You all know I love creating artwork from the concerts I cover, but sometimes in order to be published or to gain access to some venues and/or shows, you have to show more of your traditional work or be affiliated with a publication. I have only recently come to terms with this notion, but that is a story for another day.
I have been posting some of more traditional work, in black and white, through a separate Instagram profile I've branded as Echo by Cathy Foreman. The interesting thing with this page is like my artwork, I've incorporated texture ... but unlike my artwork, it's much lighter. With this lighter version of my work, much to my delight, it has been compared to cover art from the earlier days of the Blue Note. The first time I heard this, my heart literally skipped a beat. I mean what an amazing period in time and to have this moment in time come to mind when viewing my work is truly humbling.
Recently I was chatting with an artist about a potential collaboration. For almost an hour we chatted and he, like others, referenced the Blue Note. For him, he said, "it's something about the grit and the way you shoot that keeps taking me there". I get it. Admittedly, I didn't at first. I thought it was someone being nice, so I just shook my head and said thank you. Then I heard it again and again, to the point that I had give it some serious thought. It made me do some research. As I looked at the covert art of Coltrane, John Patton, Art Blakey and Stanley Turrentine, I started to see and understand the reference.
I love it and my soul is full. I hope I continue to provide the quality of work that reminds viewers of my work of a period of great music.