As far back as I can remember, I’ve been trying to find some kind of connection with art and music. Mother always told me art and music go together, and it’s not unusual for a musician to be an artist or at least have a talent for art. I still do not know if this is true, but in another real sense, over the years, I have come to discover a very powerful connection with art and music. And this concept of art influencing music and vice versa has helped to shape my own development as an artist and composer. Example: contrast, line, shape, texture, story, theme, to name a few, all these words, expressions, descriptions can be applied to both worlds – art and music.

I am basically a self-taught artist. I don’t say this boastingly. It is just that my main focus in life has been teaching music and composing. When I create a piece of music, very often I can hear and perceive color, texture, and line. For instance, melody can be flowing and lyrical, or it can be angular and stark, wide skips, rhythmically strong, accented, etc. And these descriptions can also be applied to a painting!

Strange to say, I was a late talker – three and a half years old. My first word was “damn!” and the next expression a complete sentence, grammatically correct: “Were da ball go?” My mother, a pastor’s wife, flipped out. She looked heavenward and said, “Thank you, Lord, he’s not retarded! WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT WORD? Uncle Roy, COME HERE!”

Where did the ball go? Under the couch. When Mother managed to move the couch to find the ball, she also found a colorful wall mural in the perfect shape of the couch, done in voluptuous oranges, blues, purples, pinks and reds from my dazzling Crayola box of 16 tantalizing crayon colors. I was on my way!

At the tender age of 10, my art won first prize. Our 4th and 5th grade classes had been asked to paint the store windows of merchants in downtown Mena, Arkansas. After watching all the others, inspiration finally dawned upon me, and suddenly a haunted house materialized (what else on Halloween?) in my head and I had my picture! I remember humming some kind of tune in a minor key. Appropriate, eh? Again that Art-Music connection. First prize - $25.00.

Drawing has always been a vital part of my life but, due to the influence of my parents, music took center stage. Both of my parents were incredibly gifted musicians. Somewhere along the way I began consciously to make these Art-Music connections. I remember one day I was hopelessly trying to explain this Art-Music connection to a music colleague of mine – “A picture sings to me!” His reaction – “You’re nuts!” Probably, but it works for me!

Several pieces of Don's artwork are shown below. Click on the image to enlarge.

Please call PARKLANE if you are interested in contacting Don concerning his work.

Glenda Ann

Holbrook