HI. I paint music, and I am wondering if people prefer the abstract version with no direct connection to the musical piece, or the one I've "matted" and labeled. For what it is worth - I painted these at odd sizes, so the ones that look matted are probably more easily framed, but now I am aiming to make the originals look like sheet music, so in the future, it should be easier to order a print and frame it. Thank you for any advice/critiques! Smiles, Amy
Unmatted. Labeling the source front-loads the reading when the better encounter is letting someone find the music on their own, which is what abstraction earns you.
Amy, this is fascinating and beautiful on many levels. I have a painter friend who collaborated with a friend to create a similar project. Yours and his are diverse — both amazing. I love the painting on its own without the frames/musical source maybe bec it’s painting first and foremost to my eye. And I appreciate there needs to be some way to immediately make a reference to the musical source. Nicely done all around!
Hi Lauri, Thank you! :)!😊. I think I like them without the labels, but I like knowing which music it represents.
I appreciate knowing your inspiration; the titles!
Thank you for letting me know:)! I would love to try to find a way to have the music playing consistently with each painting.
Love the work! To answer to your question: it depends. From art point of view, unmatted; painting alone. From buyer's pov, a bit of labelling and explanation goes a long way. For that I'd change the proportions and make the title/explanation quite a bit smaller.
I approach this synaesthesia thing from a different angle: prompting AI with abstract concepts e.g. 'express polyphony of JSBach in style of Kandinsky', then working with the results.
Interesting - I'd love to see a Bach inspired piece - Kandinsky too;!
The matted versions change how much air the composition gets. Without the label, you stay inside the painting. With it, there's context doing work the piece might not need.
Would you say that with the label it might bring people to their memories or connection with the music that would maybe go further that the image alone?
Hi Amy! Painting music is one of those concepts that stops people mid-scroll, which is a real advantage.
On the presentation question: the labeled, matted versions will almost always outsell the pure abstracts. When someone sees "Clair de Lune" or whatever the piece is titled underneath, it gives them a story to tell when a guest asks about it. Abstract art without context makes buyers hesitate because they don't know what they're looking at. The label turns your painting from "interesting abstract" into "she painted Clair de Lune and I can FEEL it." That's the version people buy and brag about.
Now here's the bigger move your work is perfectly built for: custom commissions.
- "I'll paint YOUR song" is one of the most compelling custom artwork offers an artist can make. Wedding songs, the song that was playing when they met, a lullaby their mother sang, the first dance song. Music is deeply personal, and people will pay a premium for a painting of a song that means something to them.
- Post a simple offer on your social channels or email list: "I paint music. Tell me your song and I'll paint it for you." That's it. One sentence. The responses will tell you everything about demand.
- Price custom pieces 30-50% above your standard work. Custom = emotional value = higher willingness to pay. Don't undercut yourself here.
- Even with a tiny audience, this works. One artist in the community posted a simple custom artwork offer and got her first sale within days, not because she had thousands of followers, but because the offer was specific and personal.
The "I paint music" angle is a genuinely rare positioning. Most artists can't say that in four words and have it be immediately understood. Lean into it hard.
Want help putting together the exact post or message to pitch custom music paintings? I can draft it for you right now
Other resources you might find helpful:
- Navy Or Black?? — Real artist shares decision-making process for merchandise color choice on actual paid opportunity, including research and community feedback on maximizing sales impact.
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