The other day I was working in various places, dotting Is and crossing Ts in different areas of my life, moving along at a great pace. It was a pretty productive day and things were coming along nicely. On the ride home I had an urge to crank some Deftones and crank it loud (the only real way to listen to their music IMO). Hexagram was the initial track and I was feeling great. Along the ride home through the mountains of Phoenix, the music continued. The beautiful rhythms of the music carried me on. Anyone who knows me knows Abe Cunningham is my favorite drummer of all time. The kicks and snares excite me and on any given day, you might catch my air drumming the steering wheel. During this drive, I was hit with inspiration. However, it wasn't the drums that caught me on this trip home..
The recent passing of bass player Chi Cheng has touched the lives of millions worldwide. For me personally, it was a hard one to swallow. Many of us knew of his situation since it began and eagerly waited for his return to the stage, only to be left with passed memories when the news suddenly broke of his passing. Damn. On this particular ride home I decided I was ready for my tribute to him.
If you aren't familiar with my work, I have an ongoing series titled Melodic Measures where I pay homage to my favorite musicians. Deftones is always a band I wanted to explore during this series but have kept pushing it aside. It never felt like the right time. Even after creating this piece, I still feel it isn't the right time so that's why this piece is here and not on that blog. I don't think I'm ready to paint that tribute just yet, but I had to do something for Chi.
That night I got out my photos in search of one in particular. I was fortunate to catch Deftones back home numerous times and on one evening, I was even fortunate to catch a flik with Chi. The recent move has misplaced some things, including that photo and negative. I know it's here, I jus couldn't find it. Not to be defeated, I was hit with an even better idea...BQAD. By far the defining song and video for me when it comes to Deftones. The video for BQAD is ill and it has this strange, mesmerizing quality to it that always intrigued me--that spinning glass deal. You know the one. I grabbed the sketchbook and penned a quick sketch of him from a still in the video then got to work.
With Saturday Night Wrist in my ears, I decided to keep this one monotone with blues and a little black. So duotone I guess. It was a struggle in it's own to complete and I can honestly say even it's completion, I don't feel it does justice to the musician or video. But I have to share it. I have to let people see the struggle within, perhaps from the struggle I find in myself with his passing. It was good to hear when he was sent home, there were always glimmers of hope, ya know? It just didn't come to be. It could've also been that that particular record is my least favorite of all their music. Probably not a great way to start a painting. That record is great, don't get me wrong, it's just a salty reminder of how fragile even the best relationships are. That record almost broke up the band, ya know? And it shows. It just isn't their best work. However they pulled through and the end result was a great record. And the continuation of one of the greatest bands of my generation. I guess ultimately that's how I feel about this painting. I know it isn't my strongest, I know it was difficult to deal with as far as subject matter, and I know that even though I have felt a void in my painting lately, I can push through and still produce great work that I can stand by.
Thank you if you've made it this far, this has been a long post for sure. It feels good to elaborate on my work and thought process behind the images I share with you all. Behind the work I create. Thank you.
Rock In Paradise Chi, we miss you.
oneloveforchi.com
Stay Creative,
BLUE731.
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