The notion that..

...you can paint and NOT listen to music is astonishing. Well, to me it is. First, I have to listen to music most of the day, just to get through it. So it's not surprizing that I'd listen to music when I paint.

Obviously, the nature of the music varies, and it varies according to what I'm painting. But no matter the subject or the style, let me give you a group of artists who will always work, no matter the particular painting. I realize this is a diverse group...but so what?

• Miles Davis
• Rolling Stones
• Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
• Cowboy Junkies
• Ryan Adams
• Etta James
• Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Dinah Washington
• John Lee Hooker/Van Morrison

There are many others, but these would be at the top of my list. I guess the ultimate point of this post is this: what kind of life would we have withou iPod?