How Music Inspires My Art: The Rise Collection

For me, when I’m painting, music is not just a background noise – it’s my muse. As I paint, you will find me singing off-key or dancing with abandon. This uninhibited connection with music influences every aspect of my work – from the colours I choose to the brush marks I lay down and the composition of the piece. The result is a collection of paintings that are as much about the sound that inspired them as they are about the visuals themselves.

The songs associated with my latest collection is an eclectic playlist. There’s a little bit of everything in there. Disco, country, pop, dance, gospel. Common to all is a good rhythm and melodies that just make my brain pop. And while you can find music from the 1970’s through to the late 2010’s all the music is performed by today’s contemporary artists. I do love a rewrap of songs from another generation of music. This is the music that makes me smile. This is the music that gets me singing and swaying while I paint. This is the music that puts the happy into my paintings.

The basis for the whole playlist is Calum Scott’s song Rise, along with the Rise remix version in collaboration with Sam Feldt. This is the song that triggered a synesthesia event, which lead to a new limited colour palette. From this colour palette has grown a collection I call the Rise Collection.

The other songs were suggestions from Spotify. If a song triggered me, it would get added to the playlist. Soon I had a few hours of tunes to generate my creativity as I prepared for my upcoming exhibit, Music is the Muse.

It’s been a busy six months filled with big canvases and finally my exhibit has been installed at the deCoste Cultural Hub. This exhibition challenges traditional boundaries, encouraging visitors to experience art in a multi-sensory manner. As you explore the gallery, use your cell phone and the Spotify app to be enveloped by the harmonious blend of music and visual art.

Each piece is accompanied by a Spotify link, allowing you to listen to the very song that inspired the painting. Additionally, you can link to the whole playlist so as you stroll through the exhibit, the playlist provides a continuous soundtrack, adding a new dimension to the viewing experience.

Each painting is a testament to how a simple melody can enhance and even alter your perception of visual artists.

So what are the songs associated with the paintings in the exhibit? While the whole playlist influences my process, there is always one song that really hits the spot with guiding me on how to proceed with a specific canvas. Here are the key songs…