Original artwork description:

This large painting is another addition to our Music Inspired ART. This one is inspired and dedicated to the song AMERICAN PIE by Don McLean. This song is so powerful for me because it came out during an intense time in my life. It was during the years of 1971 and 1972. I had just graduated from Madison Central High School in Richmond Ky. My Dad had just come home from a tour in Vietnam as a Green Beret in the 101st Airborne Special Forces. It was his last year in the Army and we were sent to live in Bountiful Utah, a small town outside Salt Lake City. I was working at a car dealership detailing new cars. I was in a washing bay listening to the radio as I washed a new Opal GT. This song was playing when it was interrupted by the United States Government reading off the Draft Numbers as they were picked by the lottery machine. I listened nervously as they read off each birthday starting with Jan 1st and the draft number picked for that date. As my birthday approached I knew if I had a low number come up on my birthday i would be in Vietnam within 2 months. Scary times! My draft number came up 323.... so i knew I would not be drafted that year! When they were done picking draft numbers the radio station went right back to playing this song "American Pie" where it had been interrupted. Whenever I hear this song I flashback to that moment so vividly. This ARTwork is adapted to that song with my own changes to the subject and lyrics. This 40 x 30 painting is called, "The Day All the Artists Died!" The painting shows the last artist standing on the shore of a colorless world. The dark gray tide comes for him as buzzards fly over the ocean between him and a darkened city. The last remnants of color flow from his fallen pallet and his last canvas. His easel is broken to pieces. How bland the world would be without the ARTS! This artworks main theme how important the Arts are and to Support the ARTS!

If you know the song.... you will know WHO is riding in the Last Train to the Coast!

Adapted lyrics for this ARTwork.

Long long time ago
I can still remember how all the ART
Used to make me smile.
And I know if I had the chance,
with Paint and Brush I could make them glance,
and maybe they'd be Happy for awhile.
But that July day made me shiver.
With each news break they'd deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep.
I couldn't take one more step.
I can't remember if I cried
when I read about that dark gray tide.
Something killed me deep inside,
the Day all the artists died!
So bye-bye Earth;s creative side.
Drove my Chevy to the levee,but the levee was dry.
And good ole Souls will be drinking whiskey and rye
singin, This will be the day that I die...
This will be the day that I die.

This artwork is painted on the sides so it can be hung as is.... but It would look great in a black frame!

PS: I realize I misspelled whiskey on the back. Hah! Had too much myself! Will fix that when shipped!

Materials used:

stretched canvas, acrylic paint, varnish.

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