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The most pleasureable part of painting for me is the wonderful music I listen to while I paint. I used to play fingerstyle guitar but realized that it was taking me away from my easel and if I wanted to be serious about one or the other I would have to make a choice.
Being that I am more naturally suited for painting I chose art. Now I have the best of both possible worlds. I listen to Leo Kottke and Bill Mize.
I have always enjoyed having music as my muse. Thirty years plus ago, when I first came to NY to start my career as an illustrator, I finagled my way into seeing Frank Zappa backstage at Carnagie Hall so I could show him my drawings between performances.
While he and his bandmates passed my drawings around, I mentioned that I was playing his album "Hot Rats" continuously while I worked on my illustrations. His reply was, "It's a great honor to be the wallpaper behind your creativity."
Since then I've always considered the music I play to be an integril part of my art. That night he comissioned me to do an album cover for him, "Waka/jawaka" sometimes refered to as "Hot Rats II"
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