I recently took pictures of my Catskills painting studio, where I often go to write. Since many of us have a second passion that helps fuel our writing, I thought I'd give you a glimpse into my second love--painting. Which, by the way, I haven't done since I decided to write full time. I knew that I needed to focus on one thing--the writing--to see it through to completion. And I'd already had an active painting career. A pictorial tour:
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| My writing table, with my paintings around it |
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| My bird liquor bottle collection |
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| My painting table |
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My painting of Castro & Khrushchev, from an actual event,
where they stayed at a hotel in Harlem and roasted a chicken
in their room during a UN conference! |
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| One of my painted dreamscapes |
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Desk wall with my small grasshopper painting-the mom is
feeding the baby grasshoppers coke syrup. My son drew
the graffiti BARN sign for me |
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My pig signage collection, with a pirate cup
and a skeleton on a motorcycle |
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| paint table with my Tesla painting (incomplete) |
My latest novella,
Model Position, makes use of my years as an artist. It's all about Sienna, an MFA painting student who's finding her way in the big, bad world. The dreamscape painting above is the kind of vision that relates to my passion for speculative fiction. Worlds not quite in ours, but in our alternate realities, in our hearts. The background for the
Nikola Tesla work also has that quality.
Painting and writing are so intertwined, at least for me. My Reds creatures in
Ruby's Fire and all of the weird hybrid plants came from the same place in me as my dreamscapes.
What about you? What's your special writing place like? Your secret virtual studio? Your second passion that fires up your first?
Thank you for this glimpse of your creative heart. I am in awe at the eclectic, vibrant beauty.
ReplyDeleteI assume that the skeleton on a motor-cycle is riding a Harley?
Haha, no doubt! I found him in the aquarium supply section in a pet store.
ReplyDeleteHaha! In my Death & Chronos, Death rides a Harley! Love your artwork, Catherine! I do think creative people have more than one outlet for their talents. I used to work metals for jewelry - before it got to be too expensive to continue. I do occasionally paint to get unstuck from a writing block and it really helps. Of course, you'll NEVER find me posting a photo of my poor attempts. :) Besides being extremely talented, you also hit the high spots with me in your use of color! Thanks so much for sharing your space with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this glimpse into your other creative passion. You are incredibly talented, both as a writer and artist.
ReplyDeleteBefore I really knew I wanted to write, I tried all sorts of creative activities. Sewing. Card making. Even drawing, though I wasn't very good at it. Now, if I need to feel inspired, I either listen to music or take a long walk along the coastline.
Thank you for sharing this glimpse into your other creative passion. You are incredibly talented, both as a writer and artist.
ReplyDeleteBefore I really knew I wanted to write, I tried all sorts of creative activities. Sewing. Card making. Even drawing, though I wasn't very good at it. Now, if I need to feel inspired, I either listen to music or take a long walk along the coastline.
River, jewelry making is a cool craft, and then you get to wear your products. Ellie, music works to get the mind traveling to all kinds of places.
ReplyDeleteGreat space. I've done embroidery and made dolls for awhile [sewing] before I started writing. Neither is good for my hands, so I save my hands for typing.
ReplyDeleteI like astronomy, otherwise I'm a bit of a workaholic.
Very cool place to write!
ReplyDeleteHeh, I mainly write at work. Perhaps I find the boredom of the day job inspiring to give into my daydreams.
Mary, I think astronomy totally counts! Cherie, you're lucky that you CAN write at work!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful space! You're a marvelous painter. I love your use of color. Unfortunately, with what little free time I have, I only have time for writing and the online work that comes with it. I used to do a lot of art myself. Drawing and painting. At least sometimes these days, I get to color with my kid!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's amazing. I'm fascinated by writers who have talents beside writing.
ReplyDeleteI used to dabble in color and design before, but not any more.
This looks like a fantastic space to sit and write at!
Gorgeous! That's an amazing place to write. So glad to see another side of you :)
ReplyDeleteI love to sew and stich and all sorts of hobby things but writing has pushed them all into the background at the moment. But you've inspired me for my own still bare writing cave!
T Drecker, yes, go for it! Everyone needs their own special sanctuary. Christine, coloring with your son is a fabulous activity, and I'm sure he's absorbing all of your creative spirit, which will so benefit him later in life (and sooner too :) )
ReplyDeleteD Biswas, yes, it's a very meditative place, far removed from the hustle of NYC.
Hi Catherine .. I was fascinated by your painting of Kruschev and Castro with their chicken .. what things people get up to ..
ReplyDeleteI heard someone recently talk about writing about 1962 - and thus Kruschev, Castro and Kennedy .. so your painting really captivated me .. I'll be posting about the author ..
Cheers Hilary
Um, honestly...my writing place is me sprawled on the floor. :) But always near my bookshelves and always with great music on in the background!
ReplyDeleteWow, Nicole, sprawled on the floor would give me a bad backache, so more power to you!
ReplyDeleteHilary, yeah, I saw an article on the Castro/Khruschev chicken roast in an old Times article when I was researching something else and it really made me laugh. They rented a room in the Theresa Hotel in Harlem, for reals.