While I have always loved music, I’ve never considered myself musical, and have been more drawn to express myself with visual art. I’m also one of those people who sees colors, textures, and other visual representations of sound and music in my mind’s eye, and I have synesthesia: where I see colors in my mind’s eye with letters and numbers–don’t worry, this is not a hallucination, and is in fact somewhat common! [I even read an article from a teen magazine that said Michael Nesmith and his first wife Phyllis began flirting with each other referencing this]. Although none of us synesthesia people will ever get along, because apparently we *all* see *different* colors with each letter/number [how’s that for unity LOL].
At the end of the day, I’m a visual-kinesthetic, and I am visually turned on. So naturally I made artwork of The Monkees over the years.
Below is some of this artwork–presently I have only digital artwork here, other mediums will be added in time.
While I created all of this artwork and used photos I took of The Monkees myself, I also used vintage photos of The Monkees I did not take and I do not take credit for those photos. I would like to credit those photographers, and if anyone is aware of who they are, please feel free to email me!
DESKTOP WALLPAPER
Pleasant Valley Sunday
I had been wanting to create a Pleasant Valley Sunday themed desktop background for a while, and went through many different variations, including one that looked cotton-candy colorful, delicious, and tie-dye–it was beautiful, but not the essence of the song. Felt much more like Ben & Jerry’s and The Grateful Dead.
Eventually, I came back to this. “Pleasant Valley Sunday” is actually a song I see a lot of “yellow” in–again this is personal, not technical [… the synesthesia]. Although, I admit, what I created does remind me a bit of LA smog–another unfortunate mid-century issue we would be remiss to not acknowledge.
I used a photo I took of Micky Dolenz when we visited Pleasant Valley Way, in West Orange, New Jersey. This neighborhood is literally the inspiration for the song, “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” as songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin lived there in the 60s, after moving from Manhattan, and they wrote “Pleasant Valley Sunday” inspired by their life in this bedroom-community neighborhood.
The background photo is from a Monkees episode song romp in the Rainbow Room.
It has also been pointed out by many people, with love and amusement, that Micky looks identical in his outfit as the character in the Neighborhood Watch sign above him. LOL–what can I say? The Pleasant Valley Way neighborhood is looking out for Micky Dolenz… 😂 ðŸ«
Epistles Wallpaper
Inspired by Micky Dolenz calling my emails “epistles”. Micky then and now–photo I took of Micky at an evening out in 2006, photo of Micky from 1965 [photographer unknown to me].
Red Versus Blue
Two versions of picnic tablecloth background with Randy Scouse Git lyrics, photo of Micky from 1965, photo I took of Micky in 2006.
Saturday’s Child
A fan favorite–this one went viral on social media. Making use of that gingham check and groovy font.
Monkees Fall
Made a few laptops ago [hence the smaller resolution]–having fun with various brushes and textured backgrounds.
To Go Where No One Dies
Poem I wrote in 1997, with “then and now” photos of the Monkees. I like the pink and the vintage 35mm film concept.
Davy Jones Galaxy
Having fun with a celestial star background and mirroring “then and now” photos of Davy with his guitar–I thought it was so cool how similar these photos are.
Davy Jones Classic Wallpaper
FACEBOOK COVER PHOTOS
Michael Nesmith FB Cover Photo
MONKEES RELATED ARTWORK
“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” submission for FabFest Charlotte Art Contest in 2022.
Test Comment
i loved watching them on TV as a kid. I’m 58 now. I watched a movie about them last night on Amazon Prime. i never knew there was ever a movie made about them. i enjoyed it very much. the only thing i did not like is that their car was not in the movie.