I am honoured to be part of the WOW! Women of Writing Blog Tour for Linda Stewart Henley’s book Waterbury Winter.
Today Linda is visiting my blog to share her wonderful guest post “Inspiration in Art”
Welcome Linda!
Inspiration in Art
Everyone knows about writers’ block, but painters sometimes experience a similar obstruction to their creativity. It’s a flat feeling of no inspiration, that the muse has rudely and often inexplicably disappeared. To bring her back, artists have different solutions: some take walks, others listen to music, and a few resort to drinking large amounts of coffee or liquor. Others despair, shelve their book for ten years, or tear up a canvas.
In both my novels the artists are stuck. In Estelle, thirty-eight-year old Degas, not yet famous, doubts his ability to succeed and ponders giving up painting. In Waterbury Winter, Barnaby Brown hasn’t painted for eighteen years. In Degas’s case (true story), he’s concerned that paintings he completes of his New Orleans relatives are of little value; in Barnaby’s case, his drinking causes him to lose ambition. Both feel frustrated, and perhaps depressed, by their failure to paint anything they consider worthy of their efforts.
Then things change. For Degas, it’s his family’s bankruptcy and desire to capture (or perhaps immortalize) his relatives at work in their failing cotton business. His painting, A Cotton Office in New Orleans—a masterpiece—ensures his reputation. For Barnaby, recovery from his drinking habit and a rude awakening about his lost life as an artist propel him to try again. He completes a painting, Sean’s Place. It portrays his local hangout, the place of his demise, but also the source of new artistic inspiration.
It’s hard to know what inspires artists, but strong interest is essential. Artists have to be fascinated enough to explore the subject matter. Writers want to feel passion for what they write about. Painters working on a landscape must find some aspect that draws their attention. There needs to be a “star.” It could be a barn, or a cloud formation, or a cow. No matter what the focus is, it should draw a viewer’s eye, in the same way that a reader becomes engaged by a book’s “hook”.
Be sure to check all the stops on Linda’s blog tour:
— Blog Tour Calendar
May 2nd @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley. We interview the author about her book and also give away a copy to one lucky reader.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
May 3rd @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews Blog
Stop by Lisa’s blog today and read an interview with author Linda Stewart Henley.
https://lisahaselton.com/blog/
May 3rd @ Fiona Ingram’s Blog
Visit Fiona’s blog and read Linda Stewart Henley’s guest post about writing historical fiction.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
May 5th @ Amanda Diaries
Visit Amanda’s blog and read her interview with author Linda Stewart Henley.
May 7th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Join Linda as she interviews Linda Stewart Henley about her book Waterbury Winter.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com/
May 8th @ What is That Book About?
Michelle spotlights Linda Stewart Henley’s book Waterbury Winter.
https://www.whatisthatbookabout.com/
May 9th @ Mindy McGinnis
Join Mindy as she features Linda Stewart Henley’s guest post about mixed genres in writing.
https://www.mindymcginnis.com/blog
May 12th @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog today and read her review of Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley.
https://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/
May 13th @ CK Sorens’ Blog
Visit Carrie’s blog and read Linda Stewart Henley’s guest post about the importance of setting.
May 15th @ Choices
Visit Madeline’s blog and read Linda Stewart Henley’s guest post about what a difference an editor makes.
May 19th @ Reading Is My Remedy
Join Chelsie over at her Instagram page today where she shares her review of Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley.
https://www.instagram.com/reading_is_my_remedy/
May 21st @ Bring on Lemons
Crystal shares her thoughts about the charming Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
May 24th @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
Make sure to visit Anthony’s blog and read his review of Linda Stewart Henley’s book Waterbury Winter.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
May 25th @ Beverley A. Baird
Join Beverley again as she features Linda Stewart Henley’s post about inspiration in art.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
May 26th @ The Frugalista Mom
Visit Roselyn’s blog as she reviews Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley.
May 27th @ A Storybook World
Deirdra’s blog features Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
May 30th @ Liberate and Lather
Stop by Angela’s blog today and read her thoughts about Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley.
May 31st @ The Faerie Review
Lily spotlights Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com/
June 2nd @ Pages & Paws
Join Pages and Paws for their review of Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley.
June 4th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole reviews Waterbury Winter by Linda Stewart Henley.
https://worldofmyimagination.com/
June 5th @ Jill Sheets Blog
Visit Jill as she interviews author Linda Stewart Henley.
Beverley A Baird 