Painting of the Week

5. Responding to Music

I have begun to work on calico as opposed to canvas duck. This is the second picture on calico. 
Firstly, though, I have to tell you about why this picture has developed as it has......
I had put down some sepia paint as a thin wash on the calico - as a starting point to work on from.  Then I began to hear part of the Planet Suite by Gustav Holst playing in the next room so I dropped the paint brush into the water jar and went to listen more.
Professor Brian Cox was introducing The Planet Suite and talking about how the music was conceived by Holst.  He was comparing Holst's knowledge with what we now know about the planets. It was an amazing programme.... both for the planetary images and the music.
I felt that making progress with my painting could now be inspired by the images and the music itself. (I particularly love Jupiter for it's vivacity). Because I also love dance, I wanted to create a sense of space and  movement in this piece. 
Here's a thought.... it is amazing that we ourselves are planetary influences... affecting our planet in everything we do!

'Filetosa 1' acrylic on calico - Liz Cleves