The end of the year is traditional for lists….and I am jumping into it with the books and soundtracks that have fed my practice. Maybe they will inspire you too!
TOP 5 BOOKS
- The latest edition to my art bookshelf is “Richard Diebenkorn, Beginnings, 1942-1955,” Scott A Shields, PhD., Pomegranate Press, 2017. I picked it up at the Seattle Art Museum shop after visiting Frisson: The Richard E. Lang and Jane Lang Davis Collection exhibit in November. I love it because I love his work and I love to see process. It shows his journey as an artist from youth, and it also shows less well-known pieces. I get tired of the Ocean Park series getting trotted out for every example of his work. He was prolific and varied. The early to mid 50’s resonate with me. A number of untitled watercolor, gouache, ink and charcoal pieces from the early 50’s are so strong and vibrant with life. As is the Urbana series.
2. Women of Abstract Expressionism by Joan Marter, Denver Art Museum in association with Yale University Press, 2016. I guess I have a theme going here, in that I like to poke a little deeper into the common narrative. This book goes beyond the usual examples of Frankenthaler, de Kooning, Mitchell, Krasner and Hartigan – stretching to San Francisco and giving context to a larger working group of abstract expressionist painters than I had realized there were. Lots of juicy color plates, but my favorite part is the back of the book with black and white images of the women, mostly in their studios and short biographies of their lives and work. So much going on! San Francisco less restrictive towards women than NYC, interestingly.
3. I include the next two books as my bookshelf perennials. Anyone who has taken my abstract painting classes knows this one: “Ellsworth Kelly: Works on Paper,” Diane Upright, Harry N Abrams Publishers NY in association with the Fort Worth Art Museum, 1987. Kelly is the master of distilled abstraction. If you experience his work without the context of how he sees, or how he got there, the simplicity might suggest emptiness or meaninglessness. But when I view his process sketches, photos and snippets – I tell my students, this work is based on reality. This is based on what is being seen. (Thanks to William James Bookseller, where I discovered my precious used copy of the book!)
5. Art and Fear, Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking, David Bayles and Ted Orland, The Image Continuum, 1993. Mentioned elsewhere in my writings, this slender volume is a primer for creatives of any stripe. First, paint because you love it. Second, lean into your materials. Third, understand the edge (fear), go to it, go beyond it, learn from it. As simple and as beautiful as that. But the book says it better. 🙂
TOP 5 MUSIC
There is nothing like heading into the studio, plugging in the soundtrack and getting to work. Even if today’s work means tidying up the place, or if today’s work means painting white ground on board, or when today’s work is adding the final touches to a long-evolving piece… the soundtrack is elemental.
- “Shine” by Joni Mitchell, 2007 (how can that be! Seems like yesterday). Lots of tributes to Joni lately, most focused on her early and mid-career and her album Blue. But this one – her last studio album – is kind of the soundtrack of my life. I play it LOUD. The second song (“This Place”) is a perfect expression of my tenderness for this corner of the world. And the title song and the final song “If” are my blessings and hopes for the world, for my children, for the generation taking us forward. Joni’s integrity in her art and music feed my painting tremendously.
2. “Last of the Better Days Ahead” by Charlie Parr. Song: “Blues for Whitefish Lake” cuts to the sweet heart of grief. My current paintings touch into loss and grief in a wordless expression… and I could play that song on repeat and paint, paint, paint. Also, “817 Oakland Avenue” on the same album for a hopeful, lively piece of universal love.
3. Lake Street Dive: any of their stuff is great but two getting played a lot these days are “Bad Self Portraits” and “Free Yourself Up.” Frequent tempo changes, Rachael Price’s smoky full voice and Bridget Kearney’s excellent songwriting get me bouncing around.
4. Elise LeGrow, “Playing Chess”. Canadian nightclub singer does a version of “You Never Can Tell” that is the best ever, and all the rest of the Chess records songbook are fabulous. Can’t wait to see what she does next.
5. Ok, a cheat for number five – here’s the short list of rhythmic, inspirational songs that get me going (whether I am out for a run, or painting my heart out): “Buddha” by Macy Gray from her album Ruby (also ass-kicking “White Man” from same), “Dreams” by Brandi Carlile from her album Give Up the Ghost, “In a Parade” by Paul Simon from Stranger to Stranger, “This Heart” by Nanci Griffith from Flyer (RIP, dear one).
