In Denver's Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art is Vance Kirkland's studio. Kirkland's works ranged, but I fell in love most with his abstract expressionism that combined watercolor and oil painting techniques. He floated oil paint on water and then later added dots. They are stunning.
Many of Kirkland's color combinations are derived from classical music. Kirkland was synethetic: as he painted he could hear color. While Kirkland claimed to see most music, only certain classical compositions with moderate but not extreme dissonance provided the desired alloy of colors. He said Mahler, Schoenberg, Bartok, Berg, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Ives all were on his iPod (okay, maybe not iPod, but you know what I'm sayin'). Additional composers that inspired his colors: Stravinsky, Ravel, Piston, Debussy, Hanson, Milhaud, Janacek, and Hindemith. So how many of you are like me and are about to go download some tunes off this list?!
8 comments:
Sort of a reverse Michelangelo! I think using the skateboard is a cool idea. His "dot" art is amazingly beautiful. I've never seen it in person but I'm sure it's even more stunning then.
Very, very cool ! Love those oranges, those bursts ! And what a process...
Thanks for the intro.
Cheers !
Great post, Phoenix! Not only is the artwork stimulating and brilliant, the process is fascinating! And you're too funny - of COURSE I'm headed to his music inspiration!
Love that...hearing color. How beautiful!
Fascinating! I love hearing about artists' processes. And even more than I love that, I love the copious amount of books in his studio. How could you not be inspired when surrounded by books like that? And the straps! Crazy! I am imagining him lying belly down in those straps floating above his painting!
Exploding with color... love it!
Very inspiring.
Thank you for sharing :]
How inspiring...this space is seductively charming...and oh so inviting.
Ciao Bella!
CREATIVE CARMELINA
I would be afraid to fall out but would you not love to have that studio
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