Each month I take a moment to pause and share a few things I’ve found to be helpful and fun along the adventure of living and writing well.
I hope you find them to be enlightening and encouraging!
Book Review: The Writer’s Brush by Donald Friedman
Note: Links for this book are affiliate links which means if you purchase something I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Don’t worry, I only recommend things I actually like! For more info see my site policy.
What’s the overlap between art and writing? Can creatives be both painter and author?
The Writer’s Brush by Donald Friendman examines these questions as it explores the lives of multi-passionate creatives: those who are both writers and artists.
Beatrix Potter, Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Conrad, the Bronte sisters, and many many more are featured in this beautiful book. Full color illustrations and essays on each author’s life provide a unique glimpse into their creative process.
I found The Writer’s Brush to be an interesting read, both in regards to the details of various authors’ lives (I especially loved reading more on the Bronte sisters!) but also the philosophical question of whether creatives can be both artist and author and what that looks like.
And each individual featured in this book had a different story. From pencil drawings to abstract art to paper cut outs, creativity was displayed in abundance.
Art, imagination, and creativity can be displayed in so many different ways.
Sometimes our soul may speak through words and sometimes we may benefit from experimenting with chalk and paint. Any why stop there? Music, sculpture, mosaics… there are so many ways to express ourselves.
I enjoyed learning more about various individuals in this book. And even more so, I enjoyed thinking more about how art works and how we can pursue it in all sorts of different ways.
This book made me want to paint and draw more. 🙂
The Writer’s Brush is a great coffee table book for those who are art and book enthusiasts, or maybe see about tracking it down at your library if you just want to take a deeper look at some of your favorite authors’ work.
Art and writing go hand in hand and this book was a wonderful reminder of that.
Whatever your medium is- be it words or paint- may you pursue it with enthusiasm and persistence! Happy creating my friends 🙂
Recipe of the Month: Aunt Norma’s Rhubarb Muffins
This is a great recipe to make while there is still an abundance of rhubarb growing in your garden, or a garden nearby. These muffins even garnered the approval of my picky almost-five year old, so you know they’re good!
Self-Care Homework:
Close your eyes and listen to the space and sounds around you. Birds. Computer humming. Your own breathing.
Take notice of your body as you breath in and out.
Think of things you are thankful for. Little things, big things, it doesn’t matter.
Moments of mindfulness are good for the soul <3
Writing Prompt:
Did you know that Dr Seuss write Green Eggs and Ham using only 50 unique words after being bet that he couldn’t do it?
Try to write your own short story using only 50 different words! (It may help to find a list of commons words online, or just use a Dr Seuss book for help.)
It’s a great exercise for being more aware of the words we use, plus it’s fun. 🙂
Cuteness: Hammock Puppies
Quote:
“Read, read, read. Read everything – trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.”
William Faulkner
Happy writing and joyous living to you all! Feel free to send me a note with any questions or to say hi anytime!
Greetings! Very useful advice within this post!
It’s the little changes that will make the greatest
changes. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Mitch!