The environment we live in inspires and influences our creative process. Art and music have always been the most direct and intuitive forms of communication, and one cannot exist without the other. Art, similar to music, is interwoven into our culture, identity, and everyday lives. The way we understand music in popular culture is through a visual artistic lens. Other factors such as colors, brightness, smell, and sound trigger varying emotions and feelings within us, and these in turn affect our creative process. Evidence suggests that when a particular type of music and painting take place in the same environment, the result of the painting will be distinct.
Musicians work closely with visual artists and see their creativity as an extension of their work. Many successful musicians speak about the similarities between music and painting. Music is an art which permeates every society. There is always an instant connection. According to one musician, be it music styles or genres such as country, opera, or rap, or renaissance paintings, installations, and abstract work, there is respect for what the other artist is trying to communicate. There is much to gain from learning, understanding, and accepting differences across art forms.
For example, if you play a certain piece of music, listen to what the music is telling you. Then notice your response to the painting and your color choices. If the music has a slow beat, then your brush strokes will be slower and vice versa. It is beautiful how the music will orchestrate the brushwork. You can thus interpret music through your art.
Through the years, many artists, psychologists, and musicologists have studied and agreed on the relationship between music and art. There are several artists who became so fascinated by this link that they used musical terms to name their paintings.
People interpret paintings in different ways based on their feelings, emotions, and mood. A painting is not only an external portrayal of colors but one that carries deep meaning and emotion that needs to be understood. By examining the painting carefully, you can understand its theme, mood, and emotion. We are able to get a glimpse of the environment in which the painting was created, the artist’s mood, and his or her emotions at the time.
Light music will affect the painting process in a different way than fast or dark music, as explained previously. Lighter music will be helpful in creating landscapes, resulting in paintings that are more realistic. Artists will agree that realistic paintings can come to life when they are relaxed and calm. A bright room will also have an impact on the colors chosen, as your subconscious mind will lean toward lighter shades. Experts advise playing upbeat, positive music if a more cheerful, bright painting is required. Abstract paintings with many colors are often a result of fast music. With experience, you will begin to understand the emotions of the painter simply by observing the painting closely.
The relationship between music and art in general has been endorsed over and over again. Music on its own is a form of art, and this wonderful influence on each other has been the result of a spark created throughout history — one that cannot be separated from the other.
