April in Paris Studies

These artworks are studies that were part of my process when I was creating an artwork for a custom commission last year.

For the commission, I was asked to create a painting inspired by the song, April in Paris, by Count Basie. I began by listening to how the music felt for me and noticing what came to mind too. It felt like energy, passion, romance, play, charm, warmth and intimacy with a touch of exciting risk and heart-opening vulnerability. With that in mind, still listening to the music, I picked colours that felt resonant, and played with the paint intuitively to see what shapes, motions, patterns, textures, gestures, edges, and lines came forward.