeWyze lyrics lol

ANYWAY:

For those of you that do NOT know what a Siren is, here is a summary if them that I saw on  http://www.gods-and-monsters.com/sirens-mythology.html

According to this site, “With the Sirens, mythology has created a physical personification of the danger of falling for a beautiful woman.

As any man knows, beautiful women can be dangerous. In Greek mythology, some beautiful women can be straight up deadly.

The Sirens of Greek mythology began specifically as a group of creatures who looked like beautiful women, but were really man-eating beasts. They sat on the shore and sang with voices so seductive and compelling that anyone who heard their song became absolutely mesmerized with them. So mesmerized, in fact, that they became obsessed with reaching the shore to get closer to the sound. And then the Sirens would eat them.

The term "siren" is used both in ancient and modern mythology, as well as in modern language in general, to describe something that is simultaneously dangerous and compelling. In later myths and legends, any creature that lured a man in only to cause harm might be considered "a siren" in the general context of the term.

With the original Greek Sirens, mythology depicts these creatures as beautiful women with angelic wings who play there lutes and sing. They were aloof and didn't make eye-contact with their victims, which made them seem all the more innocent and mysterious.

Different versions of siren mythology have them as having mostly bird-like bodies with the heads of women, or sometimes they had the torso of a woman and the tail of a fish. Both of these versions are likely confusing the sirens with harpies and mermaids, respectively.

The Sirens appeared most famously in Homer's classic "The Odyssey", where Odysseus had his men tie him to the ship and plug their ears so he could hear the legendary song of the Sirens and not rush to his death in a fit of insanity. As expected, as soon as Odysseus heard the song he begged his men to untie him, but he wisely had warned them not to do so. It was said that no one every got to hear the sirens song and live, though, as usual, certain heroes of ancient myth found a way. “

 

 I hope you like it because I do :-) anyway, back to my Lee art. ..... Talk to you soon!!! 

A VISUAL album review of Lee DeWyze's "Frames", track by track ....

 

What is a visual album review you ask?

 

“Art is love made visual” this is my favorite quote and I am taking it literally. I am taking the music I love and making it visual for the world to see ”

 

As many of you already know, my name is Jenn Harding and I am an artist. All of my work is inspired by the music & lyrics of Lee DeWyze. I started out just doing a song here, a song there… Every time I hear his voice it inspired me, but I usually just choose my favorite songs.

 

Ever Since “Frames” was released on August 20, 2013 under Vanguard Records, I have a painting for just about every track. I have listened to nothing but this album and my mind is just flooded with visuals.  There are a few paintings not yet started, however I at least have an idea and sketch for it.

There have been some amazing write ups for this album- fantastic reviews from talented writers. I mean, how can they not be fantastic? It is 43.48 minutes of pure perfection. 

 

The goal of the next 13 posts is to take you on a journey through my mind, sharing with what I see and think as I listen to these tracks….

There is a special place in my heart for ALL of Lee’s music, but the songs on “Frames”, they are extra special. He put so much of himself into these songs; you can’t help but be enthralled with every single song. He is taking you into the inner workings of his mind and heart. Not only are these songs coming from a place that is so personal to him… they are relatable! So much in fact, that it almost makes me feel like you are a part of them, like he was reading your mind when he wrote them. Do you know of any other song writer that can give you that experience every-single-time? (I bet you do not…)

The lyrics are hauntingly beautiful and alluring. His voice is (as always) this modulated smokey gruff , yet comforting all at the same time.

 

Each song takes me to a totally different place in which I’ll be sharing with you.

The format of each one will be the same and will be in the order the songs appear on the album.  You’ll be able to view the painting inspired by that particular song, hear the song, and read the lyrics. I’ll then explain to you how that song makes me feel and how I came to paint what I did. Not only will you be reading about my inspiration, you will also me getting the viewpoint from a fellow Lee fan who knows the music & lyrics, @marekatslp. She will be able to tell you how the painting affects her since she knows the music and can appreciate where I’m coming from.

I am fully aware that I am limiting myself as an artist to only painting Lee DeWyze music, but that is what I feel and painting what you feel is the whole purpose of creating art, correct? In order show you that these paintings can be appreciated by more than Just Lee DeWyze fans, I’ll also be posting the view point of my sister, Danielle Mazzo. She will be writing about the painting just as she sees it… not know the lyrics, not knowing the song, etc….

 

So are you ready? Please stayed tuned for my visual review of the first Track of the album, “Fight” – Which will be featured in Tonight’s Season Premier of “Heart of Dixie” on the CW at 8:00 PM.  Make sure you tune in!

 

While you are at it, please check out what Lee DeWyze is up to as well!http://leedewyzeofficial.com/

 

……..And so it begins……….