Day 2 – “The Messenger” Speed Painting
Day 2, let’s go …
We knew that these videos would probably introduce us to some new artists. Musicians, of course. But how nice to find some new visual artist we’ve never seen before! There is something so fascinating about watching incredibly skilled artists do their thing.
”The Messenger” by Akiane
Here’s the link to what we are watching today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj9FUAiXUug
As promised at the end of today’s video, we will show you some of the paintings we created a few months ago. We initially planned on painting 13 pictures, one to go along with each of the songs on our new album “WHY?”. We dedicated an entire weekend to the project and turned the whole living room into a mess, only to not really be satisfied with any of the finished pieces. At least not satisfied enough to think about turning them into art prints and selling them.
But we guess we can share them here with you now, in the MLT Club. IF you promise to share some of your own artwork in the comments too 🙂 We know there’s some artists amongst you!
We’re looking forward to seeing your own creations, or pieces that you really enjoy, in the comments below.
And of course, keep submitting awesome videos for us to watch …
We’ll see you all tomorrow,
Mona & Lisa
Long ago I bought a very funny coffee table book that included a fake advertisement for a series of instructional books called “How to Draw”. The list of titles included “How to Draw Blood”, “How to Draw a Crowd”, “How to Draw Conclusions”, “How to Draw a Blank”, “How to Draw Straws”, “How to Draw Abreast (adults only)”, and many others, ending of course with “How to Draw Out a Joke”.
I’m certainly no artist although I used to sketch when I was young, but those are lost to the ages. My youngest daughter Katie is the artist in the family and I will share the fanart she did of Mona and Lisa back several years ago. It was used for the background picture on the Intergalactic Fan Club Facebook page for quite a while before the ORANGE album cover replaced it. It was based on a photo that was posted on the MLT Facebook page but it was a free hand digital drawing she did on some kind of computer sketching pad that allowed here to move the separate pictures of Mona and Lisa around. I was dazzled by her ability to do all the shading to make it so lifelike. We used the images to make some MLT magnets for our refrigerator…..lol Hope you enjoy.
WOW Akiane is an amazing artist!! To actually tell a story on the same canvas is a talent few dare attempt. That was a super cool video. I would like to have the picture when the owl was on there though…lol
Watching that artwork being drawn reminded me of a little of Roger Dean’s album covers for Yes.
Thanks everyone for sharing the works of art that you made or admire! So inspiring!
Time lapse painting is kool. When the artist erased the owl after putting so much time and detail into it, we all heard the song “Why?” ring out in our heads. So much time and so much detail gone in a few swipes.
I wonder how many guitar solos have been replaced in a similar manner. Imagine watching Lisa pull off an incredible solo and she looks up and says,” I wasn’t feeling that. Let’s do it again?”
JP
I was thinking the same thing! How many awesome versions of songs have Mona and Lisa erased? Maybe down the road we’ll have an Anthology record.
You should put stockings hanging on the mantle. Just a thought.
Love your Summer Rain artwork. It’s a little like I pictured the song in my head.
Amazing work by Akiane. I was checking out that bird – then she erased it!!! I couldn’t believe it. A wonderful painting when she was done.
Watching your reactions is priceless. Thanks for sharing.
For those of you who are new to this yearly celebration. Welcome. You are in for a real treat. You will never find a more accessible couple of musicians with great talent and big hearts.
Thank you, ladies.
Jim
Very interesting and entertaining piece Tomas. She paints beautifully! When she erased the owl my thoughts matched the Twins comment – I couldn’t believe she erased the owl.
The Twins commented that we have some good artists in the club, and I agree. But nature needs balance and I am it when it comes to art – I have zero drawing talent. When we played Pictionary, my poor partner had to wonder if it was a horse or dog or ??? Needless to say, I don’t like the game.
I like the “Jump Ship” and “Summer Rain” paintings.
Hello Ladies,
I have 5 pictures to share with you.
The little dog I painted several years ago. I printed a picture online then used paint to recreate the dog. (Mascot for university of Tennessee smokey)
#2 is a picture of Mona from an Online post you all did. It was superimposed with Lisa’s thumb in Monas mouth.
#3 and 4 are paintings I did. Front and back of a snowman and scarecrow. I used an old pallet in which to paint on.
#5 is a Senior picture of Maria I did when she graduated High School.
Thank you for sharing today’s amazing painting with story. Wow! What detail.
Thanks Ladies
Rick.
I’m not much of an artist, but I do love nature photography. I donate a portion of the proceeds from every photo that I sell to Pediatric Cancer Research. This has always been one of my favorites. Just a pebble tossed in a stream, but the angle of the sun made it look black.
Listening to my MonaLisa Twins mix on my ride home from the NY city tonight. Always makes me smile!
That’s a great shot indeed! 🙂 Photography is an art in itself and can be as inspiring as a painting or a piece of music for me!
Hope you had a good ride home!
Thanks, Mona! I love to disappear with my camera from time to time and shoot what inspires me. I need to spend more time doing that and less time on the train.
Listening to you and Lisa always makes a two hour commute fly by!
Linda encuentra Tomas!
Loved the video. Very interesting. I can’t draw or paint. She is very good. I really like a lot of your art work. You are so talented.
It was such a beautiful painting in each version. When she erased the several messengers, it reminded me of Buddhist mandalas, because they always destroy them after they’re complete to show the impermanence of life.
I loved your reactions each time the artist wiped out her canvas. I can attest to dreaming her art. I used to write short stories, and I had to keep a journal by bed because I would wake up at all hours of the night with the story or the idea for it in my head. Look forward to tomorrow’s video. Peace be.
WOW! Akiane is amazing! It was a bit disturbing when she wiped away that owl though! Then the Moose! Hope the keyboard survived the spill Lisa! Whoops!
Hi. I love your artwork!! Summer Rain looks groovy, in particular.
That lady is amazing!!
Amazing artist, thanks for sharing. I love to be creative but do not have no where near the talent as yourselves or others but I think as long as you try it’s great for your happiness and well being.
Seasons Greetings: It’s the best time of year full of cheer and some beer.
To me, the MLT advent calendar routine is the best-ever get together. It’s fun. Three cheers for the Titans Grinch song submitted, and the down home digital paintings.
Happy first week of Advent to neighbors, friends, and the super MLT musical group.
Cheers,
Mike
Nice candles Mike, brings on the festive feelings.
Thanks, Jung. You’re right; something about real advent wreaths is mood-changing. This, even though it’s a relatively recent phenomenon, perhaps late 1700s timeframe if memory serves when they first appeared out of nowhere.
I also noticed that the ordering of lighting the candles is super interesting if you go with the rose colored candle (also known as the shepherd’s candle) that if used, universally lights on the start of the 3rd week.
It’s just the neatest thing to have the real deal. It follows the calendar.
As you know, with 4 each candles around the wreath itself and the Christ candle in the middle, that makes it 5 total candles. What I didn’t know until looking into it was it’s not a strict requirement to run the Christ candle, and there are some interesting variations of wreaths outside central Europe.
Advent wreaths are just “The bee’s knees” as producer George Martin liked to say.
If you then follow that order of lighting, you can never light the 2 purple candles that are situated next to the rose-colored Shepherd’s candle first and maintain the 3rd week in the right order. The attached animation is therefore out of order because it lights the purple candle next to the Shepherd’s candle! LOL. You always have to light the 1st advent candle opposite the Shepherd’s candle because if you don’t, it messes up the Shepherd’s candle on the 3rd week whether you’re going clockwise or counterclockwise to light the first candle.
You have instinctively know to light the purple 1st week candle opposite the Shepherd’s candle, or it will throw the wreath out of sequence and lose its symmetry. It reminds me of knowing your times tables. You have to internalize the table in order to begin to use it, and really like telling people about it.
KNOW WHICH 1st WEEK WREATH CANDLE! LOL!!
This is fun and it’s sure great to see you. You can tell I really like the MonaLisa Twins Club and since Mona already replied to me earlier, and now yourself, that’s special enough and I’ve already committed to renewing with MLT Club for next year.
What an intriguing video! I was spellbound watching the painting unfold. Mona and Lisa, I love your paintings too! Especially the ones for Jump Ship. Your creativity and attention to detail shows in everything you do – even in arranging your set for this Advent calendar!
I am always amazed when I see someone that talented. That was fun to watch.
I like Destination Sunrise and the first Jump Ship drawings. I hope they come available.
I wish I could say I identify with this but I can’t even draw stick figures correctly. If I drew or painted something and sent it to you, it would break your server again. And Papa Rudi would get mad.
Well said and ditto!
She is a very talented Artist.
Wish I had that talent.
My daughter is the Artist in our family.
Amazing God-given talent! You two shouldn’t be so hard on yourselves; you’re wonderful artists in your own right! Me….not so much. I used to draw quite a lot as a kid, but never anything approaching your level. It was just for fun, and my folks considered my masterpieces Louvre-worthy! Or at least fridge-worthy. I ❤️ your “Why?” artworks! 👩🎤🎈🎸💕🤘
I guess not being an artist myself makes me love and appreciate the work of others so much more. I greatly enjoyed watching this video by Akiane. Thanks to Tomas for sharing!
Girls, your “song artworks” display your obvious talent in painting and brilliantly convey the message within your songs. I adore them. If I had them, I would display the pair of Jump Ship paintings one above the other within the same frame.
Because great art is a product of the artist’s emotional depth and creative genius, it’s no wonder that you both possess tremendous talent in art forms of several kinds, including; music, poetry, painting/drawing, photography, videography and design to mention a few.
I love your minds!
Thanks for a fantastic Day 2!
Wow that was amazing. I was not expecting that.
My response went into the dark zone as well. Such is life. The Messenger was fabulous just the same.
Oh forgot to add that my nick name is Buff so you may wonder who is Buff? Great story for another time….LOL….
Wow it appers my resonse did not go thru, but was saying Maddie did a poster for my retirement and was hoping it went thru with the picture I attached
This is going to be fun!!! Something new everyday and given the first 2 days it should be all over the place. It was fascinating watching the painting evolve. Like others have stated, I’m not much of an artist but I really love/admire all the Arts. Living in the Washington DC area presents all kinds of opportunities with all the National Galleries, Kennedy Center and many different musical venues. Saw John Sebastian in a rather small club right before covid and Procol Harum a month or two before that. Keep it coming…and thanks for the smiles!!!
We’re very curious about the rest of the month! So far, we’re having a great time, I’m glad you’re having fun too. 🙂
How lucky that you got to see Procol Harum before Gary Brooker passed away, they were amazing live. It’s time we went to visit John Sebastian soon, you’ve seen him more recently than we have haha! See you tomorrow!
Last night I went to see the new Neil Young documentary ‘ Harvest time’ at Stockport Cinema, which inspired me to paint his picture. Hope you like it 😊.
Wow, David! You did it last night?! Very impressive indeed!
Amazing artwork!
That’s awesome David!!!
Howdy,
I loved the video today on Day Two. I meant to tell to yesterday that I do like the decorations in the background behind you – they are festive.
I can not draw nor paint at all. I sometimes draw certain faces, but it is not my forte. I give so much credit to those of you who create such amazing and beautiful work.
I guess I am more gifted in music and sports, oh well.
Take care everyone and enjoy the rest of the day. See you tomorrow.
Love & Peace,
Bobby S.
Day #2! Akiane is such a great artist. First time I have heard of her work. So many talented people in this world. Love these Advent Calendars!!!
Ok, this is the first time in my life that I have ever been excited about an advent calendar. Thank you for doing this and for adding fun and happiness! I love what you do!
Thank you Mona and Lisa. Day 2 was great! I am attaching some of my wife, Margaret, artwork. Enjoy! This is the only one I had on facebook. Margaret does a lot of original Zentangles. They are very cool. Looking forward to day 3!
That’s beautiful, please tell Margaret that we love it! It’s so hard to draw detailled things with watercolours but this is stinkin cute!!
Thank you Mona!
I love this. You married a very talented artist Tom! Thanks for sharing!
We have been married for 38 years and she is so talented.
If the first two days of the Advent indicate anything, it shows that there is going to be a very diverse set of submissions. Each day is going to be a unique experience!
I like the artwork that was inspired by “WHY?”. Can’t pick a favorite, they are all great!
Good morning everyone. I always love watching the sped up painting or drawing. My wife used to do rate my drawings. When you load up a picture it shows how the artist would draw it. Very pretty. My wife was fooling around with a shape one day just before the new album came out. I talk about all my bands I support and especially I was always talking about MLT because of the new album. She kind of zones me out when I geek out. Lol This is what the shape turned out to be. She never heard Janitor Joe before. Think I’m subliminally getting to her after 40 plus years of marriage. LOL https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/saMbqxJS9WN7
It’s Joe’s cousin!
This can’t just be a coincidence Ken. You obviously must be getting into your wife’s head after 40 years. Be careful of what you’re thinking -it might show up as a piece of artwork! She is very talented!
Thank you my friend ❤️ 🌹🤘
good afternoon, music is art, it just the mind looks at it in a different format and we are able to bring it out to the world by, Art, Music, sculpture, we all have some type of art in us we just need to unleash it to better the world. Have a great day, see you tomorrow
Hi Mona and Lisa, wow Akiame is an amazing artist. I get the feeling she is all about the art process as well as the end result or painting. I loved your discussion about how you get your little golden nuggets of inspiration or idea for a song. I kinda feel that sometimes with my work, I have what feels like a brilliant idea, but getting all into words and design is the challenge. I sometimes go for a long walk and lunch and come back and finish it the way I envisioned it. Funny the way the brain works.
You are both such true creative artists expressing your beauty and inspiration through music, visually in art, photography, and so many other creative outlets, even the way you change up the Advent every year. These paintings you did, even though you feel is not worth selling, I think it is and would buy them all up if they were available. Love Songbird, so that is where that balloon ended up. Destination Sunrise, Makeshow globe, Summer Rain…they are all awesome. Sometimes, the artists themselves might not see the potential in what they created that others would, these are awesome!!!
I wish I had a fraction of the talent with drawing you both possess, sigh, but I am glad to be able to enjoy the ones you’ve shared. 🎨🎭🎞🎶💛❤😊
My favourite painter is Thomas Kinkade who sadly passed away a few years ago, but his paintings always instills a sense of beauty and something greater than what we can see in a scene in the form of his light.
Not a drawing, but the only thing I can offer are a couple of hand written poems.
Jung, these poems are absolutely beautiful. They express so well the inspiration and joy these two young ladies project into the world. Thank you so much for sharing them!
Thanks very much Stephen.
If I owned a hat, it would be off to people who can draw and paint things realistically. My brain is absolutely not wired for that: I’m stumped by the task of drawing a stick man sitting down. So kudos to all the artists out there, especially the ones in this club!
No worries David. Your artwork is in your incredible sense of humor, which I enjoy immensely!
Thank you, Stephen. If I could do both, though, you might literally see me in the funny papers.
I’m the same way David. I attempted some drawings, but I’m afraid it could offend rather than complement.
I would buy one of your art prints from the 13 songs ,I think they’re very nice , Thank you very much for sharing. and thank you Thomas for sharing your video That was very nice. I’ll have to check out the link . Have a Wonderful day everyone.
Not sure if the photos I put in comment showed up or not so, I’m reposting separately here, a few of the recent Winter inspired themed ones I did… and if tgeimages did appear in my other comment, I apologize, my tablet does act up, and I sometimes think it didn’t go through but yet it did, delayed wise …
Love the festive vibes and cute little animals!
Thankyou Lisa… I do try, my best with on/off eye issues and all…. happy you enjoy my efforts 😊
Hey Jacki, I love the colors and upbeat feel of these! Sort of a “sophisticated innocence” about them. Thanks for sharing!
Thankyou Stephen 😎
Enjoyed these Jacki. Awesome.
Thankyou Jung 🤘
Ohhhhhh Wow, that was just jawdropping frikkin awesome, I had never heard of her before now, am going to definitely look her stuff up more…. stunningly breathtaking and sent goosebumps up/down the spine….
I’ve App drawing lately , alot, and just started to do some winterish stuff , though I’m not a Winter fan or person, ( Spring/Summer gal I am ) because I like the beauty visually that winter offers , not tge acfual, weather/deepfreezing temperatures it brings … Here’s a couple of my recent App Drawings I ‘ve done …I did my best …Thankyou for Day 2’s edition, a lovely inspiration of creativity to have awoken up to ….
It was really beautiful to watch the painting come alive in all its many forms until the artist had captured the real meaning of her thoughts. Amazing skill to have, which sadly I lack! Great to see the tea and candle making a comeback (just need to light it now). They were really missed yesterday but I know you always like to improve all the time. Thought you might have switched your schedule to avoid getting up early in the morning (maybe you have!). Here is a image I came across yesterday which you might like of a Pink Aurora, from Norway, which is a rare event. Stay groovy!
Fantastic artist. If you’re into your work strange things can happen – ready for one of mine interludes? Well here is a story from my time as teacher at Haeldager school in my local area back in the 80ties. During a teachers staff meeting I suddenly began thinking – well accidents happens – what can I have in common with my favourite painter/inventor Leonardo da Vinci – whom I admired a lot in the beginning of the 80ties (still do). Even if I was an art teacher I couldn’t paint as well (far from). Inventing things -hrm – even if I had some crazy solutions in those days – nah – he was too good. Writing mirrorwise with his left hand -hrm – well I’m left handed but writes with my right hand – might be an idea. During the following staff meetings the rest of that school year I developed a fluent handwriting in italics. This was a fantastic thing to do actually. Sometimes you were a substitute teacher for an ill colleague and you normally write your name on the blackboard, so the pupils know your name. In the end of that special year I tried to write my name mirrorwise and funny things happened. What did you write? – always first question. Second thing was another pupil saying: He wrote his name turned around. I told them that I wrote it mirrorwise – anyone have a pocket mirror? Then they could see it the right way looking in the mirror standing with the back to the blackboard. Can you write my name too? – Well you didn’t have problems with that unknown class. Sorry can’t show a picture of that – don’t know how to insert a picture here.
A little question to you all. Why did Leonardo choose to write mirrorwise in gothic? – wise decision by the way thinking of the days he was living in.
That was amazing to watch. On top of that I got my daily dose of energy from you two, now I am set up for the rest the day. Take care see you tomorrow.
Großartig, Akiane. Eine erstaunliche Biografie und wunderbare Kreationen.
Great, Akiane. An amazing biography and wonderful creations.
Good Morning!! I love to create bio-art. Some of the most beautiful natural designs are seen under a microscope. I tried to upload this beautiful painting ( I designed and my friend painted). It looks like a tropical flower with translucent fire like petals
Actually, it is a white blood cell engulfing bacteria. Sounds a little strange, but I love Biology.
That was great! Thank you!
Akiane has some amazing paintings, like the “Prince of Peace” she did when she was 8.
I loved the paintings of the songs, and the CD’s artwork is fantastic.
I do more image manipulations with photoshop than free hand. Here are two, one for my phone background and the other is 100% free hand, though on the Wacom tablet.
Can you name who’s who? I’m not any good, so it might be a challenge! 😊
All the color coordination you do on the videos, makes it all look so beautiful. At one point Akiane was also coordinating your outfit with you!
That was awesome!
Hey Tomas, your certainly no slouch at artwork! Let me guess; Paul, John, Ringo, George?
Nice work Tomas! Hey they don’t have moustaches. Must be from their early period. 😁
Good guess Stephen! It was a quick test of my tablet to draw on the computer.
Jung, you’re right, I was going for late ’64.
Hi, goodmorning, what a great paintworks! Akianes work is really amazing but your artwork is great too. I always wonder how minds work and your paintings explaine your way of looking at your music , thank You for that. If this goes on to christmas this will be a great month, wow
That was gorgeous! I’m a terrible drawer and painter, but I’ve had the opportunity to paint with wool (dry felt) and I’ve made these two creations so far. I’m thinking of making one for Songbird next!
WOW, these look great! We tried our hand at felt painting last year but never managed to make anything this cute. Especially love the one on the right ♥
With felt?! Mandy this is gorgeous!
These are truly beautiful!
These look pretty awesome to me Mandy!
Thank you all so much for your comments!!