Paint brushes as musical instruments, brushes that combine color and sound, for visual musician Camry Ivory, technology delivers the experience.

In a studio in Green Mountain Falls, Ivory refines her skills this month as an artist-in-residence for Green Box Arts.

“I design paint brushes that allow me to create art and music at the same time,” she said.

Her palette is of 12 brushes of different colors, each with a different musical note. Rather than keys on a piano or keyboard, Ivory uses color to play a note.

A self-described physical musician who lives in Kansas City, Mo., Ivory sought artistic expression in a new way. The idea sprang from boredom with maintaining the status quo, playing the piano and singing.

“I realized that music is ephemeral, that once you play the music, it’s gone unless you record it,” she said.

Searching for sustainable music, Ivory settled on paint brushes to make the sound. Using her writing skills, she convinced the Downtown Kansas City Arts Council that making paint brushes play music was a good idea.

“They gave me a startup grant and told me I had seven weeks to make this idea an actual thing and then perform,” she said.

Audience reaction changed the scope of the whole idea.

“Most thought the performance was ‘cool,’ and could they try it,” she said. “It was weird – nobody ever comes up to me after a piano performance and asks to play my piano.”

From there she and her brushes performed in schools, community centers and even for a wedding. She has performed at venues around the nation and has a gig scheduled in London.

Buoyed by the enthusiasm of her audiences, Ivory named the artistic adventure “coloratura,” a word used in opera.

“A soprano is coloring the music with her voice, with the trills,” she said. “I had to learn how to paint and use paint brushes to create music, as well.”

Over time, Ivory used failure as guideposts.

“With failures, I discovered things I wouldn’t have landed on if I had just stayed with what works,” she said

Because the brushes are connected to a circuit board, selecting the material to conduct the sound is critical.

“Metal didn’t work,” she said, “I struggled to find a material that conducts electricity, is clear and not expensive. I started painting in water.”

When the paining is finished, she lays a piece of fabric, or paper, for instance, on the water container, maybe a bowl, which absorbs the design, she said. “I have a physical representation of my art.”

With her musical artistry, Ivory makes scarves, jewelry and post cards. Each comes with a QR code that plays the music via a smartphone camera.

“I create pieces of art that are playable, so you become a walking gallery,” she said.

Ivory will show her work from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Green Box Farm & Art Market at the Farm Stand in Green Mountain Falls. She will perform a concert at 6 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Sallie Bush Community Center. There is no charge, but reservations are encouraged at greenboxarts.org.

“I am so thankful to Green Box Arts for providing me with the time and resources to focus on my art and the opportunity to share my work with the community,” she said. “It’s been an amazing experience.”