Alela Diane

Alela Diane
10" x 8"
oil on panel, 2011 

 There are things that I've seen in my head
While I'm sleeping in bed
Do not wither in the morning light
 —Alela Diane

The above quote is the first stanza from Dry Grass and Shadows, the opening track of her CD To Be Still. It's a beautiful quote; introverted, secretive, and full of nostalgia. I couldn't have dreamed up a better opening for my little homage to songwriter Alela Diane. I dare to argue that the first lines in any writing are the most important ones. I always try to come out strong—the first lines have to be catchy, these are the lines that show up when you Google my name, this blog, or any of the musicians that I write about. Sometimes my first lines are better than others times but I am never able to say it poetically like Alela Diane, or any other good songwriter can. The painting I finished today of Alela Diane is like the quote—nostalgic, secretive, and introverted. The secretive part of it concerns its destination: It will travel but where to is a secret, I can only tell you after it has arrived.