Monthly Archives: July 2015

Sensitive Souls in a Brutal World

Posted on July 27, 2015 by tropicaltheartist

The song that most accurately portrays what it must be like to be a highly sensitive soul, trying to survive in a brutal, uncaring world, for me, is Don McLean’s brilliant “Vincent”.  I commend the lyrics and music to you, … Continue reading →

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Playing the Right Note

Posted on July 26, 2015 by tropicaltheartist

Here is some wisdom, which sounds Zen, perhaps a touch impractical, airy and even blindingly obvious, but which is very important, for any musician, to learn, internalise and follow. The business of playing music, especially improvised music, is all about … Continue reading →

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The Obedient Artist

Posted on July 24, 2015 by tropicaltheartist

This manifesto was inspired by a photograph of some graffiti, which I saw recently, on Facebook: I will make only the art that I think will please other people. I will change my art for anybody that demands that I … Continue reading →

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Artists of Last Resort

Posted on July 19, 2015 by tropicaltheartist

Marvellous, isn’t it?  Artists spend much of their time having to justify their work as “real work” and must be prepared to defend their prices against anybody with a so-called “real job”, at a moment’s notice.  The very rich and … Continue reading →

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Articulation

Posted on July 19, 2015 by tropicaltheartist

When it comes down to it, what a lot of artists spend most of their time doing is in trying to become more articulate.  What I mean by that is they hone their craft skills and their manual dexterity, so … Continue reading →

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12 Bad Reponses to Artistic Rejection

Posted on July 12, 2015 by tropicaltheartist

Rejection sucks.  It hurts.  It really hurts a lot.  When you take the risk of presenting something you made, which you took pride in and which is an expression of your best efforts and the best thing you were capable … Continue reading →

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The Lords of Unix

Posted on July 7, 2015 by tropicaltheartist

When I was a child, there were two very clever girls in my class.  I liked them a lot, because they were not only outstandingly clever, but very sweet, as well.  It was a joy to be in their company … Continue reading →

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What Humans Aren’t

Posted on July 5, 2015 by tropicaltheartist

I’ve been a human being for over a half a century now and in that time, you learn some fundamental things.  One of the things I have learnt, for which I can find no compelling counter arguments, is something that … Continue reading →

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Fear of the Unconventional

Posted on July 5, 2015 by tropicaltheartist

There is a significant population of people that are alarmed, scandalised, affronted and viscerally offended by pictures painted in bright colours, whether representational or abstract, or somewhere in between.  I have the anecdotal evidence.  They can’t stand them, but more … Continue reading →

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