Page 68 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2019

on found wood, of bluesmen like Muddy Waters, Elmore
James and Robert Johnson. I eventually started selling my
work from a blues bar in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and since then
have also done festival poster artwork and t-shirt art for over
60 festivals.
I am a self-taught artist and always experimenting with
different styles, including techniques from the Impressionists
and Expressionists, but my art almost always relates to the
music and blues culture that I love. It will always have a
primitive feel to it, and I try to give it movement and life.
In 2005, I opened The Hambone Gallery in Clarksdale,
MS, home of the blues, in a building that I also live in. It’s
a venue that welcomes art lovers, artists, musicians and
storytellers from around the globe, and has become a must-
stop when visiting Clarksdale. I am proud to say that we
have live music in Clarksdale seven days a week, 365
days a year, and Tuesday night is my night at the Hambone
Gallery.
Music and art are similar in that they both elicit emotions
– whether light or dark, there is a process involved in the
creation of a song or a painting. I always have music on
when I paint, the music depends on the mood. People have Dawn Taylor Watson by watercolor portraitist William Wise. Ÿ Williamwiseart
said that they could hear the music in my art. Pretty cool. For example, I took a photo of Dawn Tyler Watson
looking at the crowd and holding up her hand, and asked
Stan Street – artist, musician and owner of The Hambone myself, “What story is there?” Is the captured moment telling
Gallery in Clarksdale, MS – has been called an ambassador us she’s happy to be here, she’s happy the audience is
of the blues. He has played across the U.S., Canada and there or is it an expressive part of the song? My hope is
Europe, and his artwork is known and valued throughout the that people who view my paintings pause and imagine the
global blues community. In creating both blues music and moment for themselves.
art, he readily acknowledges that one art form supports the Sketching and painting people in the crowd is just as
other, leaving open the question, “Does the music support fun and challenging as the performers. Audience members
the art or does the art support the music?” To the fans of express their sheer enjoyment of the music through their
Stan Street, that question will hopefully never be answered! smiles, dancing and overall appreciation of the music –
For more, visit stanstreet.com becoming just as intriguing to capture.
I take and use photographs for reference when painting.
William Wise The ability to combine multiple photographic images is part
Painting for me, as a portraitist, is all about telling a of my process in creating an interesting painting. I can move
story and relaying feelings and emotions. My watercolors the microphone or raise an arm; I can interchange a guitar
of blues musicians challenge me to capture a moment when or change colors. This manipulation helps create a lively
the musician is at one with the performance. Whether the and compelling painting of the musician.
moment is during a riff, singing a lyric or interacting with the I like to listen to the particular genre of music while
audience, I find their expressions captivating and want to I am painting to help me reconnect with it. The type of
translate that onto paper. music directs how I produce my art. Blues can be upbeat
Live music provides me opportunities to capture and fast, or slow and mellow; the same is true for classical
and convey performers’ oneness with music. Sketching and folk music. The tempo and sound have an effect
during live performances is fun for me. I engage most of on my brush strokes and the colors I use. High energy,
my senses. The music guides my hand to gesturally draw fast tempo music generally results in bright colors and
what I see and feel, and a simple sketch is helpful if I bold brushstrokes, compared to softer colors and gentler
choose to develop a painting or just recall that moment. brushstrokes with slower music.
Whether my art is a small gestural sketch or a more Every performer and audience member tells a story
formal studio painting, my goal is to produce art that through their actions and expressions. Music brings all of us
tells a story. pleasure and, in the end, I aim for my art to evoke a sense

66 Blues Festival Guide 2019