"My Record Player" Original Painting by Stan Balman

16"x16" Stretched Thin Original Painting

Music has always held a special place in Stan’s life, serving as both a source of comfort and a connection to cherished memories. When he was younger, he owned a record player much like the one featured in this piece, spending hours listening to 45’s and getting lost in the music. As a young adult, some of his favorite moments were spent alongside his father in the garage, listening to songs together while working on engines. Those experiences created a lasting sense of peace and connection that stayed with him throughout his life.

As an adult, Stan continued to surround himself with music, finding in it the same calming feeling he experienced while working with his father. Today, that sense of calm and familiarity come alive for him in the art studio. Sometimes all it takes is a single song playing through the sound system to transport him back to those meaningful moments. When staff play the music he loves, it is as if a light switches back on inside him. His spirit comes alive, and that energy, emotion, and joy shine through in every piece of art he creates.