Betty Gerich, Artist, Painter and Sculptor

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Is visual art musical?

Looking at Art:

I have been told by many artists that they listen to music while they create. Mondrian’s abstract art was influenced by music and the word “composition” was often in his painting titles. His most famous painting is called, Broadway Boogie Woogie. The abstract artist, Kandinsky, had a neurological condition called synesthesia. As a result, when he saw different colors, he heard musical sounds. He used this experience in his selection of colors while painting. When you look at art does one piece suggest a different kind of music to you than other art? Is it possible to imagine classical music for an abstract painting and rap or hard rock associated with a contemporary piece?

Work in the studio:

The conductor of an orchestra keeps the musicians playing in time and together, while he interprets the music with dramatic gestures. In my studio, I feel like a conductor, interpreting what I see using colors, values and shapes and modifying these until I have created a harmonious composition. The final piece does not have to be abstract to resonate.