City of Stars

I've recently come to the realization that a lot of my work comes from a very sad outlook. Wether it's a film or cartoon, i noticed they're all a bit melancholy in the way i see them. I came to this realization the other night while watching "La La Land" for the first time. It was a great movie that I wasn't emotionally ready to watch just yet. You ever see a movie, hear a story, or listen to a song that captures the way you're feeling at any given time and sorta shakes you up unexpectedly?

After the movie, I wanted to translate how it made me feel by capturing it with my art. Driving home i tried to figure out what about La La Land made me feel so sad. I won't give any spoilers, but ultimately the films ending reminded me of my past, decisions I should have made and losing people in my life I wish I hadn't.

I saw a lot of similarities between the music in the film and the concept of love between the characters. You see, from my point of view, love is very much like a song. When it begins you're enamored with it, you can't stop thinking of the notes, you fall in love with the words and the way they make you feel, and it becomes your music, your song. But all things end, and in time, you'd find a new song, a new melody to start a new love affair with. But no matter what new song, you never forget your first love, your first song. And that's ultimately what I wanted to capture here with this piece. I wanted to paint the moment you heard your first song for the last time, the second you said goodbye to it. I think this piece below is a good way to say goodbye to this movie...

i know i've been gone for a little while, between moving and starting a new life its been a little difficult to get back into art. Thankfully i've had some recent opportunities to draw for various art shows across the US and it's been fun getting there again.

While I dust off my brushes and set my sights onto open skies, enjoy this new piece called "City of Stars"

Love,
-MrMauro