When writers can’t sit still
So today was to be a work day in the morning and a writing day in the afternoon and evening. Well. Work was done. Fine. But the writing? I felt plenty creative, but too amped up to sit still at the computer, too edgy to filter it all out into language. Okay. No problem. I have a solution for these moods. I painted instead. Painting still counts as writing, in a way, because I’m still dealing with the themes, emotions, colors of my novel, even if I’m not adding pages to that page count.
First I finished up this one. Well…I say finished now, but I might decide it needs more at some point. I need to live with it a while before I’m sure.
I like the story behind this painting more than I like the painting itself. See, the background is actually a half-finished abstract of my mom’s. She started and abandoned it in 1965 because she wasn’t happy with it. She gave me the canvas to Gesso over and use for a new painting. Rather than cover hers up, I decided to incorporate it into mine. The result…a co-authored painting with my mom. We’re both rather pleased.
And then I was messing around with the paint left on my palettes from that painting and this came out.
Cadmium reds and yellows, my friends. Yes, they’re carcinogenic, but color that rich is worth a little risk. I’m not sure if it’s going to be a red and yellow summer or if it was just a red and yellow kind of day. My novel, too, is lousy with reds and yellows.
And now I feel nicely settled and ready to translate it all into words. Gonna write tonight. Sigh. I’m a happy, happy kid.
I haven’t been knitting much at all this week or last. It’s just not what my hands or brain are craving right now. Now I want word and image and the smell of linseed oil. When I haven’t been working or writing or painting or sketching studies for paintings or notes for writing, I’ve been reading. Devouring books I wanted to read but didn’t have time for this past school year. Finally read Motherless Brooklyn. Am now reading Middlesex. Also reading and re-reading Rilke. If you haven’t read the First Elegy from Duino Elegies it’s really worth checking out. Here’s a chunk of the beginning, because I’m in that kind of a mood:
hierarchies? and even if one of them pressed me
suddenly to his heart: I would be consumed
in that overwhelming existence. For beauty is nothing
but the beginning of terror, which we still are just able to endure,
and we are so awed because it serenely disdains
to annihilate us. Every angel is terrifying.
There. Lovely, yes? Goosebumps, maybe? Yeah, me too.
Happy weekend.
Beautiful, Cari. I love the movement in your painting, and you’re right, the story behind it is great. Congratulations on a finished and excellent painting.
(Bill just came out of his studio, was walking past and saw the painting on the screen: “Oh! Who did that?” Then we both admired it for a bit.)
Posted by: alison
I’m rather stunned by both, actually. I mean, I’ve seen your work in person, and I knew your talent. But that talent just socked me in the face. In a good way. You know what I mean.
I think the co-authored one is incredible, not only for its beauty, but for the shared-ness of it, too.
Dang.
Posted by: Rachael
I’m just gonna have to ditto everything Rachael said. Up to and including *dang*.
Posted by: Iris
I third all of it. They both blow me away, and the thing is that I know my monitor doesn’t even come close to showing me the fullness and depth of your painting. Time well spent, I should say. More than well spent.
Posted by: Em
WOW! Love the paintings, (especially knowing the jumping off point STORY…)and YES, sometimes painting gets the heebeejeebees OUT there so you can settle down and write. It’s all good. In your case though, it’s GREAT!
Posted by: greta
Those are really nice. You talented thing!
Posted by: claudia
Wow. They’re beautiful.
Posted by: Jennifer
So much talent in one person. How cool to be able to share you art (in multiple ways) with your mother. I am sure it is even more beautiful in person!
Posted by: Gwen
OOooooer…. I quiver in the presence of your superior creativity!!! 🙂 Fantastic stuff, the paintings and the poetry both, and love the matching blog colours!
Monica
Posted by: Monica
Beautiful, Cari. I love the movement in your painting, and you’re right, the story behind it is great. Congratulations on a finished and excellent painting.
(Bill just came out of his studio, was walking past and saw the painting on the screen: “Oh! Who did that?” Then we both admired it for a bit.)
Posted by: alison
I’m rather stunned by both, actually. I mean, I’ve seen your work in person, and I knew your talent. But that talent just socked me in the face. In a good way. You know what I mean.
I think the co-authored one is incredible, not only for its beauty, but for the shared-ness of it, too.
Dang.
Posted by: Rachael
I’m just gonna have to ditto everything Rachael said. Up to and including *dang*.
Posted by: Iris
I third all of it. They both blow me away, and the thing is that I know my monitor doesn’t even come close to showing me the fullness and depth of your painting. Time well spent, I should say. More than well spent.
Posted by: Em
WOW! Love the paintings, (especially knowing the jumping off point STORY…)and YES, sometimes painting gets the heebeejeebees OUT there so you can settle down and write. It’s all good. In your case though, it’s GREAT!
Posted by: greta
Those are really nice. You talented thing!
Posted by: claudia
Wow. They’re beautiful.
Posted by: Jennifer
So much talent in one person. How cool to be able to share you art (in multiple ways) with your mother. I am sure it is even more beautiful in person!
Posted by: Gwen
OOooooer…. I quiver in the presence of your superior creativity!!! 🙂 Fantastic stuff, the paintings and the poetry both, and love the matching blog colours!
Monica
Posted by: Monica