Visual Art: Music into Art

Assignment

FTA 231 - Visual Art

Assignment 1: Express Music into Art

Semester 3

2017

The song I choose to express into painting is the favorite song of mine, November Rain by Guns n Roses.

I grew up with 80's and 90's songs although I was born in late 90's. Papa is the reason I love those types of music because he always plays it. One of his favorite playlist was hard rock which consist of the famous hard rock bands of all time such as Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi, Scorpions, Metallica and others. Out of all his playlist, November Rain has captured my special attention since then. I love the sound of the piano at the beginning, every time the solo guitar rocks and the music video itself. Those very iconic scenes I've saved in my longest memory; the dim blue bedroom for opening, the concert and Axl Rose at the piano, the guitarist rocks his solo guitar in front of the church, the wedding, the funeral. All iconic scenes in one song and this one song that always reminds me of my childhood.

Now that I grew a little older, I eventually understand the lyrics and realized how beautiful it is, thus makes me love this song even more. When speaks of hard rock, people always think of a heavy metal music with bad influence. It's a yes and a no. The band maybe be a bunch of people that love heavy metal lifestyle and fashion but the songs are actually full of message and love. November Rain for instead, the song told us about a hardship in loving somebody and yourself. It is about how the singer wants his lover to come and love him again or else he'll just have to walked away, and at the same time he convinced her it is okay to love herself, give herself space and time to be alone because when you actually could heal your inner self, then only you can be happy with others. But in the end, both actually need each other, need somebody to love. The lyrics are full of love and positive hopes which always help me recovering myself during my lowest time.

So, here's the meaning of this painting:

1. The guitar and piano tiles

Both instruments I put into the painting portray the best melodious part of the song. The piano (as main instrument alongside others such as violin) enchantingly plays as the song begin, and I like the vision of Axl Rose at the piano forte. Slash the guitarist slays the solo guitar at 3.55 and 5.10 which could make anyone lost in the music. The last instrument part is the majestic and fabulous of all part (6.18 and on), combined both main instrument I mention and the orchestra. The guitar color is inspired by the very guitar used by Slash in November Rain music clip.

2. Guns and the Roses

I think it is a must to put both of those things which obviously to hint that the painting is about a Guns n Roses' song. To me, it's very iconic recognition for the one of popular rock band, so I used Guns and Roses' logo as the inspiration of my artwork. Also, the red roses illustrate the love and hopes in November Rain.

3. Clock

I purposely make the clock with no hands. This represent how ever green November Rain for me. It is timeless. I love this song when I was a little girl until now and I can listen to it over and over again. The roman numerals I used to show this song is very classy even it has been over more than two decades.

4. Vine swirling along the clock

It's symbolic that November Rain, the timeless song of my life, lingers through my daily life. Although there are so many songs today, but none can compete November Rain for its beautiful melody and positive messages it brought within the lyrics. Whenever I happy or sad, November Rain always suits the time to bring me joy.

5. Background color

I choose the background to be black because life is not always about happiness and the November Rain itself means the darkness of the time in one's life, because literally November is dull and cold weathered which can be linked to metaphor of sadness in one's life. But for the love and hopes the song brought to me, I encountered the clock base color to yellow which is a bright and ecstatic color. This portrays that message of love and hopes in November Rain always brings me out of sadness.

Material Used for Artwork
1. Watercolor paper (200gsm)
2. Alpha Acrylic Color

Artwork progress:

1. Drawing

Start with main shapes; circle and guitar

Added up guns and the swirling vine

Draw the roses (below: roses references)

Drawing detailing

Final drawing

2. Coloring

Color the major part; background and clock base

Painting the roses and the vine was the longest part

Color the guitar according to reference

Finish product

Color selection

1. Analogous Color
   a) As the guitar is inspired by the original guitar color which is orange and brown, I decided to completed the center of painting using analogous color of orange, yellow, yellow orange and brown. These color as you can see are applied to the guitar, clock and its numerals.
    b) I also choose to used analogous to give color for the guns. It is the easiest and effective way to combine the colors with its shading. Color used; dark blue, grey, light grey and black.

2. Complementary Color
Complementary color is the combination of opposite colors in color wheel. I choose red and green as the complementary color for the roses, the vine and leaves. Also, red roses portrays love that has been promoted in the song.

3. Detailing and shading

Keep calm, listen to November Rain and love Guns n Roses.

Thank you :)