Melody Vs. Lyric

Growing up, I definitely paid more attention to melody. The instrumentation, not the words, was what drew me to specific groups. I was more interested in drum or organ solos than the poetry. Let's just say Dylan wasn't my favorite at the time. Heck, before I met my wife, my main listening stack was full mostly of ambient techno like Autechre and Future Sound of London.

Now, thanks largely to my wife, I'm more interested in the words. More aware at least. I understand why my neices listen to the same song over and over, trying to memorize the words.

Carole King seems to me, though I don't listen to her much, to be a good example of an artist skilled at writing both melodies and lyrics. The importance and popularity of "Tapestry" is certainly a testament to that.

What do you pay more attention to when you listen to music?

Peace.

ON CONSIGNMENT - Carole King 07/08/08

The Whole World Should Adopt The Siesta

A 40 minute or so nap around 2 in the afternoon. If you haven't, you should try it. After I woke up, I'd sold 2 more pieces and had received an album I'd bought on eBay. And I felt way better.

So Pigpen is for a guy who'd bought Jerry a ways back. He also had bought Louis Armstrong and now is buying Billie Holiday. Cool collection of my work he's building! He's got a bunch of Dead memorabilia too that he's going to frame separately and hang alongside my pieces.

I haven't done or read any technical research on the siesta, but I think it really would help productivity and our mental condition if everybody took them. I feel like I have a whole other day, so like 2 in 1, but I don't get exhausted by the end of it. Refreshing is the word. Or revitalizing. Something like that. Perks ya up.

Peace.

SOLD - Pigpen 07/07/08

Caricaturistics

BRANCUSI
Originally uploaded by Morales de los Ríos

After finding this piece on Flickr because the artist commented on my painting of Sid Vicious, I finally set up direct blogging from my Flickr account. It was, in fact, extremely simple.

So, to this artist from Spain. Wow. The breadth and depth of his work, just posted on Flickr, is amazing. Each piece captures beautiful detail in the exaggerations, reflecting his work in surrealism. They also graphically convey the cultural significance of the subject brilliantly.

Brancusi's sculpture of a bird is probably the single most influential piece in my internal sculptural mashup. And he tought Noguchi as well. Bet you didn't know I did scuplture too? Maybe someday I'll show some, but I really consider them more of my art school work, my formative work, that led me to what I'm doing now.

I'm rambling. I ramble when I'm excited. Can you tell? I hope the artist adds a translation widget to his website, or I'll have to figure out how to go through Google manually, because my Spanish isn't that great anymore. I LOVE ART!!! Making connections like this is amazing.

Please go check out his Flickr photostream and his personal site. Exquisite. Great taste in music too!

Peace.

Making My Way Through The Dark

It's easy to discourage myself. I feel scattered, I feel unmotivated, I feel disappointed, I feel impatient. I feel my self-worth being attacked by my own inner voice. I don't know why. If I could shut that voice off I could realize all the good feedback I get and all the good things that are happening, but I get stuck in my own head. Vicious damn trap.

On this Indendence Day weekend, I'm going to try to leave it behind, to declare my independence from myself. At least until it learns how to behave.

When I listen to it, I get lost and I set out in multiple directions all at once out of fear. Fear is, after all, its main weapon. I've been taught, and taught myself, fear since I was little. Stupid fears that, while they helped shape who I am today and the life I've lived so far, have also helped my inner voice hold me back. It's rarely the end of the world, especially when it's something in my control. I'm not powerful enough to effect a devastating amount of destruction.

So, jump in the flippin' deep end of the pool. And stop worrying about little crap that makes the mind spiral inward to the point of nothingness or outward to oblivion.

Peace.

ON CONSIGNMENT - Jim Morrison 07/02/08

Human Nature Tends To Good

I love the unexpected email. I received a message from a man in Lebanon. The opening line:

"Your talent,intelegent,knowledge makes you a once in a live time legend."

Wow.

Way to get my attention! The rest of the message was a gracious and humble request for a piece of me, something, anything, signed. How cool!

I sent a message back asking for confirmation of the mailing address and to find out where the impetus for this request was coming from. Turns out he's doing a project on culture and art. So, I'm sending him one of my new handpainted postal stickers, complete with autograph. Hope he likes it!

These are something I've been playing around with for a little while. Not to sell, but to give away.

Speaking of giving away things, last year I gave two pieces to Roger Steffens and his Bob Marley Ark-hives. He's included my work in the current issue of The Beat, Volume 27 No. 2 2008! I'm mentioned in the Forward and the article "Bob Marley: Art & Soul", which also has pictures of the pieces and of me! I'm published! I'm so honored to be included in this annual Bob Marley issue.

Unexpected generosity of spirit. Good deal.

Peace.