Watercolor Challenge: Painting as Inspired by Music

Link to whole feature: medium.com/@watercolorpainting/watercolor-challenge-painting-as-inspired-by-music-cc0317056f6d

Intro
In order to stay inspired, you need to be challenging yourself continually in your art work. This month, we have an awesome watercolor challenge to help you take your skills to another level and inspire your creative juices. As a Professional artist I am constantly tackling challenges painting for many kinds of projects. One of my favorite commissions is painting for musicians. It’s exciting and a wonderful way to collaborate with another creative soul.
Now you can give it a try and learn so much about your art in the process.

Who are we painting for?
Njordlyd
Njordlyd is a creator of experimental, dark, and industrial ambient soundscapes, inviting you into a world where music transcends mere listening. In this sonic realm, each composition is more than a track; it’s a dynamic journey. Like chapters in an ever-growing sonic narrative, every release unfolds a new dimension, inviting you to immerse yourself in the evolving tapestry of Njordlyd’s musical exploration.

Located in Den Haag, The Netherlands, Njordlyd is a music artist who found music as a way to cope with the sadness and stresses in life. He feels that creating music is a therapy for him — a way to clear his mind from life’s constant challenges and noises.

Many of us use our art to clear our minds and find that part of ourselves that may at times have been lost to the busy struggles that happen in life. We are all here for our own reasons but share in the common harmony that making art enhances our lives and provides a sense of purpose and comfort.

TimelineYou have until March 16th to post your art on the group page with the tag #jaxartchallenge. Be sure to mention that the art you are posting is for the Njordlyd ‘Influx’ Challenge. The group will be voting for the top art pieces, and Njordlyd himself will then be selecting the final winner. 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/watercolorpaintingbeginners
You can also join Njordlyd’s Facebook page and tag him in your progress posts so he can join in on the fun and follow your progress. https://www.facebook.com/njordlyd
The Challenge
This art challenge is about painting as inspired by music. We will be listening to Njordlyd’s new soundscape ‘Influx’ and painting what comes to mind. This is an exercise in finding your own visual experience from something you hear in this music. The goal is for you to bring to life your vision of what you hear. Use your sketchbook to develop multiple ideas and think about color palettes, textures and subject. You can be literal or abstract. Anything that you are inspired to create counts and we want to see it all even if you think it’s terrible. lol

Get Started..1.
Listen to The Track: InfluxThe term “influx” signifies a significant arrival or the introduction of a large number of elements, whether it’s people or things. In this track, the listeners are introduced to a multitude of diverse elements — an extensive array of sounds, samples, and field recordings that flow throughout the album.

Track description:
The track commences with the sensation of a “hot summer afternoon.” It’s a time when the heat is so intense that any activity feels challenging, yet an undercurrent of tension and restlessness persists in the background. Disruptive, non-soothing sounds interrupts the moment, amplifying the sense of unease and the need to move forward, even against conflicting circumstances.

The Album:
“The absence of noise”“The Absence of Noise” is my second album as Njordlyd. The title of the album does not refer to the absence of noises in my music, as noises serve as a fundamental element in my compositions. Instead, it reflects how I use music creation as an escape from the “noises” in life — the constant disturbances, endless responsibilities, and countless issues demanding attention. This album is a departure from these everyday distractions, a chance to be alone, unrestricted and free from constraints. When I create music, I experience a sense of freedom and solitude. It is a temporary mindset that provides me with a sense of control, even though I usually have a clear purpose in mind when creating music. Although I drift away from the “noises,” I remain in command, orchestrating the musical journey.
The music on this album takes the listener on a voyage through a somewhat darker and more cosmic landscape compared to my last work. It’s entirely sample-based, featuring an array of field recordings, metro sounds, barking dogs, distorted noises, instruments, and reimagined musical fragments. My passion for manipulating samples and reshaping audio content has only grown since the completion of my previous album, “Getting Closer,” and the EP, “Correlations.”
If you listen closely, you will uncover subtle, uncharted layers of samples that transform ordinary soundscapes into something entirely new or different. These nuances are nestled within the spaces between the samples, waiting to be discovered.

Get Inspired and Share Your Progress
I hope everyone gives this challenge at least one attempt, if not several, over the next month and finds inspiration in this project. Share your work even as it is in progress with our group, so you can get feedback and support from the other artists.

I will be working through my process in painting the challenge on YouTube over several videos, in hopes of inspiring you as well to try different techniques and expand your range of skills.
https://www.youtube.com/@JacquelineJax

​We are really looking forward to this challenge, and we can’t wait to see what you paint. Remember to let the music guide your brush and let your imagination run wild. Happy painting!