I recently watched a documentary by Edgar Wright on Netflix: The Sparks Brothers. 

It’s described as: “A musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with Ron and Russell Mael celebrating the inspiring legacy of Sparks.” I have become a fangirl – for the first time in my life I’m smitten with a musical group. They’ve got 25 albums under their belt of which, I’ve heard nothing of until now. I texted my youngest daughter, “I’m sad because I feel like I’m the last to arrive to the party” to which she replied, “It’s cool to be fashionably late.” (Love her!)

I can’t explain or do their body of work justice – words are escaping me. 

When I listened to the music I vaguely had this feeling like I’ve heard some of it before but when I started listening to the lyrics or watching their videos – it triggered just…. joy. The combination of their intelligence, artistry and sense of humor have me in their thrall. 

But, more than that – on a personal note, I think their authenticity and tenacity over a 50-year career is amazing and laudable. They have both stuck to their artistic principles AND reinvented themselves – multiple times. 

Through this documentary you can see the journey they have undertaken; for me – it’s aspirational.

I have frequently thought of putting aside the sparrow theme I have going on… to paint seascapes or scenes that would appeal to a broader audience. I want/need this art thing to take off so I can support myself in my old age… and so making pieces that would be more commercially profitable seems to be the logical choice. 

Recently, I was speaking with the manager of a small shop that will cater to convention goers – he didn’t think my paintings would be a good fit for the shop because they weren’t Virginia Beach centric.  Perhaps they could sell my cards… LOL Perhaps.

There are already artists that do that very thing.  People say that when you create something – even if it’s the same fruit bowl still life that we’ve all seen 100 times – you give it your own sensibility or flair.  Sure, I could add my voice to the chorus, but I’d much rather hum my own tune.

I think my experience in participating in a local “forgeries” show helped cement this idea for me.  Copying a work from another painter it’s… weird to me.  They say that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” – maybe that’s true – you’re saying, “I have paid so close attention to you – I want to emulate you.”

In doing so, we detract from the self.

Like many of the pieces I create, this one has a bit of a joke woven into it- The background is a photo from the Sparks’ album Kimono My House.

“The Kimono My House album cover, featuring two slightly askew kimono-clad geishas with absolutely no mention of the band at all, has been voted among the best album covers of all time in almost every poll taken. Beck named it again in the November 2001 issue of Vanity Fair.” Source

This is a blip in time – a glimpse into the creativity and authenticity they bring to their work.  So, I copied it (LOL) – and put “myself” (the sparrow) into the mix – trying to fit in with the cool crowd. My “Kimono My House” piece is both a note on aspiring to be authentic as much as it is an homage to the amazing work of two people I greatly admire.