Loved the article Brian as I sit here listening to "Franz Schubert’s The Trout Quintet. Around this time of the year when winter is coming I typically have been working on ideas always in the background since I first realized I could draw anything after 24 credit hours of drawing. "Ok, now that I can draw I want to draw what I cannot see, what is that? Music!" So ever since I was about 21 years old that has always been in the undertow of my life as an artist. I have tried all different ideas of how to do that. I think like a composer. I never learned how to read music or play an instrument (I wish I did) I did take a couple of semesters of musical composition in college but, in the mess of life, I didn't continue. Too busy. But I am always trying out musical ideas in my art.
This week (as I often do starting in the Fall) I have been thinking about Cubism, Picasso and especially Braque in relation to Igor Stravinsky and his compositions Petrouchka, Firebird and Rite of Spring. These are the things I have isolated as the historical moment (just before and just after 1910) when Visual Musicality and Abstraction entered the modern scene. Also Wassily Kandinsky, František Kupka, Joan Miro, Paul Klee, etc. But then all the disruption and world wars in Europe and things seem to have gotten lost or dampened or pushed off to the side. Then the art world went onto other things. All of my study these last many years has been around this moment of crisis and inspiration in Europe in my quest to paint what I cannot see: music.
Well, this comment is well on the way of becoming my own article on the Touchonian!
Anyway, over the years, because of the predictable studio disturbances caused by the holidays, my strategy is to work on end of the year documentation for my artworks in general and my musicality theories with drawings and paintings that I can work on in snatches for even as little as 10-15 minutes and not be frustrated in the studio by the distractions of everyone coming and going and visiting and talking and hanging out. Which I love, but it can get me off of my routine that I work so hard to maintain. Without it I am a chaotic storm of random activity. Blah, blah.
This topic — inspiration — is worthy of this additional musing. I think because it’s that element of mystery? Either in the idea or the making of “it” (whatever creation) there are a lot of unknowns. A hit of inspiration is always welcome at my desk because then the work feels like riding the wind. But, And, I’m at my desk most of the day, most days. Working. So there’s that workman like quality too. Part of me wants credit for that effort 😂! (Like the topic of talent. Oh boy, don’t get me started on that one!)
Then again I also have to give a huge credit to inspiration for the curiosity to go where it would have me go. Which I didn’t know when I started out, and was only possible following the breadcrumb trail of inspiration. Working. At the desk.
So both! How Libra of me. 🙃
I’ve enjoyed musing with you! Best of luck and inspiration on your writing, too!
Brian - have just discovered your ‘stack and love the artwork! It has a ‘60s vibe to it, which I adore - I get a whiff of Tom Wilson, the original Ziggy creator, plus other whiffs of Pfeiffer and Tomi Ungerer. I’d like to do a deeper dive on this whole question of inspiration and where it comes from when I can sit down with a computer (as I’m writing on the fly on an iPhone and am not a swift texter). But great thoughts here!
Hi there Lee. Thanks for the note. Wilson and Pfeiffer and Ungerer all sound good to me, though I'll admit I haven't thought of Ziggy since I was a kid, and Pfeiffer since I was in college in NYC! Looking forward to reading.
Yes yes yes!! I bloody love this! I was contemplating your last article for a while and I will be contemplating this one for a while more. I have a children’s fantasy story of inspiration and creativity growing in my mind and this letter has given me even more to think on. Thank you for your further thoughts 💭
Yes! Concur and happy to see you deeper dive it. Our relationship with inspiration is complex. I said it’s like something we consume, but we do so when we are curious about it. And sometimes without even realizing. Lovely stuff.
Loved the article Brian as I sit here listening to "Franz Schubert’s The Trout Quintet. Around this time of the year when winter is coming I typically have been working on ideas always in the background since I first realized I could draw anything after 24 credit hours of drawing. "Ok, now that I can draw I want to draw what I cannot see, what is that? Music!" So ever since I was about 21 years old that has always been in the undertow of my life as an artist. I have tried all different ideas of how to do that. I think like a composer. I never learned how to read music or play an instrument (I wish I did) I did take a couple of semesters of musical composition in college but, in the mess of life, I didn't continue. Too busy. But I am always trying out musical ideas in my art.
This week (as I often do starting in the Fall) I have been thinking about Cubism, Picasso and especially Braque in relation to Igor Stravinsky and his compositions Petrouchka, Firebird and Rite of Spring. These are the things I have isolated as the historical moment (just before and just after 1910) when Visual Musicality and Abstraction entered the modern scene. Also Wassily Kandinsky, František Kupka, Joan Miro, Paul Klee, etc. But then all the disruption and world wars in Europe and things seem to have gotten lost or dampened or pushed off to the side. Then the art world went onto other things. All of my study these last many years has been around this moment of crisis and inspiration in Europe in my quest to paint what I cannot see: music.
Well, this comment is well on the way of becoming my own article on the Touchonian!
Anyway, over the years, because of the predictable studio disturbances caused by the holidays, my strategy is to work on end of the year documentation for my artworks in general and my musicality theories with drawings and paintings that I can work on in snatches for even as little as 10-15 minutes and not be frustrated in the studio by the distractions of everyone coming and going and visiting and talking and hanging out. Which I love, but it can get me off of my routine that I work so hard to maintain. Without it I am a chaotic storm of random activity. Blah, blah.
This topic — inspiration — is worthy of this additional musing. I think because it’s that element of mystery? Either in the idea or the making of “it” (whatever creation) there are a lot of unknowns. A hit of inspiration is always welcome at my desk because then the work feels like riding the wind. But, And, I’m at my desk most of the day, most days. Working. So there’s that workman like quality too. Part of me wants credit for that effort 😂! (Like the topic of talent. Oh boy, don’t get me started on that one!)
Then again I also have to give a huge credit to inspiration for the curiosity to go where it would have me go. Which I didn’t know when I started out, and was only possible following the breadcrumb trail of inspiration. Working. At the desk.
So both! How Libra of me. 🙃
I’ve enjoyed musing with you! Best of luck and inspiration on your writing, too!
Brian - have just discovered your ‘stack and love the artwork! It has a ‘60s vibe to it, which I adore - I get a whiff of Tom Wilson, the original Ziggy creator, plus other whiffs of Pfeiffer and Tomi Ungerer. I’d like to do a deeper dive on this whole question of inspiration and where it comes from when I can sit down with a computer (as I’m writing on the fly on an iPhone and am not a swift texter). But great thoughts here!
Lee Arnold
theamazingzootandalgy.substack.com
Hi there Lee. Thanks for the note. Wilson and Pfeiffer and Ungerer all sound good to me, though I'll admit I haven't thought of Ziggy since I was a kid, and Pfeiffer since I was in college in NYC! Looking forward to reading.
Yes yes yes!! I bloody love this! I was contemplating your last article for a while and I will be contemplating this one for a while more. I have a children’s fantasy story of inspiration and creativity growing in my mind and this letter has given me even more to think on. Thank you for your further thoughts 💭
Yay Lisa!
I have many thoughts on this. Maybe over bourbon.
Yes! Concur and happy to see you deeper dive it. Our relationship with inspiration is complex. I said it’s like something we consume, but we do so when we are curious about it. And sometimes without even realizing. Lovely stuff.