Painting & music

[SB Wang]

What is the relationship of color and music?

Music--a healing power, HOW?

Why is that Sargent been more talked than Ingres? Is that anything to do with music?

Why does music make us thrill, not painting?

How many senses are there by which stimuli from outside or inside the body are received and felt? Which is in the first place and why?

Please find the corelation between a principle of design and a piece of music?

[Ngaire Winwood]

When I first started to paint, I thought, "How could a deaf person hear a beautiful piece of music, say a symphony by Vivadi or similar? " If they can't hear it, will they always be without the intense emotion a magical piece of music can make them feel and even bring tears to their eyes? Why should deaf people miss out? So I decided to do a painting of music. I had several colours in front of me, got in the zone, turned the music up, put the headphones on and went for it.

I painted by emotions and by the movement of the music, light colours for light music tones , dark for deep etc. I thought the finished piece was well done, and I felt I accomplished what I set out to do. Allow a deaf person to see beautiful music. Maybe one day I will do another.

Footnote: Yes, quality music goes right through me, the sensations are magical. A good healer also.

[Wayne McMichael]

Man that's KOOL, but, w-w-w-where is it?

[Jean Kelly]

Synesthesia is the term for "seeing" music, tasting colors, smelling sound. The senses become mixed into one vast symphony.

Certain aromas have "colors" to me. It is theory that at one time primitive brains had all the senses mixed and in the same area of the brain. As we evolved, the senses become more "specialized", and we lost something very special. The ability to see sound, taste color etc. Some people are lucky enough to have retained that ability. I believe artists and musicians have a connection to this ancient gift.

Jean

ps Ngiare, I've painted music too, but I put it in a quilt. I'll see if I can get a photo of it.

[Ngaire Winwood]

So there is a name for it, how about that! Jean, I would love to see a photo.

I thought at the time it was a different thing to do, but when I did it, it belonged. Wayne, I sold the painting for a just a couple of dollars, I didn't have much knowledge when I started and the photo I took does not do it justice it was taken at an angle and too far away. I will try and find another one. It was called "Celestial Symphony" I will show you the next one I do.

[Julie Deane]

Here's a great book on the subject - it's a physical condition some folks have. Most have learned to hide it when people react to them as weird. After I read this book, I found out some relations have synesthesia.

"The Man who Tasted Shapes : a bizarre medical mystery offers revolutionary insights into emotions, reasoning and consciousness", by Ricfhard E. Cytowak

[Ngaire Winwood]

Julie thanks for the book info. I am curious, is there an actual reference in the book as seeing music in colours?

[Mike McCarty]

There is a place in Tulsa called "Cain's Ballroom." "The Cain" was originally built as a garage for one of the cities founders back in 1924. To say this place has history, well trust me, it does.

From Roy Rogers to the Sex Pistols, Tex Ritter and Eddie Arnold played here. Someone once threw a burning bible on stage during a Marilyn Manson concert. Ernest Tubb, Tennessee Ernie Ford all did The Cain.

On Feb. 9, 1934, Bob Wills and the Light Crust Doughboys (later dubbed the Texas Playboys) played their first regular broadcast concert

[Julie Deane]

Hi Nagaire-

It's been a while since I've read the book. I remember more detailed commentary about color/taste/texture mixing, but I do remember some commentary on the mixing of colors and sounds too. There was some interesting historical info on artists working to come up with a system for matching colors and sounds (it was as individual as each artist, so no it didn't work out).

An example of color/texture synthesis, the person in my extended family with it reports each color she sees as having a literal feel to it. She learned as a young child to not talk about it. Even her mother thought she was just imagining things.

Or an example of a person quoted in the book, said while cooking, "This sauce needs more points."

Interesting, and much more than how I think about colors and music. I like to compare the two, but some folks actually physically synthesize the two. It would be interesting to learn if some others of our members have this, and how it has helped them as artists. The family member I mentioned is an artist, and a very successful one.

[Jean Kelly]

I read the same book Julie, like you a long time ago. I don't recall colors and sound as part of the spectrum, but its always been like that for me. I once went to a meditation group that used Eastern music to assist your trance. As I meditated with the group I saw a huge twisting saw blade approaching me, writhing and snaking it's way through the air. I left, and haven't been back.

Current research has shown that the brains of people with this gift (or curse) are organized differently. PET images show that areas of the brain not associated with taste or smell etc. are lit up when stimulated by aromas etc. Possibly this is a primitive survival mechanism.

Back to one of Scubert's riddles. How many senses
are there and which was the first? Answer, all of them!

jean