Well it was a great run at the Warwick Museum of Art but today I am happy to say my illustrations go back home to The Story Emporium. The one’s that didn’t sell of course 🙂 I just want to thank everyone that went and supported me and for those who didn’t don’t you worry, there will be many more to come with new pieces!
Yesterday I finally dragged my butt back into the studio and prepped my workspace to create some new stuff which I’m really looking forward to making. As I work I will post my progress so you can see what’s coming your way.
Here is my current paint concoction (or however you spell that) being worked on at the new art studio. I haven’t been there much because of getting the kids ready to go back to school and all but I am inching along. Unfortunately, I have been told that I will be needing surgery ASAP for the numbness in my right arm. Yes, irony strikes once again…I am fortunate enough to have this wonderful art studio to work in and my drawing arm goes numb. Unbelievable huh? I can only draw and paint in tiny spurts right now because of the numbness and pain and the doctor says the nerve damage will be irreversible if I don’t get the surgery quickly. So alas, I must go under the knife if I am to continue drawing and painting. I have also been told that it is not 100% that the surgery will fix me so please cross your fingers, pray, or dance naked under the full moon for me…whatever it is you do to bring about results. I really need all the help I can get on this one. I will keep you in the loop on when the surgery is to happen and will soon put up my ‘studio hours’ so that you can come visit me and my characters in the works.
I am happy to report to my readers that I was successful in my quest over school vacation to write the entire time! I locked my door and taped a sign to it… FINISHING NOVEL Do not knock…I will not answer and you know what? It worked!
Charlie turned puppet by Ring Master of Underground
I was able to get 20,000 words written and learned so much about my story. So much happened during the week. The first 2 days were light and fluffy stuff. Fun scenes with the kids in the novel interacting, and by the 3rd day, I was seeing sides of my characters that I had never met before. I even met a new character! That’s right, one was lurking in the shadows of the underground just waiting for me to see him. Now I am going to admit to something I thought I already knew. I remember hearing of writers talking about having their characters speak to them but I thought that was only a fancy way of saying they were using their imaginations. It turns out they meant it literally! I could actually hear (in my mind of course) the different characters interacting with each other.
I have always heard of writers going away to a cabin in the woods to finish a novel and now I know why. The uninterrupted writing is amazing because after writing if you feel like taking a nap you can, then get back up whenever you want even if its at 3am and start writing some more. Also, because you have no interruptions, the flow is NEVER stopping. Constantly with your characters and no one else. The story begins writing itself! I am going to take writing breaks more often.
If you never have and you are a writer you owe it to yourself to take a writing marathon or a break from real people and spend committed time to your story people.
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.
The deeper I travel into this novel the more I love it! I am sitting upstairs in what I call my ‘writing nest’ and tapping away at the keyboard. Although my back is hurting me badly I am managing to type lying down on my daughters bean bag. Pain pill helps as well. Cross your fingers for me and perhaps you will have this very book in hand by the spring!
Erin T. Whalen 