Mick Jagger’s Voice
I made this small painting today for a lovely young couple who got married in June—it’s personalized with their initials in the vase. I think it’s rather cheery, like they are. I love the velvety appearance of gouache and the flatness. Flat colors are really useful for the kind of bold imagery I’m using at the moment.
Earlier in the summer I thought I’d lost my paints. I was just on the cusp of setting out to buy new ones, at vast expense, when I stumbled upon them on a table in the basement. While they were lost I really missed them even though I don’t use them all that much. They’re a part of me, like old friends. A new set wouldn’t have been the same.
Once I get the paints out ideas begin to flow. The best is to just jump on an idea and go with it, without hesitation. Too much thinking kills art.
Speaking of which—last night, Dear A and I put on the Rolling Stones’ Beggar’s Banquet CD after dinner. We’d been talking about Mick Jagger’s voice, whether it was limited like Dylan’s or whether it was actually incredibly versatile. Dear A, who is usually right about most things, was adamant about the latter, I was putting up my usual fruitless objections which I’m fairly good at. We listened to the whole thing sitting at the kitchen table, beating our hands on the table, singing, and topping up our wine glasses mid-way. Mick’s voice is versatile all right but it’s the way he bends it that makes him the fantastic, fab one—he’s got Muddy Waters, Dylan, Leadbelly, Pete Seeger. He just uses them.
Salt of the Earth was the last song and Dear A choked up. He rarely cries(British)—the first time I saw him well up was at King Lear, then when his father died and, yes, last night listening to Mick. That’s what real art can do. And it’s real even though Mick steals like crazy. Stealing is okay in art when it’s for a purpose. The great, great thing about Mick is that he wasn’t shy about it. He latched onto what he was into and rode it all the way into the stratosphere. The stylist’s stylist. Real style’s all about the truth—and the truth is tough, baby.
Somewhere in the middle of Salt of the Earth, just after I’d set my wine glass down for the last time, I said I wished I could make art like that. Dear A dabbed his eyes, looked over and smirked. ‘But, my dear,’ he said, ‘you are not about desolation.’
Well, I could be. Maybe. Why am I trying to keep it light? It’s what I latched onto, way back, and I’m riding it—somewhere.
Taking a hint from Mick—I’m sticking with it but after last night will be amping up the volume. Why be shy?
September 14th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
mdf, . Here’s to Mick’s voice, I agree. Also, he’s got to be one of the greatest live performers the world has ever seen. As far as stealing…Picasso said ‘Amateurs borrow, professionals steal’. I’ll go with that.
Love the painting. I miss your paintings too. They really are unique and totally yours. Good luck with the volume button. But amplified or silent…it really doesn’t matter, so wonderful to be able to create. Will you be doing your ‘Drawing Life’ sessions again this year?
I REALLY love that painting. Your colours and design are perfect. Glad you found your paints and picked up the brush. Have fun!
September 14th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
mdf, Thanks! Took a couple of days to get the groove again.
Made some really bad paintings first with different imagery then did that one. Had to warm up and get the dreck out of the way. I like it too. And, you’re right, the volume doesn’t matter…but fun to play with it.
Drawing class starts end of the month.
When will we see your new work?? Would love to!!
And, yes—Mick is an amazing live performer. Just hoping we can see them one more time! We thought the last time might be it though they were fabulous beyond measure and paced themselves.
September 14th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
You rock.
I love your paintings so much and feel so blessed to have TWO of them in my home.
XoXoXo