"Muse"

This painting is called “Muse”. It was not based on a song; I just wanted to capture the amazing picture that was taken by one of my awesome Twitter friends, a fabulous Lee Fan, @yoyosassy. (Thank you Yolanda for letting me use your photo!)

**this one is not yet finished. I had too many other ideas that I had to put this one on hold. But just to give you a visual, I have a special wooden frame idea in mind for this one. I’m going to paint each side of the frame with the designs from Lee’s guitar straps. As you can imagine, this will take some time… bare with me. It will be awesome though**

Since this painting was not inspired by a specific song, I had to think of a title for it. Right off the bat, no question about it… I thought “Muse” was the perfect Title. It’s the first thing that popped in my head the first time I even saw the picture.

What exactly is a Muse? The muse is something or someone that has the ability to excite our creative passion and call forth our creative spirit to create. It is an interesting character. At one level it is a figment of our imagination and doesn’t exist. At another level it is very real and vital to our creative endeavor and without them we are robbed of our creative power (this definition was taken from this site, which has all the different kinds of muse definitions-http://ryuc.info/common/creation_process/muse.htm )– My muse is the later part of this definition. My muse is very real and vital to my creative endeavor. You hear that lee DeWyze? If you ever stopped making music, I’d be robbed of my creative power…haha, so…keep doing your thang….I can not create unless you create (no pressure or anything)

It’s hard to explain exactly how I feel when I paint these, even to other Lee fans because there just aren’t words. The best way to describe it really is this strong, overwhelming unconscious burst of creativity every time I hear his voice. Sounds a bit dramatic, I know…but that is what it is. Having something affect you this strongly is rare. For some reason, I just connect with everything about this music, his voice, the lyrics… something is driving me to paint… so why would I ever want to stop that? Why not roll with it, ya know? Again, I do not expect people to understand it because I still don’t; I just create when my heart tells me to.

I have to admit something though, sometimes it is frustrating because painting these songs truly make me happy… it’s what I want to do….but it’s not like I can paint Lee art as a career. So then I think, what am I doing this for? (The answer is that it’s my outlet, but I mean on a broader spectrum) Haha. People at work ask me all the time “why are you here?” “Why don’t you get a job doing art?” Like I said before… I’m not happy doing art just because I am good at it. I have to FEEL it and right now… this is all I feel and this is what I want to do. It makes me happy, even if it’s a path that leads nowhere. End of story. I hope that at least makes a little bit of sense…

Now… here are the perspectives of my sister as someone just view the art as is and Mare, as a Lee DeWyze fan…(passes the torch…)

 

My sister, Danielle Mazzo:

Muse.....this painting explains my sister and her journey into her own mind. The birds flying from the feather to me is my sisters creativity flying into action...taking off from her once....I wanna paint but...into her OMG I have to paint!!! My sister has always been a great artist to me...because well she'd kick my butt if I didn't say that...jk but since she found her ”muse" she has grown into a phenomenal artist. This muse has given her art structure...heart....feeling!! Muse is not just a painting of a musician's ink....its art taking flight from the perspective of artists both in lyric and on canvas!! Many years my sister and I didn't really know each other as we are two very different people...but since her Muse came along I can finally catch a glimpse into my sister's heart mind and soul. So I guess thanks Lee DeWyze is in order. The more you inspire her the closer we get. Who would've thought a musician could do so much without even knowing it. 

And Mare :

 

 Inspiration..... we all need it. With it comes joy, clarity, creativity..... It comes in many forms for each of us. But for each one of us.... inspiration breathes LIFE into our days. It influences our emotions, our thoughts and our actions....and sometimes it can bring people together. When the sole, original inspiration is so influential, that it creates a circle of creativity... what comes out of that can be amazing. 

Music. It speaks to all of us. It’s a form of communication... and often times, it takes the place of words. With the “right” music.... it speaks to those dusty corners of our soul. It creates stories, pictures, new ways of thinking.... an outlet for the words we can’t find ourselves. Sometimes those notes and words create a visual, a vibe, a feeling, a snapshot of your own world. When you connect to music, it becomes YOUR story.  

During the day, I am a pediatric speech pathologist. I LOVE what I do. I think communication is important. It’s how we connect as human beings. Communication isn’t always speech. It’s a touch, a look, an expression, a feeling, a posture, a drawing, a picture, a painting.......music. Music and writing are a large part of my life. It’s how I express what speech can’t. Words and notes inspire me..... they breathe life into what gets trapped by “thought”. Add to that, someone who can take a feeling of mine, an intangible “thing”... and allow me to see what it looks like.

I’m an extremely hard person to get to know and understand. I have definite walls....Writing for the music and art makes me REALLY look inside myself. I have to be able to let myself FEEL.... dig into my own heart.... and then let people have a glimpse of that. My thoughts, my heart.... It makes my walls come down when I write. Being inspired enough to trust and let go..... I’d say a “muse”  is a very important part of life....

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this one, it started out close to my heart already ... But adding Danielle's & Mare's points of view just set it off.

 Coming up will be my picture book album review of Lee's new album "Frames" I'll be posting the paintings for the each song in the order they appear on the album... Stay tuned! Excited!!!!! 

-Jenn 

Hummingbird (aka Lullaby)

Hello again. As promised, here is the first of the many paintings I have completed over the past few months. The inspiration was flowing like crazy in this head. Seriously, I have not been sleeping because I lay there thinking of images, textures, playing each song over and over again.....(not that I’ll ever complain about that!)

 

This painting, “Hummingbird” was inspired my Lee’s song “Lullaby”. It is a beautiful song, one of my favorites. Unfortunately, it did not make the album. On an exciting note though, it was recorded by Ronan Keating. How amazing is that? An Artist like that wanting one of Lee’s songs? This was a huge step for Lee as a song writer. The world is starting to see what he can really do and it’s exciting. I’m so proud! The amount of talent this man has is unbelievable...

Right before I began this painting I injured my right hand, so I had to compromise on my normal painting techniques. (there is no way I was going to keep my ideas in my head until I was healed!) That being said, I did this painting using ONLY my left hand. (I am right handed). I relied heavily on the crackled textures and the lyrics peaking through the hummingbird and the flowers to tell the story. I do not have an impressive back story for this one. I merely wanted to represent the beauty of the lyrics, but also the roughness in which I had to work with.... a swollen bandaged hand was not going to keep me from creating. I have never been this inspired before, I mean...I have my sketch book with me at all times because each time I listen to the songs, new idea pop in my head. I loved reading what Mare and my sister had to say because art and music affects everyone differently... that is why I love it so much! 

 As always, at the end of this post I will have a link for you to hear it, as well as the lyrics. 

But First, as Promised, Here is Mare’s view point as a Lee DeWyze fan, knowing the music and his vibe... As well as My sister, Danielle’s point of view. Her and my music tastes are quite different, so she will be telling you what SHE sees, not knowing anything about the story behind the song, the lyrics, etc.... . I encourage anyone that would like to share their thoughts to comment as well either as a fan knowing the song, or a fellow artist going by what they see (Please remember this is a place of inspiration & love. Everything has been created out of pure admiration, so be nice or leave) :-) 

My sister, Danielle's perspective :

Hummingbird!! I absolutely love this painting. My first impression of The Hummingbird was bittersweet freedom. Let me explain this a little. I say bittersweet because of the different textures throughout the painting. It's like the hummingbird represents the beauty of being free and being able say, Look out world because here I am. The bittersweet textures tell me that this hummingbird had to earn the sweet nectar of those flowers! Like my life, I can go after anything and everything my heart desires....but I've gotta work for it. The textures to me represent all the hardships that I put before myself that  my own path to that sweet nectar we all crave! But right here, right at this moment when I look at The Hummingbird, I know that through all the rough textures that hummingbird still made it to the nectar, he's still free and amidst all that roughness is absolute beauty and I'm inspired!!!

And here is Mare's perspective; 

In mythology, the hummingbird is a creature that opens the heart. When the hurt that caused us to close our hearts gets a chance to heal, our hearts are free to open again. The hummingbird generally represents a joy of life and playfulness, a resiliency.  Hummingbirds have the amazing ability to fly backwards, and some believe that it teaches us that we can look back on our past, but not to dwell on it and to move forward.... as is the pattern of a hummingbird in flight.  The hummingbird can represent someone that has been through a lot in their life but have the ability to overcome hard times and difficult challenges....It has become a symbol of rising above trouble and hardship.

All creatures, no matter how strong, energetic, positive and resilient...eventually need to rest. They need a place to call home, something to give them the strength to continue, and the simplicity of stopping for a moment and just being.... Without it, they run out of energy, out of inspiration. As with all things, to stop and just let yourself be.... takes trust... a moment of letting your guard down.

The painting for “Hummingbird” is both rough and tender... strong and fragile.... it reminds me of what is in all of us. The overall roughness of the canvas texture is a harsh world for the hummingbird to live in.... as we all live in a rough world at times. The hummingbird and it’s flower are delicate and fragile, they appear stained.... How many of us have felt that way at one time or another?... But one feeds the other, giving energy and taking energy. The hummingbird lives in a harsh world.... but must trust enough to stop... for just a moment... to get what she needs. It’s not a coincidence to me that they are made of music notes and lyrics.  Music.... the RIGHT music.... can feed us, save us, speak to us and soothe us.... The simplicity of a song....A lullaby to end one day, to allow us to trust in just being....moving us through the night, to wake up and live again the next...and Fly... 

This is a link to Lee’s Stageit online concert. the video is from (JoviWyze) Thank you!!! Listen to Lee singing Lullaby here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVTh1JIamig 

and here are the lyrics. Enjoy and thank you!!! 

Now you'll lay me down to sleep

Pray the Lord your soul to keep 

But your heart is safe with me

If I die before I wake

I'm sorry, darling, for every mistake 

I've ever made

 

I could sing you the most beautiful song you've ever heard

You could sing along, you're my hummingbird

But you don't need to sing

I don't need to play, it'll be alright

I just want you to fall asleep tonight

 

This is your lullaby, lullaby

This is your lullaby, lullaby

It's just the way I say goodnight

It'll be okay, it'll be alright

This is your lullaby

 

When you told me you were scared

I was well aware 

That your heart came unprepared

You left it under lock and key

I swear, my dear, that your key is safe with me

Please believe

 

I could sing you the most beautiful song you've ever heard

You could sing along, you're my hummingbird

But you don't need to sing

I don't need to play, it'll be alright

I just want you to fall asleep tonight

 

This is your lullaby, lullaby

This is your lullaby, lullaby

It's just the way I say goodnight

It'll be okay, it'll be alright

This is your lullaby

 

And I could sing you the most beautiful song you've ever heard

You could sing along, you're my hummingbird

You don't need to sing

I don't need to play, it'll be alright

I just want you to fall

I just want you to fall

I just want you to fall asleep tonight

 

It'll be okay, it'll be alright

This is your lullaby