"Listen"

I've often thought the paintings have a life of their own.

They seem to come to mind and appear on the canvas

at their own time and choosing.

Last month I had the opportunity to do a painting for a couple of friends of ours.

What do you have in mind?
They said, "do whatever you like."

Now I've been working on Southwestern themes lately,
since I entered the "Third Phase" of my painting life.
But that didn't seen right for them.

To give me some ideas I asked, if they would give me a list of things
they would like to see in their painting.

They are both performing artist-- so I had already started to

think of themes that involved music.

Their list was filled with
all kinds of animals and flowers.

I've liked the idea of Orpheus

and had wanted to do my version for some time--

the effect his music had on animals.
And not just animals--even the rocks would
gather to listen to his music.
And the trees would up root themselves to follow him.

Unfortunetly every up has it's down.

The story is glorious and tragic.

For me, I want to focus on the glorious

while holding tight to the hub.