I can see the whole room…and there’s nobody there

so goes the title of one of Roy Lichtenstein’s better pictures (and one of his more amusing titles).  And one of my favourite quotes comes from John Cage:

“When you start working, everybody is in your studio- the past, your friends, enemies, the art world, and above all, your own ideas- all are there. But as you continue painting, they start leaving, one by one, and you are left completely alone. Then, if you are lucky, even you leave.”

Of course you rarely get those times, and even when they do turn up, it’s often for only a few seconds.  I find music helps…not vocals though…but either classical (occasionally for me) or jazz (much more my thing).  Today, courtesy of Miles Davis’s ensemble for the ‘In A Silent Way’ sessions, I got a few moments – not enough to finish the painting above but a few precious moments where it just started to sort itself out.  Just need a couple more occasions when we all steal away and it’ll be peachy!