This is the painting... I have no idea if its done yet, but the song doesn't make me as heartsick anymore. 


Update 07/15 Its done. I called it 'Hollow' and any feeling of relief that I had from painting the song has completely abandoned me. I can't listen to the song anymore; the emotional trauma it conveys causes me emotional pain. 

Work is so, SO busy right now and I have many things on the go, and yet I spent time painting over the weekend. 

It is absolutely ludicrous, but I honestly cannot get that song out of my head. Late the other night I finally got tired of it making me feel heartsick and decided to at least start the under painting:  

The texture is pretty clear thanks to the angle of the photo; I think the brush strokes reflect the quality of the guitar. And while that might look black, the colour is actually a very deep purple. 

Tonight I had a hard time staying away from the painting because I really, really don't have time to spend on it right now, but then I found myself sketching my ideas in pen on sticky notes:

Somewhat unusual methodology but at least it provides temporary relief for my brain. 

... when I said that new music from the Pack AD would elicit more art. I haven't painted anything yet, but given that I'm typing this at 2am, I can say with confidence that the need to paint is actually keeping me up tonight. And I would stay up to paint except that I need to be alert and productive tomorrow, so I'm opting to purge some thoughts here in order to get some sleep. 

I'm kept awake because a few days ago, my oft-mentioned artistic muse the Pack AD released a video for a song from their last album, along with a four-song EP. There should be no doubt that I downloaded all five items from iTunes as quickly as possible; to say that I've been excited for new material from these ladies is a massive understatement. 

The EP, entitled 'Meta Animal', has 'Animal' from their last album, 'Motorvate' a song they played on tour last year, but was only available to download for people who pre-ordered the last album (like me), a cover of the Three Oh Sees 'Nightcrawler', and 'Back in a Hole', a new song. 

Can I tell you about that new song? 

The first time I listened to it I was struck by the airy, almost sweet quality it seemed to have. Its acoustic; the vocals and guitar are without the usual hard edge that characterizes their music. Musically, the song is beautiful; Becky Black has an incredible voice, but lyrically it left me with a distinct pit in my stomach. 

After listening twice more that uncomfortable pit just grew; I was extremely emotional. To say I felt 'sad' seems trivial because it was something more than that... I felt heart sick and I had to convince myself to listen to the song again. When I paid more attention to the lyrics, I realized there was absolutely nothing airy or sweet about them. While I can hear two 'voices,' its the desperation and loneliness of someone drowning in themselves that stands out the most...

...  I know this painting is going to be emotionally draining.