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

A new approach...

Hello everyone, I am going to take a new approach to explaining my paintings and their inspiration. In my last post for “The Ride” with Mare (@marekatslp), she had said, “It takes a circle of inspiration to create something like this. A Musician that writes a song from his heart and performs it so well that you get lost in a story…An artist that is so in tune with that music that she can create a visual…and a fan that was so affected, that the song had to become “real”…through nothing other than words…”

 

I absolutely LOVE that… you have no idea how accurate and inspiring that quote is all in itself…. It’s true…  So true in fact, that I have decided to do this for all my posts… give you those different view points of how the song, the words, the picture…. How it reaches even more people. That circle continues to grow and it’s amazing to watch.

 

I’ll be continuing my art journey with you by not only showing you my art, explaining the inspiration behind it, the song that inspired it…. But I am also going to be sharing with you the view point of a fellow Lee DeWyze fan, who knows the music, understands the lyrics, and the feeling that songs gives.

 

When you give a visual to someone’s words, it builds a bridge for those words to reach even more people. Even though I find it hard to believe that there are people in the world that do not like music or art… there are, or they might like one or the other but they just do not “get it”

 

I sit hear, telling you how much Lee’s music & lyrics mean to me and some people just can not understand that… I get it. But you bring in someone like Mare, who is a phenomenal writer… to tell you the “story” of how my art connects to the music- you gain the attention of the people who needed that “explanation”.

 

Then there are the people that are visual…they need to see the big picture. This is where what I do pulls those people in. A great song obviously reaches the fans of that musician and other’s that love music in general… but then when you add a picture to those words… you are reaching fellow visual artists who know what it feels like to be inspired- so they will listen to the music to be able to hear what inspired someone to paint it. Without going on and on, you see my point?

 

The last post for “The Ride” made our circle bigger. I rec’d several e-mails from other visual artists that never heard Lee’s music… but they have now and they love it. (How awesome is that!)

Well, I am about to take that a step further…. I’m going to let you HEAR the song… I’m going to let you SEE how that song makes me feel… I’m going to share the thoughts of that “collaboration’ from the view point of someone that loves the art and the music…. But I am also going to introduce you to my sister, Danielle Mazzo. She is going to give her point of view as a person not familiar with the music or Lee himself… and explain how the ART affects her. I’m pretty excited about it.

 

I have a few paintings I will be posting within the next few weeks. After those are posted, I’ll be getting into Lee’s new Album “Frames”. This album is pure perfection and I have a painting for just about every track. I am so excited to share my review of this album though my eyes… literally… have you ever read an album review song by song like a picture book? I’m sure you have not... but I promise you’ll be amazed. Stay tuned….. It’s going to be awesome.

 

-Jenn

"The Ride" , a new song

Hello Again...I'm Still Here, Still Painting....
I have done about 4-5 Lee Inspired paintings since my last post, However before I get to those I'd like to show you one that is by FAR my favorite so far. As I have told you many times, I have met the most amazing people throughout this journey & I am about to introduce you to one below. Of course we all know that my work is inspired by the music & lyrics of Lee DeWyze, but this most recent piece is also inspired by another fan... whaaaaat?? It's no secret that outside encouragement can be just as inspiring as the Muse it's self.

Lee has been traveling lately doing some shows to Promote his new album "Frames" - which will be out on August 20th!!!!! Pre-Order it here: http://leedewyze.spinshop.com/  You have to buy this album... every song is pure perfection. (seriously, that's why I have not blogged, before I can finish a painting, he writes a new one that inspires me to the point of having to paint right away!)

Let's get to the point, This new Song "The Ride" is incredible. I will not tell you about it though... I will let my friend Mare tell you about it in her words. this painting was a collaboration of the two of us. First Thing first, you have Listen to "The Ride" here (courtesy of Kelly (@Lees_BiggestFan) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzAV_6JGLQk

 Then read the post by Mare (@MareKatslp )  below, ... enjoy!

The idea for this painting came the morning after I saw Lee sing “The Ride” for the first time....right in front of me, in Asheville, NC. It was the first time I’d heard the song and I had an immediate physical reaction to it. I wanted to live INSIDE the song. I felt the music crawl up my skin, make my heart pound..... and as it was giving me chills, suddenly the room fell away. I heard the music, I heard the words, but I was no longer watching the person in front of me sing. Instead, a song turned into a story that I fell into... with my own images, my own feelings.... That is truly when you get “lost” in a song. I knew, after hearing it just once, that my reaction to the song, the world it created for me, and the way I could let go and get lost in it..... HAD to come to life.

I contacted my friend Jenn the next day. We had spoken about her art and Lee’s music many times in the past. I always felt that what she painted is how I would explain Lee’s music visually. She makes his songs into pictures.... The entire vibe and feeling of a song in front of me VISUALLY. I was so affected by The Ride, that I knew I had to ask her if she would paint the song.... Her response was: “What if I paint what YOU see? Describe it to me, everything you see and feel about the song and I’ll make it real...”.... I wasn’t sure how that would work....

That night, I sat down to write a short hand of what that song looked like in my mind. Here are the exact words I sent to Jenn:

“The scene is smokey to me, fiery, it burns. Reds, black details, sepia tones, not clear, more like you're looking thru smoke except maybe one detail that's in focus. It almost reminds me of 1920's prohibition basement music with sexual tension, withheld aggression, a warning, but chill vibe all in one.

A few visuals: that new mic with a hand holding it, maybe to the forearm to see a tattoo to know its him, and lips to the mic.

I also see him writing this song.... paper and pencil on an empty stage, with lights above shining down.

It also creates a sexual kind of pic.... I see two people up against the wall in a kind of struggle.... Arms pinned. But even though I see the whole pic, on a canvas, I can only see the couples arms in an aggressive hold.

I see SO many different pictures, but the FEEL of it is always the same....”

The next morning, Jenn had read what I wrote, and the amazing thing is..... She had seen the same visuals. She knew EXACTLY where I was going, and from that point on, we collaborated on the picture, the art, of The Ride.

The more talks we had, and the further the painting evolved and became what it is, the further inspired I became. Someone could take my feelings, my reactions, my imaginings.... and transfer them to canvas. When you really “listen” to a song that affects you, it becomes more than notes and words. It takes on a life of its own. Suddenly, the song has texture, it has color, it has shades, a vibe, a feeling.... it creates a snapshot of the world you got lost in for those few minutes. 

It takes a circle of inspiration to create something like this. A musician that writes a song from his heart and performs it so well that you get lost in a story..... An artist that is so in tune with that music that she can create a visual.... And a fan that was so affected, that the song had to become “real”.... through nothing other than words....

“The Ride” 

I don’t break apart so easily...

Maybe you would like to try.

But I’m the one who waited carefully...

Thinkin’ I would take my time.

But you knew better than I....

Somewhere buried underneath the lights...

You wait.... You wait.... You’d wait and you’d see...

The time it takes to bend someones knees...

And who, who knew better than you?

No no no, no no no, no no no, no 

Who knew better than you?

Hold on tight, the ride has just begun...

If you care to come along.

Cause being right for you was too much fun...

And being right for me was wrong.

But you knew better than I.....

Somewhere buried, somewhere buried, underneath the lights.

You wait... You wait.... You’d wait and you’d see...

The time it takes to bend someones knees.

And who.... Oh who knew better than you?

Knew better.... Knew better..... Knew better than you?

Who knew better than you? Who knew? Who knew better than you?

Who knew better? Who knew better? Who knew better..... than you?

Please visit Art & Music For Hope on Facebook for all the latest project information!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-Music-For-Hope/187906391258125

Do It! :-) Like It :-)

A Rewarding Day....

Today was a great Day.
We drove to Baltimore, MD to be apart of something pretty special...
First, had some great family time at the Port Discovery at the Harbor: http://www.portdiscovery.org/  It was so much fun with lots to do!

Then, I met up with the wonderful people of the Baltimore Art & Music Project . They asked me to be a part of their cause of spreading the gift of art & music. It was the most rewarding and humbling day. I was able to spend time at a homeless shelter; with both individuals as well as full families living at the facility. I spoke about my Lee series of paintings and the inspiration I achieve through his music. They looked over the paintings, as each one of the songs that inspired them played. One little boy loved the music so much, I gave him the cd (See...Lee's music makes people so happy!)  The plan was to get them inspired to create their own art. Everyone was given their own t-shirts and art supplies to create a shirt. 

Due to the privacy issues, photos are unavailable. but all the shirts came out great!!!! Pictures of the shirts were taken and when available, I will post them. There was a huge turn out and everyone seemed had a terrific time. I want to thank The Baltimore Art & Music Project for asking me to be a part of today. I really can not describe how good it feels to spread the inspiration that I feel through music and its impact on my art, particularly, to Lee's music. It seems quite basic but simple things such as art and music and gave a lasting impact. Even helping some of the little ones out by drawing a simple cartoon dog on their shirt brought smiles to their faces. It is very humbling and makes you realize just how good you have it. This whole thing started with me wanting to donate the sales of my T-shirts to the food bank, but now....Seeing and spending time with the people that will be benefit... WOW. That is all I can say. It feels good and I hope that what I am doing inspires others.  PAY IT FORWARD, you will not regret it :-)  Please check out The Baltimore Art & Music Project here----> http://www.baltimoreamp.com/  or clicking ob their name above. They have a lot of community activities. The Next one, Zombies in the Park, looks like so much fun!!!!!

NEW Shirt added to the online store ****SALE****

A plain white tee with the "Sweet Sweet" & Wuli logo has been added to the art & music for hope store!!!!

The new addition located on page four and is on sale for $15.97!!!!

Sharing my story with Children

Last night I had my very first public speaking event!
 After the article in Reading Eagle I was contacted by St. John's Lutheran Church. They have a Vacation Bible school & the children spent their summer collecting food for the Wilson Food Pantry (affiliated with the Greater Food Bank & Feeding America) and learning the importance of helping others. Last night was their closing ceremony and they asked me to come in and speak to the children. They had a little show, sang songs and talked about everything they learned. 


  I was very nervous, but I did well and I think the children enjoyed it. I got some ohh's and ahh's from a lot of the children up front that made me feel pretty good. 


I do have some more speaking events in September, but now I know what to expect :-) 


Thank you everyone that came out tonight!