Stop Making Sense

11″ x 14″ Acrylic on canvas

Stop Making Sense is my favorite Talking Heads album. I don’t say that lightly. I’m not one to ever pick my favorite anything when it comes to music, it’s usually impossible to do.

But this one made a big impact on me in 1984. I don’t think any of my friends liked the Talking Heads, but I didn’t care. I was immediately drawn to David Byrne, his style, his look, his genius. I was about 13 and in that transitional place in life, trying to figure out who I wanted to be. It turns out, I wanted to be as different from everyone else as possible!

Back to 2019. Things haven’t changed that much, I still love this album, not to mention the movie, and I finally fulfilled my life long dream to see David Byrne in person last year, he is still amazing!

He is also still a strong influence on me and my art, and whenever I need an attitude adjustment, I play my favorite song “This Must be the Place” it helps every time!

Anyway, back to the painting. I recently had a mini creative crisis where I couldn’t finish a painting. It was frustrating to say the least. I realize that I was over thinking what I “should” be painting. Of course I want to paint things that sell, and that is not always abstract art, in fact most of my sales have been my more figurative paintings.

I finally had to take a break from the studio for a few days. I asked myself why do I paint? The answer is simple, I NEED to paint every day. It’s like a force I don’t control, it must be released or I don’t know what will happen. When I tried to control the subject, trying to force an actual object on my canvas, just wasn’t working.

So, I let go. I stopped trying to make sense. And, I’m back!

16 replies to “Stop Making Sense”

  2. “It’s like a force I don’t control, it must be released or I don’t know what will happen.” Actually, you know what will happen….nothing will happen and for you, that is unacceptable! Keep surfin’ the wave Tiff….and when it’s a flat day….just paddle

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  4. It’s not quite the “Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was!” The title is fitting. We saw “Stop Making Sense” first run in an art theater named Don Pancho’s. Don Pancho’s closed down many years ago.

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      1. I don’t know how long it ran in theaters. You probably would have had to make an effort to find it in a theater when it came out in 1984.

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