Painting and Writing

WAVES

Words roll over me

Like waves in the sea

Sometimes above

Sometimes below

But always

Drowning

(2008)

A writer my whole life, rarely have I shared or published any work.

I am much more in my comfort zone as a painter; it is a form of expression that feels more limitless to me. Open to interpretation, for better or worse. I know what I see and feel, but someone else might see or feel something different gazing at a painting. I like that about painting, that my landscapes likely won’t be judged as harshly as my writing might be.

Writing makes one much more vulnerable. Writing can become messy, and entangle others into a world they don’t want to be apart of, or exposed in. Writing can hurt feelings, cause conflict, and trigger people. Writers, in my opinion, are the bravest people in the world. They are bold, fearless, want to be seen and heard, they don’t care what you think (or they do, but they write anyways!), they value their own voices and opinions and ideas. They voluntarily throw themselves to the wolves. Why? I have no idea… a calling?

I have felt my whole life, called to write. It helps me make sense of my thoughts and feelings. Since I was a teenager I have likely filled over a hundred journals, all of which I burned before 2010. Since then I have filled 46 more books. I have binders full of poetry, stories, and notes. Writing has always been very private for me, therapeutic and cathartic.

Then, I wrote my first song last year; and a new connection was made for me in writing. David Newland hosted a workshop through Spirit of the Hills (SOTH), annual art festival. At that point, I had just picked my guitar back up for the first time in years; I had chords and a tune for a song, but no lyrics. This felt very backwards to me. Yet after this workshop, talking with other creative people, and basically being given permission to “create” without judgment, it all came together. The most valuable part of this workshop, was talking with like minded people, being introduced to new songs and lyrics and allowing a new form of inspiration into my life – community.

With that in mind, when I renewed my SOTH membership recently, I added “writer” along with my usual “visual artist” in the application; because I want to connect with other writers too. I want to dive in, explore, and learn about this art form that I’ve never taken seriously; or more so, that I have been afraid to take seriously. Wish me luck!