Watch this video on YouTube What’s the Point of Creating When No One Cares? by Damian Osborne Last night I had a dream where I heard this beautiful viola and piano sonata being played. It was in C or Am. I don’t know if I was playing, or if it was two other musicians, but the music was my own, and people were listening and enjoying it. I woke up with the deep nasal tone of the open C string of the viola still in my ears. Then I started wondering if I even wanted to start…
The Painter's Sanctum
Fantasia No.6 in G minor (The Cockatrice)
Watch this video on YouTube Fantasia No.6 in G minor (The Cockatrice) by Damian Osborne The idea of painting The Cockatrice came to mind when I saw a large rooster walking with a snake in its mouth outside our house, and it made me think of the alchemical symbolism of this image. This mixed-media painting, ‘The Cockatrice’ was inspired by a friend’s art exhibition to celebrate International Respect for Chickens Day on the 4th of May. What is the Cockatrice? The Cockatrice is a medieval mythical beast composed of a serpent or dragon’s body and a cock’s head, or…
Rebirth: Starting Over as an Artist — Part 1
Watch this video on YouTube Rebirth: Starting Over as an Artist — Part 1 — Preparation and the Hidden Light in All of Nature by Damian Osborne ‘Rebirth’ is a painting inspired by my starting over as an artist and my compulsion to redefine my identity, direction and aesthetic. As I near my mid-forties, I am re-evaluating my goals and my voice as as an artist. What legacy would I like to leave behind? My personal reasons for starting over as an artist I had taken a prolonged hiatus from focused and steady work in the…
Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2 in G
Watch this video on YouTube Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2 in G by Damian Osborne This is my second violin and piano sonata. It is an original violin and piano composition inspired by my brooding midlife crisis vs my youthful exuberance. 🤣 I play violin and love composing for this instrument, so hopefully I’ll do a real recording at some point. I’m not very good at piano (only played in primary school), so please feel free to crit. This is mock up with Modartt Piano and Joshua Bell Violin vsts. The JBV is a bit maverick, despite the expression…
A Little Nocturne Oil Painting
Click to view the painting. A Little Nocturne Oil Painting by Damian Osborne Light the scented candles, put on that old Chopin CD and pour another glass of red. I’m in the mood for a little nocturne oil painting. This scene made a very strong impression on me as I regarded the crescent moon hanging like a shining eyelash between the mountain buttresses one evening. It’s a little corner of wildness, this exposed section of the peninsula at the end of the mountain range, with incessant gale-force winds from the sea, slamming against the rock faces and my back.…
Alchemical Dreams and Art
Alchemical Dreams and Art (Silver Monkey in a Golden Cage) by Damian Osborne For me, ‘alchemical dreams’ and art have always had a strong link. Sometimes I have dreams that feel heavily imbued with meaning. I think of these dreams as being particularly important and record them as soon as possible — before they are forgotten. I call them ‘alchemical dreams.’ As an artist, these dreams are filled with incredibly rich symbolism which inspires my art. How alchemical dreams inspire my art I’ve been recording my dreams for a while. This helps me to really pay attention to…
The Siren Paintings
The Siren Paintings by Damian Osborne “You will come to the Siren (paintings) first of all; they bewitch any mortal who approaches them.” —Homer, The Odyssey Click on an image to view. To view all figure painting archives, go to Figure Paintings. Sirens You see, they sang to me in my own voice,how was I to know?They wove the gauze of waking sleeparound my heart, I learnt to love the flightlessyearning in their voices, carried on the windfrom the island where they starve,for company, their wingfeathers lost to the Muses in a singing contest,plucked and planted…