Okay, the Ringmaster is stepping into the scene now. I spent last week painting this guy and I am finishing him up this week along with submitting some chapters to my writers group. What a wonderful group of women writers I got together this time. Writer’s groups are magical. You get different writers from different backgrounds all meeting up at a table two times a month and the energy and information fly!
My goal for this year is not only to finish my novel and get it in print for you but also to network and reach out to other artists – I mean really join the artist community by putting my work out there. I am going to put paintings out into the world as well as my books. As I near my 40th birthday I feel the need to expand my artistic world. As a matter of fact this Wednesday I am going to visit the Hope Artist Village to look at retail space for my work. I will let you know how that works out.
Today I begin with my frustration. Let me begin by saying I am and always have been an optimist but since 2009 of May this wonderful characteristic of mine has declined greatly and unfortunately it still declines daily. I never mentioned this on my blog because I didn’t think it needed to be talked about or was relevant but since this is my blog about my writing and artistic struggles I think it does need to be mentioned.
I need you to know that I am writing from my bed.
I am doing this because I have a major spinal disorder that prevents me from sitting up for long. Not only does it prevent me from sitting up but it also prevents me from running, walking, swimming, driving, and basically anything under the sun with ease. It hurts to put it mildly. I have been writing and drawing from my bed since 2009 of May because that is when my inherited disorder showed itself.
I think its important to tell you this because it is the number one reason I have been struggling to finish my novel. Although the ideas are coming fast and furious and I can’t seem to get them down as good as I used to. When I write, I tend to pace and walk then sit to write then get up and do the same thing all over again. It’s a very physical process for me. I have even gone so far as to lay on my living room for and have my friend help me set up all of my artwork and inspiration materials around me. I have attached a photo below.
My Disabled Office
I want you to know I am by no means complaining. I am just giving you a glimpse into my daily life because that is what blogging is all about. Please know that I will never stop writing until my hands don’t work anymore and even then, I will probably talk – type. I love writing and all that is involved but also please know that I am struggling to do it.
Thank you so much to all of my readers who have purchased my work in the past. I hope my new work lives up to your expectations.
I have to say WOW, I just looked at my blog and saw the last time I wrote was August 28th and on that day I told you I would post a sketch the next day! So sorry. I can really get side tracked. I am writing like crazy this month and very happy about that. It seems I never want to go on the internet now because I am so into my writing which is a great thing because as any writer knows its usually the opposite. When it flows, it flows right? Gotta hold your hands under the faucet and catch every drop of creativity that is coming out! I have now put my bed in my art studio so I can absorb my project, it helps to see all of my sketches and notes posted everywhere before I go to bed and first thing when i wake up and its great, I don’t have to go far to get back to the drawing board! I just wake up, meander into the kitchen to grab my cup o’ coffee and head back to my lair. It’s wonderful when the writing flows. As a matter of fact, I don’t believe there is anything I can compare it too and only those that have experienced it can understand, all the rest just get to enjoy the literature that’s born from it.
I enjoyed a wonderful weekend with my best friend Stacey. We took the train from Providence RI to New York City and saw the play WICKED. It is by far the best performance I have ever seen and I have seen alot. I did see this show before at PPAC in Providence and it was excellent too. The energy is unbelievable in this show! If you haven’t seen WICKED yet its time you did!!!
I did get a new character sketched on the way to NY and I absolutely LOVE him. He appears in my novel and is being written in today. I know I said this novel would be ready to be released in October of this year but because of the turn the story took, I am needing more time. I hope you are not too disappointed if you have been waiting for it but believe me, it is going to be well worth the wait.
It’s Mothers’ Day – a very happy one it was. I spent the day with 6 of my kids – my 7th was nowhere to be found. He didn’t even call which makes me sad but at the same time I know he is preparing for a big move to Idaho and planning a wedding as well so of course I can forgive the forgotten phone call. He is 21 and no longer depends on me but that never stops a Mom from thinking about her child every day. When the kids are little all we can think of (we being artist/mothers) is when will I ever get the time to write or draw or paint? Funny – now that my little ones are getting older I find I am sitting at the drawing table unable to focus because I am wondering where they are and if they are all right. Seems to me its a lot easier when they are running around making noise while I work. Yeah, now that I think of it, I can create much easier with my kids under foot. Just yesterday I was sketching and all my littler ones were running in and out of the house. I drew at my art table while watching them out the picture window and when they ran inside to give me an acorn I just smiled and placed it on my tabletop. It added to the value of my writing and brought a whole new level of meaning to it. I really enjoyed my weekend creating with my kids running around me and I am going to enjoy it for as long as I possibly can because I know it doesn’t last forever, it didn’t with my first born.
To all those mother/artists out there, enjoy your creative times with the chatter in the background while you can… you will miss that precious chatter. I know I will.
Erin T. Whalen 