I think painting jazz is such a vibrant way to capture the essence of the music. Jazz is all about improvisation, rhythm, and emotion, and translating those elements into colors and shapes can be really exciting. It’s like creating a visual symphony where each brushstroke is a note, and the canvas becomes a stage for the music.
If I had to choose, I’d probably say the sax is my favorite instrument to capture. It’s tricky because of the many moving parts, but my favorite part of the sax is the curve of the horn. When I get it right, it’s so visually striking and can be depicted in so many dynamic ways. Plus, the contrast of richly toned brass against the other colors is somehow pleasing.
To get and say in the mood while painting a jazz piece, I always listen to some of my favorite jazz tunes and of course, you must have a bit of libation to fix the mood. Red wine is my go-to.
Most of my jazz pieces have an abstract element to them. There are essentially two main reasons for this. I don’t really paint instruments or people well. So, I compensate for that with vivid colors and a healthy dose of artistic license.