I get inspired by different things when it comes to my art, but again and again, I find that I’m moved by words and how they relate to images. My husband often tells me I talk in my sleep, discussing word placement or images I want to paint while I’m dreaming, so I think the combination of words and images must rattle around in my head long before they make their way on to a canvas.

A few weeks ago he said I was telling him about the placement of the letter “L” and how I was centering it to represent love. I wasn’t working on this painting then and have no idea what I was thinking about during that dream, but it’s funny to hear him describe the things I say. I sound like a busy girl when I’m sleeping. 🙂

Lately, I’ve been hooked on the song “Bold as Love” by Jimi Hendrix. And I mean, hooked. Like, I’ve been thinking about these lyrics and dreaming of them and singing them (off key and badly, as I do all lyrics) and really driving myself (and probably, my husby) nuts.

But can you blame me?

I’m a word girl at heart, and these are so vivid they would not leave me alone:

Anger, he smiles,
Towering in shiny metallic purple armour
Queen Jealousy, envy waits behind him
Her fiery green gown sneers at the grassy ground

Blue are the life-giving waters taken for granted,
They quietly understand
Once happy turquoise armies lay opposite ready,
But wonder why the fight is on
But they’re all bold as love, yeah, they’re all bold as love
Yeah, they’re all bold as love

I wish I had gotten to see Hendrix perform this one live, but I was too young for that and besides, he didn’t do this one in concert often. There are very few live recordings. Ironically, one of the few is from a concert he did in Milwaukee.

Good stuff, right?

Now, I noticed John Mayer has gotten some flack for his cover of this song (on the]Continuum album), but I do like his version as well. I think he gets the vibe of the song, which is perhaps the most important thing for a poetic rock jam like this one.

When you listen to these versions, can’t you just see the emotion?

My red is so confident that he flashes trophies of war,
And ribbons of euphoria
Orange is young, full of daring,
But very unsteady for the first go round

Especially where he says:

“My yellow in this case is not so mellow
In fact I’m trying to say it’s frightened like me
And all these emotions of mine keep holding me from, eh,
Giving my life to a rainbow like you

That’s the best set of verses, the ones that show you his vulnerability and let you know that he feels what you feel, we are alike in the doubts and fears and desire for love we have.

So as I was listening to this song, singing it at the top of my lungs and getting emotional, I started painting, and pictured what this “Bold as Love” concept would be in my style of art. For me, it’s about lifting up our sisters, offering a safe place where all are welcome. It’s about celebrating our strengths as women and being the true soul sisters we were meant to be.