My first love had to be art. As a child I enjoyed doodling, coloring books, and even dreamed of being an artist when I grew up. However, I didn’t follow through on that grandiose idea, but I remained creative in other ways.
I worked in advertising and public relations after graduating from college. As a copywriter, I worked closely with artists creating ads for the JC Penney retail catalog back in the mid-80’s. After the company left New York City, I did freelance writing and started to write my first romance novel. I went to grad. school to become a teacher. I taught language arts for a little over 25 years. I also wrote and published five novels. However, with all that work as a writer and an educator, I never forgot my love of art.
In the past several years, I have taken art classes at an adult school, an art museum, and at senior centers near me. They helped to renew my passion for the visual arts, and I find doing art enriches me as a writer too.
In taking art classes, as well as going to art exhibits and shows, I have learned to look at things differently. I used to feel that art has to imitate life, but that’s not necessarily so. In some way, it’s akin to writing a story where I create from experiences but don’t duplicate them in words. I also have fun playing with colors, shapes, and different media. I’ve worked with pencil sketches, charcoal drawings, pastels, and mainly watercolor painting.
I believe that there is a strong connection in the arts, whether visual, language, dramatic, or musical. I find inspiration from listening to music, attending a play or musical, reading books, and viewing art. I think they all inspire in some way. They say for instance that a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes words can’t capture a picture. I have been discovering the artist within as a writer and enjoying exploring my own artistic expression.
