As so often, several inspirations came together for this piece, going back and forth between medium and idea. I knew I wanted to use the oval canvas board and metal leaf (the colour is called “flamed gold”, and obviously it’s not gold but I like the colour anyway), and while sketching it turned out the best idea was a grey figure to offset the metal.
The notes trailing off her are the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth symphony, possibly the best known piece of music in the world. Sadly, my musical understanding is only that of appreciation; it’s fun trying to depict something immaterial and moving in a still image.
Technically this was interesting because I surprised myself how many mediums I pulled together making this, starting in pencils, then going for powdered charcoal applied with water, watercolour pencils and finally even inks. I topped it with a bucket of fixative before applying the metal so I wouldn’t brush off the charcoal - adding powder in water is quite enjoyable but it falls right off the paper.
25×20cm, graphite, charcoal, ink pen, watercolour pencils, and metal leaf on paper mounted to canvas board.
It’s 1970 and you’re browsing the record racks. Hmm you want After the Gold Rush? Maybe American Beauty? How about Abraxas—if you’re feeling a bit horny? Or Beethoven featuring a girl with two, well, you could call them handfuls of bust. Westminster Records thought it might work. — #record #albumcover #beethoven #westminsterrecords #cheesecakealbumcover https://www.instagram.com/p/CdjrzUaMBiX/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
When Beethoven first performed his Ninth Symphony, as he couldn’t hear the rapturous applause it received due to his deafness, one of his singers approached him and turned him around so that he could see the standing ovation he was receiving.
Today i listened to Moonlight sonata composed by Beethoven. I happened to listen to it through a suggestion by a friend. As i was listening to it, i developed a feeling it was more of a ‘misery-in-life’ themed music rather than romantic which can be misunderstood by its title. Also, one of the things that suprised me, as i read more about it, was that Beethoven was deaf when he composed it,infact he was for more of his work. It took me by surprise and i started to wonder how it can even be possible,but as i read more about it,i came to know it,Beethoven was pretty sure of the patterns before he composes his music.He also used dissonance(it can mean something different to you, art is subjective) as a powerful tool in this piano sonata. He also didn’t follow the basic premise of a sonata and change the speed of three movements it consists of. I have listened to it more than any other musical art piece thats for sure and i still cannot comprehend its beauty as a music appreciator(not a nerd).
