Category: Track Art

Encaustic paintings that capture the essence of a song from my album. Used as liner art at the bandcamp website.

Cormorant’s Lament

3″ x 3″ on wallboard.

Listen at bandcamp.

Settled as a governess at Thornfield, Jane has no reason to be dissatisfied, yet she can’t help but feel restless.

(JANE)
PRETTY SAIL A’SEA
BEWARE THE SURGE,
THE BLOW, THE SWELL,
THE CRASH, THE PURGE,
FOR ALL’S NOT WELL
AS THE STORM FINDS THEE.

WHEN THE MAST DOTH BREAK
THE FAIR ONE’S LOST:
AN ARM, A SHOE,
A BRACELET TOSSED,
A CORPSE ASKEW,
AS SHE RIDES THE WAKE.

AND THE BIRD WILL BLIGHT
WHAT WON’T SUBMERGE —
A CROAKING LOUD
YOUR ONLY DIRGE,
A WING YOUR SHROUD
AS YOUR SOUL TAKES FLIGHT

Burning

7.5″ x 8″ on wallboard.

Hearing laughter in the night, Jane investigates only to find Rochester’s room on fire. The intimacy of the darkness, the mystery, and the danger sparks a romance.

(JANE)
UNQUIET SEA,
WATER WILD.
A SWEET SHORE BECKONS.
THE FRESH’NING GALE
DRIVES ME BACK.
MY FANCY RECKONS.
WHAT JOYFUL BREEZE
TRIUMPHANTLY BLEW
ME FAR FROM THE LAND?
IT WAS YOU.

(ROCHESTER)
I WOKE TO FLAMES,
SCALDING HEAT.
MY WORLD WAS BURNING.
MY SKIN ON FIRE,
HAIR AFLAME,
WITH NO RETURNING.
WHO LIT THE BLAZE
THAT KINDLED ANEW
A MAN HALF ALIVE?
IT WAS YOU.

SHE’S A GENII
IN A BOTTLE
FLOATING SAFE TO SHORE.
PULL THE CORK OUT,
PRAISE HER MAGIC,
WISH FOR SOMETHING MORE.

(JANE)
I’M A PAPER
IN A BOTTLE
ON A STORM-TOSSED SEA.
I AM BOBBING.
I AM DROWNING.
DEAR LORD, RESCUE ME.
BURNING.

Listen at bandcamp.

Queen Mary

4.5″ x 7″ on wallboard.

Jane is forced to attend the awkward party of guests Rochester invites over. As she tries to slip away, she’s caught by Rochester’s duet with Blanche who, we later discover, bears an uncanny resemblance to Bertha.

(ROCHESTER)
QUEEN MARY MADE LOVE TO A FIDDLER,
A DANDY CALLED RIZZIO BY NAME.
SHE HAD HIS WEE BABE,
AND DARNLEY IN RAGE,
STABBED RIZZIO AND ENDED HIS GAME.

PLAY, SING, AND RHYME.
THE REST IS NOT WORTH A FILIP.
A MAN WHO CAN’T QUIP
WITH A DAME ON HIS HIP
WILL FEEL THE KNIFE’S SHARP POINTY TIP.

(BLANCHE)
QUEEN MARY PLEDGED TROTH TO THE DEVIL,
A SPICY ROGUE, BOTHWELL BY NAME.
HE KIDNAPPED HIS WIFE,
AND TOOK DARNLEY’S LIFE,
AND DIED IN A PRISON, INSANE.

HUNT, SHOOT, AND FIGHT.
THE REST IS NOT WORTH A FILIP.
A MAN WHO CAN’T RIP
A MAN’S NECK WITH HIS GRIP
IS AN APPLE THAT CAN’T SOW ITS PIP.

Please find song and album information at bandcamp.

Fairy Child

7″ x 8″ on wallboard.

Jane knows she loves Rochester, and that, as his governess, the relationship is improper and impossible. Her sleeping dreams, though, have their own mind.

(JANE)
DAISY CHAINS AND MOONBEAM RINGS
FAIRY CHILD
DANDLED LEGS AND SYLVAN WINGS
FAIRY CHILD

WHY DO YOU VISIT ME EVERY NIGHT?
WHY DO I LOVE YOU?
WHO GAVE ME THE RIGHT?

DAPPLED SHADE AND SILKEN STRINGS
FAIRY CHILD
DARLING BABE OF A DARKENED KING
FAIRY CHILD

Listen to the song at bandcamp.