My Music Mandala Paintings

1. Weezer’s Pinkerton

Pinkerton means a lot to me in an emotional level. Even though I’m the type of person who enjoys (LOVES) ‘Raditude’ (the latest ‘clean’ WeezerPop album) and can find beauty in some ‘Make Believe’ (that album with ‘Beverly Hills’ in it) songs, the ‘rough’ Pinkerton is still the best for me. Rivers in his songwriting prime. Loooove the album, was perfect to start this project :)

“When I look in the mirror, I can’t believe what I see
Tell me, who’s that funky dude, staring back at me?” – Weezer ‘s The Good life

(oil on 50cm round canvas)

see the true face of this painting

2. Neutral Milk Hotel’s In The Aeroplane Over the Sea

Out of all 18 paintings I did in this set, this is my favorite painting I’m not quite sure why. I better listen to this amazing album more.

“Can’t believe how strange it is to be anything at all” – Neutral Milk Hotel’s In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

(oil on 50cm round canvas)

what I feel when I see this painting

3. Bright Eyes’ Fevers & Mirrors

Fevers and mirrors is deep. More than just a document of Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst in his sadder days. BTW, as my favorite band, Bright Eyes gets 3 paintings, one in every size. (while the likes of Dylan, floyd and Radiohead each gets only 1 lol :P)

“So close to dying that I finally can start living” – Bright Eyes’ An Attempt To Tip The Scales

(oil on 50cm round canvas)

see reflection

4. Pink Floyd’s The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

SYD

“The black and green scarecrow as everyone knows
Stood with a bird on his hat and straw everywhere.
He didn’t care.
He stood in a field where barley grows.
His head did no thinking
His arms didn’t move except then the wind cut up
Rough and mice ran around on the ground
He stood in a field where barley grows.
The black and green scarecrow is sadder than me
But now he’s resigned to his fate
‘Cause life’s not unkind - he doesn’t mind.
He stood in a field where barley grows.” – Pink Floyd’s Scarecrow

(oil on 50cm round canvas)

see

5. The Flaming Lips’ Embryonic

A very experimental and top notch album by the Lips. Everyone should really get into it. One of the highlights of 2009 for sure. An interesting one to paint.

“See the leaves
They’re dying again” - The Flaming Lips’ See the leaves

(oil on 50cm round canvas)

see what’s happening

6. Of Montreal’s Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

I really like the Mandalas on the packaging of this album. True that they were what encouraged me to paint this album. “Hmm fab mandalas on the cover, will this album contain the perfect expressions and sounds for me to paint?” I thought. I was right! xD

“We just want to emote ‘til we’re dead” – Of Montreal’s Suffer For Fashion

(oil on 50cm round canvas)

see its real shape

7. Bright Eyes’ I’m wide awake it’s morning

First day of my life was the first Bright Eyes song I’ve heard (or realized I’ve heard) back in 2005 (yes quite new in the Conor game for a big fan haha), which made this album matter. ‘I’m wide awake it’s morning’ has this calm grandeur about it, and some kind of bright melancholy. I tried painting ‘Digital Ash in a digital urn’ (a darker and more electronic Bright Eyes album released in the same year) first and I failed. I guess the beautiful folkiness in this album is what REALLY made me fall in love with Bright Eyes in the first place : ) I hope my love is there in the painting.

(oil on 80cm round canvas)

8. Beck’s Odelay   

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(oil & ‘Scrapbooking papers’ on 80cm round canvas)

9. Modest Mouse’s The Moon & Antarctica

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(oil on 80cm round canvas)