The Stones Project

This is epic. This is the coolest piece I've done. This is the coolest framing job of my work. This is why I do these.

This is why the fellow had me do these:

As a kid I always loved the Stones … tried to learn everything I could about them: first it was Mick, then I started learning about Keith, then Ronnie … in the three of them, I see the flash, the grit, the fun … but the beat holds it all together.  

I read this passage and it stuck with me: "There's an old saying among those who have know the Stones a long time. It's that Mick wants to be Keith, and they all want to be Charlie. Why Charlie? Because he's genuinely hip, he's got innate good taste, and understands restraint. Charlie kept his family together, and he never got off on the star trip that the rest of them did. He's just Charlie Watts and when the job's over,  he goes home and feeds his horses."

Who knows if it's true, but it's a great reminder when I'm sitting in my office all day not to get caught up in the perks of being a corporate exec … do the job and go home spend time with my wife, call my mother more often, enjoy the sunshine and my garden. Work comes around again tomorrow … until it doesn't.

The Swagger of the Stones

Jeff Skonieczny writes a blog called http://www.imagineechoes.com/. He digs music. Good music, with a tendency towards prog rock. His blogger avatar is a photo of John and Yoko holding their "War is Over" poster.

That says it.

Oh, and he's quite opinionated. Not shy about it either.

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One thing I never mind doing is bashing the Rolling Stones. In my opinion, the Stones are one of, if not, the most overrated bands in rock. However, today, I'm feeling a change of heart. Instead of focusing on what the Stones lack, I think for once in my life I'm going to acknowledge what the Stones have.

One thing nobody can deny is the Stones' staying power. Somehow they remain in the same conversation as The Beatles, and their tours still to this day gross enough money to alter multiple third world nations.

The Stones are stellar performers. Much like Kiss, their live performances are the heart and soul of the group. Mick Jagger has a stage presence and swagger that none of The Beatles had. There are very few who put out the same kind of energy that Jagger delivers, even at the ripe age of 66. The Stones have enough great songs to get them through a pretty lengthy set. While I don't think their albums hold up all that well, they have some stellar singles, and it's those singles that get them rocking their shows.

So while my feeling towards the Stones isn't necessarily bright, I can't deny what they have earned. There's a reason why they are held in such high esteem, and in my opinion, it has more to do with the bands swagger rather than their songwriting capabilities. The Stones have the kind of energy and bombast that defy just music, they're an institution which all live acts should hope to aspire to.

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Peace.

Human Being Human

There's a difference between a noun and a verb. The problem is that "being" is both.

All people are good. Not all people ACT good, er well.

Peace.

SOLD - Mick Jagger 08/21/09

Can You Hear The Music? [EC]

It's been awhile since I added to this collection. I haven't had any takers yet on my Vinyl Art tied to charity. Maybe this one'll do the trick.

The Stones are one of the bands that I pretty much always listen to when I paint them. Today I was inspired by the first podcast on a new blog. It's about the Stones' "Some Girls". I was led to Basement Vinyl by a tweet from @JohnCleese. They're going to talk about albums they've collected on vinyl over the years, some 300 of them!

Fortunately, they seem to like my art, based on a tweet back to me. So that's good. I never know how people who love listening to vinyl will react. I've never really cared how those collectors who don't care about the actual music react. You know, the ones who don't play them because they're preserving the value of the record. But I do care how people feel who love vinyl because it sounds better than digital.

I know I care what they feel because I know how I feel about vinyl. My 1000 or so records mean a lot to me. The music in them, in those grooves, has been vital in my life. I start to tear up, feeling moved, just thinking about how much, in fact. I wake up with music in my head, music that if I keep "listening" to will put me back to sleep in a minute. Music drives my creativity, fills my soul. I don't paint on my records. I listen to them when I get a chance, even the really rare ones. There's just something in the fact that each record is an actual physical reproduction of the music. I just love'em.

So, in honor of the start of Annie and Pat's sharing of their collection, I'll donate the $100 to the charity they have on their site, Community FoodBank of New Jersey, in the name of the buyer. Also, again if there happens to be a bunch of interest, we can do an informal auction or something. Let's help them start their blog off with a bang!

Peace.

Practical Matters

Awhile ago I asked the question "What Will Matter". That was a more philosophical thought. If you had an idea for that, please do still leave a comment there. I'm really interested in what you think.

Today, though, I was faced with the year end/start reality of required upkeep, both business and personal. Practical matters matter, but only when they do, usually after dutiful procrastination. Paperwork to file, records to update, pool pumps to clean. Fun fun fun.

Seriously though, like maintaining our physical health, those responsibilities can be looked at as satisfying to accomplish. Without them, the big things would fall apart, like one's house. No shortcuts.

So, like the saying goes, don't sweat the small stuff; it's all small stuff. But get it done!

Peace.

Keith Richards 01/14/09

Turn On The Lights

I'm no good at talking about myself. When I was in school I strove to be invisible. Not for any particular reason, just because I was generally uncomfortable being noticed. I still have a difficult time being social, making small talk and such. It's just who I am. I'm the kinda guy who likes to get used to being in a place so I don't have to turn on lights to find my way around, so I don't disturb... I don't know what, the universe or something. A born watcher.

But where my art is concerned, I really have something to talk about with a twinkle in my eye. I love what I do, what I can do. Creating these pieces of art to send out into the world makes me feel productive, like I matter. Like I matter to this universe of matter by leaving my mark on matter, as a matter of fact.

I think every being feels a need to be loved, noticed, appreciated, acknowledged. For some reason, I'd usually rather displace those to my art. Maybe it's a way of protecting my self, by removing the focus of interaction with other people from me to my art. Maybe I don't really have the thick skin I think I do. Fortunately, I do with my art. I know it's good. That's why I'm writing this blog after all.

So, as I finish up the Stones with Ronnie, I'm turnin' on those damn lights! Take me as I am.

Peace.

Ron Wood 10/31/08

Odd Man In

The classy eccentric. THE drummer.

He's an odd one, that Charlie Watts. A white drummer who swings; jazz-inspired. And he wears suits, naturally!

More interested in philosophy than groupies, he's kept a surprisingly stable family existence all throughout his career with the Stones. The thing he hates most is leaving home. Deals with it by being slightly obsessive compulsive with his luggage and his ritual drawing of every hotel room in which he stays.

So self-effacing you'd think it was false modesty, but it ain't. He doesn't get what the deal is about his playing. But he loves it, turned onto music by saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, his first drum a banjo with the neck twisted off. At age 13. Can't read music though. Plays by feel. The emotion of Keith's playing leading him.

Doesn't like talking about himself, or watching himself. Just plays drums. With an honest passion rare in the world.

Peace.

Charlie Watts 10/30/08

Covered Art

This copy of "Beggars Banquet" has the rather silly, watered-down replacement cover that the record label forced. The original cover, also used for the CD, shows a dirty bathroom wall above a toilet. Much more meaningful context for the album name, with even some good messages of peace and love. Certainly more relevant to the counterculture of '68.

RSVP on the lower left of this cover does prompt response. I expect it did enrage those who knew of the artistic censorship, and maybe even did elicit response. There've been many examples through the history of the record album of controversial covers, some of which were changed to satisfy the uptight. What stories do you know about?

My favorite Black Crowes album, "Amorica", was altered after its initial release. My friend Robert Benson, who's got this cool post today about the cover of "Exile on Main Street", has chronicled Gigwise's top controversial, weird, worst, and best album covers.

What's your favorite album cover with its own story? The Beatles' "Butcher Cover" perhaps?

Peace.

Keith Richards 10/30/08

Sex, Drugs, And The Rolling Stones

I realized I hadn't painted the Stones! Since I just did all 4 members of Led Zeppelin, I thought I'd do the same for Mick and company. Both bands put out such a large amount of amazing music, both with strong STRONG blues and R&B roots. Rockin' music, man. "Monkey Man" off of "Let It Bleed" is currently my favorite song, but all of "Exile" is amazing too. Late '60s and early '70s, wow. I know the times were troubled, but the music thus inspired was intensely good.

Everything about the period was intense. Whether it was the popularized drug culture or the free sex movement or the social unrest and rebellion, extremes were tested. All I can say is, for better or worse, when you search for Keith Richards images on Google, you get a lot of pretty women and puffs of smoke. How are he and Lou Reed still alive?

Peace.

Mick Jagger 10/29/08

Life +'Justments

I'd painted this sometime last year, but today I was inspired to share it again.

In trying to figure out how to get more exposure, I set out to contact Rolling Stone. Aiming high, right? So it turns out they recently started some blogs hosted on their site. One is called "Smoking Section". It had that post yesterday about Chrissie Hynde that I found quite motivating.

Today, wandering the web again, trying different angles at Rolling Stone, I ended up on another post of that blog. It's a transcribed phone interview with Bill Withers after he'd done that impromptu performance in Brooklyn.

You've gotta check out the YouTube video embedded on that post! He sounds possibly better, and the recording is so clean, and the other musicians are awesome! Talking about authenticity! He says at one point that he really just goes with what he wants to do, not feeling forced into things, just living his life as it comes. Such a great soulful outlook.

I hope he gets that tricked out golf cart.

Peace.

Bill Withers 09/19/08

Blues Roots

John Lee Hooker is among the blues legends that influenced most of the musicians that I listen to regularly, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes, The Black Crowes, and the Rolling Stones to name a few. So this is my painting from yesterday. Whad'ya think?

I also wanted to share some more important influences on me. Since I'm already talking music, let's talk music. It is my main passion other than my wife, so I have a lot to say about it. To start, though, I wanted to list the albums that had the biggest initial impact on my outlook towards music. In no real order:

"Revolver" by The Beatles

"After Bathing At Baxter's" by Jefferson Airplane

"Foxtrot" by Genesis

These albums formed the beginnings, the roots of my deep interest in music. My passion can be traced back to these albums and their creators. This isn't to say that all that I listen to relates to these in particular, but they are why I love music as much as I do. In future posts I will explore where my musical interests have meandered, but for now this is a start. If you haven't yet, you can see my painting of Peter Gabriel from his early solo career after leaving Genesis if you:

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And please leave me comments! I thrive on feedback.

Howlin' At The Trees

Here's a pic of the piece I painted yesterday. I also updated a whole bunch of images on my secondary site which I'll be using to sell through PayPal. They're in the "For Sale" section. Check 'em out and let me know what you think!

I also did another portrait of Johnny Cash flipping everyone off for Gasoline Gallery, which has sold several of those. I have a pic of another Johnny Cash I did on my MySpace profile page.

Here's a random piece of advice I picked up today: don't trim up evergreen trees like pine trees in the heat of the Arizona summer. Apparently it puts them into shock.

Just thought I'd share that with you as I try to get a large branch that broke off cleaned up and to get you to:

CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE AT: WWW.VINYLART.INFO

I'll post more pics here too, if you want to see more.