Monday, September 28, 2009

Mixed Media Monday - Meaningful Music

Yvonne is our new guest host over at Mixed Media Monday this week. She has issued us with a very interesting challenge - to take a piece of music that has meaning for us, and make a piece of art around that. I found this challenge particularly hard, because I love all sorts of music from classic to pop, from opera to country and everything in between. There were just too many possibilities! Then the words of the song sung by Lee Ann Womack, I Hope You Dance, popped into my head. I think the lyrics are very meaningful, so I went with that. The piece is done on a canvas board 12.7 x 17.8 cm, or 5 x 7 inches. I used lots of computer generated collage elements, along with some vintage papers, including the sheet music. The piece is coloured with water soluble oil pastels (without water). The lyrics of the song, for anyone who isn't familar with it are:

I Hope You Dance lyrics


I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

26 comments:

indybev said...

You've chosen some current, beautiful and meaningful lyrics, Diane. Well done!

Unknown said...

wonderful song Diane!!! beautiful piece....

Amy said...

Love that song..love your art piece..it's so pretty and wonderful!! Love it

peggy gatto said...

thank you for the art AND the lyrics, both something to remember!!!

Betty said...

Beautiful creation!! I love that song too.

Cheryl said...

Ahhhhhhhhh thats so sweet-- very nicely done!

Rika said...

This is great!

LivArtNow said...

What a gorgeous illustration to some wonderful lyrics!! The words are important to remember!!

Love the colours and image of your wonderful collage!!

Linda

Femmy said...

beautiful !!! fantastic background!

Yvonne said...

Diane, beautiful romantic art work with a song with beautiful lyrics.

WrightStuff said...

That's a really wonderful piece. Your art brings to life the lyrics perfectly.

Moni said...

Fantastischer HG und ein tolles Werk!

Rosie said...

Beautiful Diane!! Love those lyrics and have just asked DD if she can find the song on LimeWire to download for me - I'd really like to hear it now...
Thanks for sharing! xxx

And for the lovely comment you left on my blog! ;o)

DMG said...

What an inspirational piece for oneof my favorite songs!

Yvonne said...

Wonderful song and card!

Anonymous said...

Diane this is truly gorgous work my friend. It is always a complete pleasure to come and see your gorgeous art
hugs june xx

Anonymous said...

Beautiful piece and music!

My Creative House said...

Wonderful song and a wonderful piece of art work, love all the details there are hidden in the background and the colors is so beautiful.

Kristin said...

Hi Diane! Thank you for your sweet comments! This is beautiful work -- your images are so varied and complex -- there is so much to explore in this one piece. Kristin :)

Anonymous said...

It is a beautiful song, and a your piece is a wonderful representation of it. The colors are lovely.

donna said...

Beautiful piece and song. Thank you for the lyrics. I don't know that song.

Dorthe said...

So beautifull Diane, so much to see in tha background too,
and the song text so right.
Hugs, Dorthe

nancy said...

Beautiful! And this is one of my favorite songs.

*jean* said...

your song choice and art work are fantastic!! love your little dancer among the soft, pretty background! beautiful!

lee said...

I really like yours, and I love that song.

~*~Patty S said...

Oooo Diane, this one always chokes me up. Our youngest son's 6th grade teacher played this for the kids on the last day of school and all of the kids (even the boys!) were really touched. Because collage inspired by a great and meaningful song. The layers in your background are WOW!!!
I am so late playing along this week, but did not want to miss another great challenge :)