movement and music

 I have a drawer full of Christmas music. Some is written for piano, two hands or four hands or two pianos. Some is written for piano and clarinet or piano and trumpet or piano and saxophone. Most recently, I have found some music written for piano and viola.

Over the years, I have loved our Christmas tradition that includes me at the piano and others joining in with their instruments. My sons used to play clarinet, saxophone, and trumpet in these impromptu recitals. And now, one of daughters in law plays viola.

I am looking forward to Christmas music (I'll bring my keyboard) with my kids. It will be loud and filled with wrong notes (most of them mine) but we will laugh and have a good time.

Here's a surprising take on the familiar "Carol of the Bells." I hope you enjoy it!

"Carol of the Bells" for 12 cellos.

Joy to the World

10 x 8, pastel on UART

Dave Brubeck, master jazz pianist and composer, died this week. I first heard him play in Florida in 1986 and I will never forget the easy, clear sound of his piano mixed in with his band's groove. Music floated across the water on the warm breeze. It was perfect. Anyone who ever tried to play "Take Five" or "Blue Rondo a la Turk" knows the genius and mastery of Brubeck's sense of time and space (and their own tethers to the more familiar 4/4 and 3/4 rhythms).

Endings are sad. But it's possible to celebrate what remains. With joy. That's what I'm doing. How about you?

Dave Brubeck "Joy to the World."

color of joy

Yellow, the color of joy. 12 x 18. Pastel.

Esperanza Spalding "Overjoyed."

she can't sleep now

9 x 13, gouache and pastel on paper

Gouache under painting with pastel on top. I love the under painting part of the painting process. Splash, drip, bloom, blot, spray. The process is actively intuitive (and not always successful) and when it goes well, there is nothing to compare to the joy I feel.


Paul Simon "She Moves On."

heartbreaker

Heartbeat, 22 x 30

"Heartbreaker" Led Zeppelin.

tango

22 x 30, pastel and Sumi on prepared paper

Sometimes a Sumi abstract sketch begs to turn into a full-fledged painting. The lines and shapes suggested by the lines thrilled me. Or maybe the thrill was the music I was listening to while I painted. Doesn't matter at all. The thrill remains.

8.5 x 11, Sumi on copy paper

"Killer Tango" Canadian Brass.

7 x 11, pastel on BFK

I just took it out of the oven and my house is filled with the rich smells of the pumpkin cheesecake. Tomorrow I'll bake the blackberry cobblers. Yum! I like bringing desserts!! So much better than the salad.

What are you contributing to your Thanksgiving feast and celebration?