Time-Lapse Video - "Water Music"

Twenty-eight violins decorated by local artists were recently auctioned off at the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's Painted Violins event.  $125,000 was raised with all proceeds benefiting music programs for children in the area.  My contribution was inspired by Handel's Water Music and here's how it flowed along from start to finish.

Video by Justin Tennison

Water Music

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has invited several local and national artists and celebrities to decorate a violin with a musically inspired painting.  These violins will be auctioned off on November 12 with all proceeds benefiting the FWSO's Adventures in Music program for children of all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.  A worthy cause!  Here's my submission:

"WATER MUSIC"

While not directly inspired by Handel's Water Music -- although it is one of my favorites -- the title of his Orchestral Suite gave me the idea and inspiration for my painted violin.  As a young boy learning to read music and taking piano lessons, I always liked the design of the clef symbols and used to practice drawing them over and over again (especially the G-clef).  I thought it might be amusing to see these musical symbols incorporated in the designs of schools of tropical fish as they swim gracefully together in a slow movement through the coral reefs off Key Largo.  They entertain us and captivate us with their beauty, harmony, patterns and rhythm.  That sounds a lot like music to me.

Painted Violins Opus Two

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has just delivered my violin.

They're not inviting me to play it (wisely), but they are asking me to paint it.  This is my second time to participate in the Fort Worth Symphony Painted Violins Project.  Several artists have been invited to decorate a bare wooden violin with artwork that is musically inspired.  The painted violins will be auctioned off on November 12 at Bass Performance Hall and proceeds will benefit the orchestra's education programs for children.  

Last time I was assigned a piece of music for inspiration -- Mozart's Concerto No. 4 for Horn.  The use of the horn in the last movement of this concerto invokes the feeling of the hunt in the open air, thus the blue sky with clouds on the front of the violin.

The back of the violin depicts one of the angels on Fort Worth's Bass Performance Hall.  Since my inspiration was a horn concerto, she has traded her trumpet for a French horn.

Here's a photo of the Bass Performance Hall angel, my model for the French horn player.

After the Painted Violins auction, I was invited to witness over 1,000 fourth-grade students as they played their recorders provided by the Symphony.  It was a heart-warming experience to watch and hear these children play along with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, knowing that the Painted Violins Projects was one event that helped fund this program.

"Adventures in Music"   8" x 10"   Watercolor

The violin is propped up in the corner of my studio, awaiting inspiration...

Ode To Joy

"Adventures in Music"   8" x 10"   Watercolor

Over one thousand fourth-grade students filed into the sanctuary of a large local church one recent morning, recorders in hand, to hear and to play with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.  It was an amazing and emotional experience to witness the joy and enthusiasm with which this young multitude played and sang along with the orchestra.

This incredible experience was made possible for these children by the Fort Worth Symphony's education programs.  The Painted Violin project I posted about in January and February is one event that helped fund this program.

   

SOLD!

  

Last night I attended the Painted Violins auction, an event benefiting the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's education programs for children.  I was happy to be among the 27 artists to donate a painted violin for the cause.  I posted about the project here and here.

The evening began with each violin being carried down the runway by models in Oscar de la Renta fashions.  Next came the fun and excitement of the live auction which raised many thousands of dollars, all of which will be used to fund the children's programs.  Thank you Michelle for purchasing my violin!  I'm honored.

Painted Violins 2011 - Part 2

Here is the back of my painted violin, inspired by Mozart's Horn Concerto #4.   One of the Bass Hall angels has traded her trumpet for a french horn to sound the hunting call.

Below are the photos I used for reference:  Bass Hall angels, and musician model -- thanks Karen!

Painted Violins 2011

I am one of 27 artists invited to participate in the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's Painted Violins project.  These violins will be auctioned February 24 and the proceeds will benefit the Orchestra's education programs for children.  The violins will be on display January 29 and February 13 in the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth.  

 Each artist was given a bare wooden violin as well as a piece of music for inspiration -- in my case, Mozart's Concerto No. 4 for Horn in E Flat Major.  The use of the horn in the last movement of this concerto invokes the feeling of the hunt in the open air, thus the blue sky with clouds on the front of the violin.   

Here's the completed front.  The back of the violin reveals a surprise -- one of the angels on the 

Bass Performance Hall is sounding the hunting call.   But I'll show you the back next time.