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Press Release – August 2011
British artist Mark Charman has released the first in a unique series of original paintings inspired by classic rock lyrics spanning the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The dramatic mix of music and art will be of great interest to music fans and fine art collectors alike.
The first painting is entitled ‘Joni’s Dream’ and is inspired by the lyrics of Joni Mitchell’s 1969 song ‘Woodstock’. The dramatic painting depicts jet planes turning into butterflies. Below the foliage and flowers of the garden, the stage area and crowds at Woodstock can faintly be seen at ground level, perhaps indicating ‘the nation’ above which this symbolically peaceful event is taking place. This is purely the artist’s visualisation of the powerful lyrics in this classic song.
Recently completed, this painting has taken over 60 hours to finish and is the first in a series of original paintings for which the artist has drawn his inspiration from the lyrics of classic songs, capturing on canvas the personal visions that these lyrics evoke. The collection will grow to include paintings inspired by rock ‘n’ roll, Woodstock era pop, folk, hippy, psychaedelic, classic rock, prog rock and singer songwriters, resulting in a unique and collectable body of original art.
The artist, Mark Charman explains – ‘for over 30 years I have been listening to and expanding my collection of music spanning many genres and eras, mainly the 1950s through to the 1970s. I have always been moved by lyrics, some of the most beautiful, poignant words ever written. Often making strong political comments relating to the era in which they were written, others simply rejoicing in love, peace and human kindness. Some achingly beautiful, others painfully sad, still others simply ‘off this planet’ but all capable of evoking strong emotions. The visions that I see in my mind when I hear these songs have inspired me to create a series of paintings in which I will commit to canvas a lasting visual image inspired by these songs. I hope that my love of these songs and the emotions they evoke will be faithfully portrayed within the images I create.’
Further paintings planned for the collection are entitled ‘Jonathan’, inspired by the lyrics of the 1975 Barclay James Harvest song ‘Jonathan’ from the album ‘Time Honoured Ghosts’. The song itself was inspired by the classic book ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’. ‘Dragonfly’ will be inspired by the lyrics of the 1970 song ‘Dragonfly’ by Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. Also planned are paintings by song lyrics by David Bowie, T-Rex, The Moody Blues, Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen, Jon & Vangelis, Bread, Gram Parsons, Velvet Underground, CSNY and The Byrds, among many others.
The artist is a music fanatic, illustrator and designer who grew up in Lymington, Hampshire and now lives in Cornwall with his fiance. He has been planning this series of paintings for many years and hopes to release around 4 new paintings each year within this collection. His father Rodney Charman is a renowned marine artist whose original oil paintings are widely published and regularly exhibited in New York and other prestigious venues around the world.
Mark’s original paintings are available to purchase and reproduction prints are available to buy. Created in acrylic on 3 foot square canvases, the dramatic paintings have huge impact due to the subject matter and use of intense colours. The paintings are thought provoking and offer a superb talking point, with an interesting story behind each one. This is a unique opportunity to own not only an impressive fine art painting but also a inspired piece of music history.
For more information please visit www.rock-art.co.uk