See and Hear the Creative Process:
Satisfy Your Soul, 2021
24” x 36” x 2”
Acrylic on Canvas
Inspired By:
Arverne, Rockaway Beach
and Keith Jordan
The third inspirational clean-up location was Arverne, home to the RISE Center and several surfing schools. Arverne stretches from Beach 54th st. to Beach 79th. It’s one of the many neighborhoods that guitarist and composer Keith Jordan worked at through high school. For five summers, Keith would commute from Jamaica, Queens, to Rockaway, starting a beach clean-up shift at 6 am.
Queens has a remarkably storied history with jazz, particularly in Jamaica. In 1923, Clarence Williams, a producer and entrepreneur, decided to found a community in Jamaica for black musicians, and the community thrived. Countless jazz legends have lived in Queens: Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong, and Dizzy Gillespie are just the tip of the iceberg.
Keith and I discussed the many jam sessions that he’s been to over the years, and the difference between being a musician and a player. He told me that one true mark of a successful musician is humility: observing, absorbing, and learning. He stressed the importance of mastering the basics, and discipline to your craft.
His advice changed my approach to the canvas yet again, and before starting, I did a 5” x 7” wave study canvas to finalize the composition and palette. I wanted to capture the way the light danced on the water in Arverne, and the strong steady waves that supported the surfers as they glided to shore.
This project pushed me to paint under pressure, something I’ve never had to do as a self-taught artist. Due to accelerated time lines and an unexpected return to full-time work, I had to make decisions quickly, and with confidence. I chose to study as I worked, seeking answers to deceptively simple questions such as: How do you paint the sky? How do you mix that particular shade of blue? And, what colors do you start a painting with?
Keith taught me to try to be humble as an artist, and that’s what I’ve tried to do with this painting. As Keith said to me:
“Get the chords, get the melody, and go for it. Satisfy your soul.”
Queens has a remarkably storied history with jazz, particularly in Jamaica. In 1923, Clarence Williams, a producer and entrepreneur, decided to found a community in Jamaica for black musicians, and the community thrived. Countless jazz legends have lived in Queens: Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong, and Dizzy Gillespie are just the tip of the iceberg.
Keith and I discussed the many jam sessions that he’s been to over the years, and the difference between being a musician and a player. He told me that one true mark of a successful musician is humility: observing, absorbing, and learning. He stressed the importance of mastering the basics, and discipline to your craft.
His advice changed my approach to the canvas yet again, and before starting, I did a 5” x 7” wave study canvas to finalize the composition and palette. I wanted to capture the way the light danced on the water in Arverne, and the strong steady waves that supported the surfers as they glided to shore.
This project pushed me to paint under pressure, something I’ve never had to do as a self-taught artist. Due to accelerated time lines and an unexpected return to full-time work, I had to make decisions quickly, and with confidence. I chose to study as I worked, seeking answers to deceptively simple questions such as: How do you paint the sky? How do you mix that particular shade of blue? And, what colors do you start a painting with?
Keith taught me to try to be humble as an artist, and that’s what I’ve tried to do with this painting. As Keith said to me:
“Get the chords, get the melody, and go for it. Satisfy your soul.”
To learn more about the featured music, check out: KeithJordanMusic.com.
