An imagined marriage

“Dancing couple from above” drawn with colored pencils by Sanford R. Bender on February 18, 2024
“An imagined marriage” composed and performed with guitar and concertina by Sanford R. Bender on February 17, 2024.

Returning to violet

“Returning to violet” drawn and painted with colored pencils and watercolors by Sanford Ross Bender.
“Returning to violet” composed and performed with guitar and concertina by Sanford Ross Bender on February 8, 2024.

Missing in rain

“Desert Rain” painted and drawn with water colors, ink, and colored pencils by Sanford Ross Bender.
“Missing in rain” composed, performed, and recorded with banjo, dobro, guitar, glockenspiel, thunder, and rain by Sanford Ross Bender on September 9, 2023.

Tiptoe into Dreams on the Night Train

“Tiptoe into Dreams on the Night Train” composed, performed, and recorded with dobro, banjo, mandolin, and concertina by Sanford Ross Bender on June 2, 2023
“Night Train” drawn with colored pencils on toned blue mixed media paper stock by Sanford Ross Bender on June 3, 2023

Eggshell Love

“Eggshell Love” composed, performed, and recorded with guitar and concertina by Sanford R. Bender on February 1, 2023

Serenade

This artwork came about during my fine artist days in Manhattan, while I was attending both New York University and the Art Students League of New York. I was also studying music in the former institution which required an explanation in a master’s degree thesis of how art and music may be interrelated. My research included biographical as well as theoretical investigations into the paintings of Wassily Kandinsky and the musical compositions of Arnold Schoenberg, both of whom found inspiration within the interplay between painting (and drawing) and music. In my case, I found expression and solace in the practice of both mediums, whether or not I could describe rationally the necessity of dual participation. Although art is primarily associated with the visual sense and music with the aural sense, they both share commonality in the tactile sense.

This musical composition includes guitar, my primary instrument, banjo, a secondary plucked string instrument, and concertina, the most recent wind (bellows) instrument in my musical arsenal. “Serenade for guitar, banjo, and concertina” is reminiscent of various styles in jazz, blues, folk, and classical music. The music came together in this manner through improvisation and just hit the right spot for me.

“Serenade” drawn with colored pencil and oil crayons by Sanford R. Bender a while ago.
“Serenade for guitar, banjo, and concertina” composed, performed and recorded on three tracks by Sanford R. Bender on August 5, 2021.

Music: Be Your Own Best Friend

I could hear the music in my mind as I was driving home from a disappointing meeting with an art group to which I belonged. The night was cold and clear and the sky glittered with stars. I reached for my guitar as soon as I arrived home and recorded a track. I followed by recording a second guitar track, and after listening to my improvisation was lifted out of my despair.

Conchs
Two Colorful Conchs by Sandy Bender