Reflect on your favorite song.

What colors, shapes, and pictures would you use to show the feelings and sounds of your favorite song? Think about how the music makes you feel and try to create a piece of art that brings it to life!

Personify an instrument.

Pick an instrument you like and imagine it’s alive! What kind of personality does it have? Is it quiet and calm, or loud and playful? Draw a picture showing what kind of character your instrument would be.

Capture the energy of a dancer.

Imagine a dancer moving around, and every time they twirl or leap, they leave behind colorful lines in the air. Can you create an artwork that shows their movement, using bright colors and flowing shapes?

Design an album cover.

Think about your favorite musician or band. What kind of pictures or designs would you put on the cover of their music album? How can you show what their music is like using drawings or symbols?

Design a musical world.
If you could create a whole world inspired by a piece of music, what would it look like? Imagine the sky, the land, and the buildings. How does the music shape this magical place?

Create a giant instrument.
Imagine if you could invent a giant instrument! What would it look like, who would play it, and what sound would it make? Draw your instrument and think about what makes it special.

Illustrate how music makes you feel.
Think about your favorite song. How does it make you feel in your heart and your body? Can you draw a picture that shows those feelings, using colors and shapes to show the way the music moves you?

Visualize sound waves.
Imagine you could see the sounds of your favorite song. How would those sound waves look? Use different colors and patterns to draw the way you think the music would appear if you could see it.

Let the rhythm guide your painting.
As you listen to a song you like, pretend the music is guiding your paintbrush. Paint or draw with the beat, letting the music help you decide how to move your hand and what colors to use. How does the song shape your artwork?

1. Charles Burchfield and Jean Sibelius

Background: Charles Burchfield was greatly inspired by the music of Jean Sibelius. He often listened to Sibelius' compositions while painting, translating the emotional and atmospheric qualities of the music into his visual art.

Prompt: Listen to a piece by Jean Sibelius, such as "Finlandia." As you listen, close your eyes and let the music guide your imagination. What colors, shapes, and images come to mind? Create a painting or drawing that captures the mood and imagery inspired by the music. Think about how you can use elements like color, line, and texture to convey the same feelings the music evokes in you.

2. Wassily Kandinsky and Synesthesia

Background: Wassily Kandinsky is famous for his abstract works that were deeply influenced by music. He had a condition called synesthesia, where he could "see" colors and shapes when he heard music. This led him to create artworks that visually represented musical compositions.

Prompt: Choose a piece of instrumental music that you enjoy. Imagine that you can see the music as shapes and colors. What do the high notes look like? What colors represent the different instruments? Create an abstract painting that represents the music you hear. Focus on how you can use different colors and shapes to translate the sounds into a visual experience.

3. Romare Bearden and Jazz

Background: Romare Bearden often incorporated the rhythms and improvisations of jazz music into his collages. His works are known for their vibrant colors and dynamic compositions, reflecting the spirit of jazz.

Prompt: Listen to a jazz piece, such as something by Duke Ellington or Miles Davis. Pay attention to the rhythms, melodies, and improvisations. Create a collage using various materials (magazines, colored paper, fabric, etc.) that captures the energy and movement of the music. Think about how you can use different textures and colors to reflect the spontaneous and lively nature of jazz.

• Eligibility: Open to all K-12 students.
• Medium: Any 2-D visual art medium (painting, drawing, collage, mixed media, etc.) is acceptable.
• Size: Artwork should not exceed 12 x 16 inches.
• Deadline: Submissions are due by Friday, February 21, 2025
• Submission: Please submit a high-resolution photograph or scan of the artwork along with a brief description (100-200 words) of how the music inspired your piece.
• Teachers and parents or guardians are asked to select a limited number of student works to submit – one entry per student. Museum staff will select a maximum of thirty-three pieces for the show. Additional works may be shown in a JSMA exhibition at the Eugene Airport concurrent to or following this exhibition.

Selected works will be displayed at the JSMA from March 29 - September 14, 2025. Participants will be able to see their art alongside pieces inspired by the same theme, creating a rich tapestry of visual and auditory inspiration.

For more information or any questions, please contact artheals@uoregon.edu.