START WITH A BLINDFOLD AND MUSIC
How can you trace the pattern and flow of music and transpose it into a non-objective painting? You must start with the gesture of the music from the hand to the painting surface without any distractions. As the music is a journey through time, so is the creation of a painting based upon this non visual expression. The dialogue between the two is fascinating.
Day one, a.m. - A large inexpensive drawing pad and pencil is placed on a drawing surface in front of each student. Either the lights can be dimmed or a blindfold can be used to stop the student from using sight as he or she is sketching. A piece of music is played and the students place their pencils on the pad and start to draw in a large gestural manner. This continues for three to four minutes. The lights are turned on again or blindfold removed. Another sheet of paper is mounted on the drawing surface and a different piece of music is played. This process is repeated several times until around ten or so examples are produced.. The students and instructor discuss and evaluate the various compositions for form and structure.
Day one, p.m. - The students then listen to each of the various pieces of music played in the morning and try to establish the over all palette and colours associated with these tunes. They then add their choices to the drawings produced in the morning.
Day two, a.m. - The students decide on the size and media of their new attempts to illustrate the musical compositions and focus on one that they would like to use for this attempt. The instructor helps with this process.
Day two, p.m. - This process continues.
Day three, a.m. and p.m. - The music is played again and the various compositions are contrasted to see if the students feel that they have captured the true nature of the music in their attempts.
Day four, a.m. and p.m. - A different piece of music is played using the above method but it is a much longer piece and produces a much more elaborate drawing which is used to produce and much larger and more complex painting perhaps even a three or four stage painting.
Day five, a.m. and p.m. - The painting continues. There is a discussion and comparison of works at the end.