The Essence of Jazz @ Wall Flower Studio

"The Essence of Jazz" - 12" x 16" acrylic - By Karen Sloan

Thinking that the essence of good music is when the musicians not only make it look & sound easy, as well as fun, too.

All images and written content Copyright © Karen Sloan

In Memory of Miles Davis - A Jazz Giant

Hard to believe that it's been twenty years since we lost Miles Davis.

I thought about using the colour blue for this painting, while listening to since one of my very favorite albums is "Kind Of Blue", however, Miles' music has never made me feel blue. In fact, anything as quintessentially moody, and as beautiful as his music usually has quite the opposite effect.

He was a great band leader, letting his musicians develop their own style naturally. I always felt that would be the a trait of a person, confident in their own genius. Miles felt no need for control or totalitarian behaviour over his musicians in the least. Thinking there's a lesson in that for certain Canadian politicians.

Speaking of "Kind of Blue", a poll was taken several years ago, which I recall stated this particular classic album would be the one people would most likely want with them if stranded on a desert island. That's fine if you have electricity on that said island. ; )

In any case, even tho' we lost Miles and 2 decades have now gone by, thankfully, his music will live on.
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"Hard Bop" - 14" x 18" Acrylic on canvas. - Sold
by Karen Sloan

All images and written content on this site Copyright © Karen Sloan

Wonky Warped & Whimsical Pop Art Interior Rooms

Because wonky, warped and whimsical is much more fun ! : )

"Nite Life" - acrylic on canvas - 24" x 24" - Sold

Copyright © Karen Sloan

Jam Session - More Jazz Sketches on Canvas @ Wall Flower Studio

My favourite to date. Very pleased with the overall composition and colours. Not very objective of me, but there you go. ; )

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"Jam Session" - 11" x 14" acrylic. New!
By Karen Sloan
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Thanks for stopping by!

Red HOT Trio - Jazz Art @ Wall Flower Studio

More musical art from my "Jazz Sketch" series...

"Red Hot Jazz Trio" - acrylic on canvas - Sold

Copyright © Karen Sloan

Thanks for stopping by!

Brass and Wind - Visual Music on Canvas

I'm really starting to get a feel for this "Jazz sketch" series. In the groove, if you'll pardon the pun!

I find myself actually posing, pretending to hold the sax, trumpet, or said instrument as I paint. By no means am I musically inclined, in fact, far from it, at least as far as making music goes, but do know what I like to hear. Visually speaking however, I'm trying to get it just right on the canvas.

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"Brass and Wind" - 5" x 7" acrylic on canvas - New!

by Karen Sloan

Musical Interlude - Whimsical Jazz Art @ Wall Flower Studio

Every now and then, we could all use a little musical interlude.

Good music shouldn't just be background noise in one's life; It should be a participating factor, adding joy and depth to life.

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"Musical Interlude" 14" x 18" acrylic - New!

By Karen Sloan

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The Cafe au Go Go - Jazz Art - NYC Style

The Cafe au Go Go was a basement night club on Bleecker Street in New York City. It was a happening place back in the 1960's with a rather colourful history worth reading about.

Many famous rock groups and comedians graced the Cafe au Go Go's stage, but before that happened, it was predominantly a Jazz club.

I just loved the name and felt it should be a title on one of my paintings.

"Cafe au Go Go" - 8" x 10" acrylic on canvas - Sold

By Karen Sloan

All images and written content Copyright © Karen Sloan

Jazz Standards - Musical Art on Canvas

There is no definitive list of jazz standards, but most music lovers can recognize songs that have been covered numerous times. Ones that are widely played by numerous Jazz musicians, thereafter, can be usually be considered a jazz standard.

From Dixieland, to the Jazz Age, Swing, Bebop, Bossa Nova, Samba and Smooth Jazz, these boys can play it all.

"Nite Club" - 8" x 11" - acrylic on canvas -Sold

by Karen Sloan

Thanks for visiting : )

All images and written content Copyright © Karen Sloan

A Taste of Latin Jazz Art - Visual Music at Wall Flower Studio

Some influences from Puerto Rican & Cuban Jazz music.

For me, Latino music, by the likes of the late, great "King of Latin Music", Tito Puente, among others, is great fodder for painting. A collage in paint, with a smidgen of cubist musical instruments. Some dance-oriented Afro-Cuban and Caribbean mambo Jazz compositions can really be a great muse! Such diverse sounds, and of course that beat!

"Latin/Cuban Jazz" - acrylic on canvas - 24" x 36" - Sold

All images and written content on this site are Copyright © Karen Sloan

Rehearsal Hall - Getting it just right! Jazz on Canvas

"Rehearsal Hall" - 24" x 24" - acrylic on canvas

by Karen Sloan

Time for the band to practice before the big show, and to rehearse before the audience fills any seats.
New! From Wall Flower Studio.
Well, it's not exactly new, really. I've been working on it, off and on, for a few months, now, but thinking it's finally finished enough to share here.
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Thanks for visiting! Have a great weekend. : )

Nite Club - More Jammin' Jazz Art

This joint's a jumpin' with some jammin' Jazz musicians.

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"Nite Club" - 6" x 8" - acrylic on canvas - New!

by Karen Sloan

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Lounge Act - Smooth #Jazz #Art

I was listening to Dire Straits while painting this particular canvas.

There's nothing like a classic album to aid in prompting some creativity.

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Visualizing "Sultans of Swing" in my mind, and trying to manifest it with paint.

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"Lounge Act" - 8" x 10" - acrylic on canvas - New!

by Karen Sloan

Thanks for visiting!

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#Jazz Singer - Visual #Music - The #Art of Sound

Music visualized on canvas from Wall Flower Studio.

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"Jazz Singer" - acrylic on canvas - 14" x 18" -New!

- by Karen Sloan

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The #Haliburton County Studio Tour - It's almost here!

Coffee is the nectar of the gods, at least in my humble opinion. Even more so than wine!

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Cubist Coffee - acrylic on canvas - Available

24" x 24"

by Karen Sloan

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Here's an FYI.. The Haliburton County Studio Tour, is coming up very soon.

This will be the sixth year my studio has participated, and I'm really looking forward to all of the wonderful visitors and art lovers that stroll through my living room, and wander through my autumn flower and veggie gardens.

Approximately 2000 people visit Wall Flower Studio . I'm especially grateful for returning collectors who like my work enough to have more than one of my paintings on their walls!

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However, after careful consideration, I've decided that this will be my last year on the tour.

Life is very busy in other areas, horticulture for one, my other love, but rest assured, I'll still be paintings and whimsical papier mache sculptures, and of course, my studio will be open year round by chance or appointment. Commissions are welcome, too! : )

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The studio tour dates are:

October 1 and 2, 2011 - Saturday & Sunday -10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

- and -

October 8 and 9, 2011 - Thanksgiving Weekend - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Come visit and enjoying the autumn colours of the Highlands.

It's a self directed driving tour, and the brochure map can be printed out here:

http://www.haliburtonstudiotour.on.ca/map.htm

It's the best opportunity to meet artists in their studios and a chance to experience the creative process through discussion and demonstration of new works.

Hope to see you then!

Jazz Art - Quintet - Abstract Musician Paintings

Jazz could be considered an abstract branch of music. It is a form of creativity that thinks outside of the box.
Currently, corporate behavior and conformity is pushed on us by government and big business, who all seem to have their own agenda's and, are blatantly in bed with one another these days. One only has to google to find out how many former Monsanto employees are now running the FDA in the U.S., but take my country, Canada, for instance ....

The crime rate has actually dropped here in Canada, this is a fact, yet "the Harper government", (as they insist on being referred to by the press, instead of "the Canadian government"), have now made it their mission to build new massive prisons, and their reasoning is, they say, due to "unreported crimes". WTF? What's next I have to wonder.. Thought crimes? Thought police?

I call this paranoia on their part, but hey, I'm just an artist and a female at that, so what the heck would I know? ; )
Toronto, the city I was born and raised in, now has a mayor who is intent on shutting libraries and cutting all funding for the arts, including the Toronto International Film Festival, which just this month brought millions of dollars into the city.

Another WTF? Arts and culture are a huge tourist draw. His ignorance of facts are astounding.

So, in a world where individualism, free thinking, the pursuit of knowledge, and the arts, seems to be an undesirable personality traits by the powers that be, and where corporations are running government departments and ministries, all I can say is thank goodness for Jazz.
It's a breath of fresh air in an increasingly right winged world.

Quintet (Interlude) - acrylic on canvas - 14" x18" Sold
Copyright © Karen Sloan