We’re in the middle of a mid-April heatwave. This time of year, I will wear a hoodie in protest when summer weather rears its head early, which is sort of ridiculous. I’ve still been making a point to get outside by walking in the morning before it gets hot and then spending about 15-20 minutes filling a bucket with weeds and maple saplings from the garden beds. Maple saplings are my lot in life at the moment, but they are at least very easy to pluck, and I’m making some good progress. It cools off a bit more tomorrow, then it’s back in the 40s on Sunday. There is your Washington County, Maryland weather report and my commentary on it. You’re welcome.
I’m not sure why I’ve started so many Four Things posts with weather updates lately, but I suppose it’s just a sign that I’m getting older. I remember by Opa would always talk about the weather.
Here are my four things for this week: Why I can’t read novels, True Grit, artist preachers, and dividing time.
what I’m reading
I shared about the Seeking Persephone miniseries last week and, since I found myself wanting to spend more time with those characters, I decided to get the next book in the series on Kindle. And I finished that in a day, read the next one, and, well, since sharing last week, I’ve read the entire series. And this, my friends, is why I usually stick to non-fiction reading unless I’m sick, recovering from surgery, or on vacation. I am just too undisciplined when it comes to reading novels and will stay up late reading, read in bed before I start my day, and sneak in a chapter or two while dinner is cooking. I become distracted and neglectful! It’s just such a silly lack of self-control, so it’s back to the history of Paper for me.
Anyway, it’s such a sweet book series that was a nice break from the marathon book about Van Gogh’s life (although I’m still plugging away at that as well). I shared the Seeking Persephone series on Instagram last week and was surprised that a couple of the lead actors reshared and took time to say thank you for sharing their project. That rarely happens when I share books and movies/shows. I came to learn that the series was an independent, partially crowd-funded project. It endeared the series and people involved in it to me even more, knowing the group effort it took to bring this story to life.
what I’m watching
Jeff and I have been on a bit of a western movie kick lately, and we decided to watch the Coen brothers’ remake of True Grit again. I’m not generally a fan of the western film genre, but I adore this movie. I don’t know if it can be improved upon. It’s funny, touching, beautifully filmed, and I love the score.
what I’m loving
“Laurillard preached a religion of beauty in which God was nature, nature was beauty, art was worship, and artists were preachers.” – Van Gogh: The Life
I don’t subscribe to that quote literally, but I do believe that all nature was made by God and he is therefore in all things, that forms of art and creativity can be worship, and, as an extension, that artists can be preachers, depending on the story they are telling with their work. I loved the line when I heard it (I’m “reading” this in audiobook format) and had to write it down. It’s something to ponder.
what I’m working on
Right now, I’m learning how to best divide my time between being a writer and an artist. Some days are more heavily focused on art – prepping panels, shipping finished pieces, communicating with clients, sketching, and painting at the easel. Other days are filled with book-related tasks – finishing the manuscript for my next book, researching the book that follows that one, making little progress on marketing tasks for Move Slow & Make Things, and working on a blog post. But, most days, I do a bit of both. I’ve learned that I feel better about my day, about my workload, about wearing many hats, if I get work done as both an artist and a writer.
I usually write in the morning when my mind is fresh and paint in the afternoon once my desk work is done. The day is pretty evenly split, but I sometimes need to allow more time for writing if I’m on a roll, or more time for painting if I’m working on a larger or more intricate piece.
What have you been reading, watching, loving, and working on?
21 Responses
Marian,
You surely are the “dog portrait painter”!!!! This is another beauty. I feel his eyes are looking into my soul!!!
Stunningly perfection!!!!
Thank you! Yep, dogs have become my primary subject lately.
To each their own, but growing up on westerns and John Wayne, there is no other True Grit than the original True Grit (and I am only in my forties). Maddie Ross and John Wayne make that movie the legend that it is, and I would be curious to know your take on the original. 😉
I never saw the original, but I can’t imagine I would love it more than the Coen version. Maybe I’ll give it a chance, though.
Loved the book, too. Have you read it?
I live the remake of True Grit as well. I was waiting for you to say you were painting that stunning beach photo. Would love to see you tackle that. 😍
Maybe I will. Sunset landscapes are tough to translate in paint.
I haven’t seen either True Grit films so should watch both. We loved the series Longmeyer and so will have to add this to my “arsenal.” Heat wave for sure – we were 80 degrees this week, last week we had ice and myt brother in law slipped on it, fell down his deck stairs and broken ribs. Today it is back in high 70s and Sunday there’s a frost warning. I for one will need to cover out lilacs that are just beginning to bud. WEIRDEST weather EVER.
Yeah, it has been all over the place! Sorry about your BIL. Ouch!
You excel at dog portraiture. Most definitely.
Thank you!
Marian,
your portrait of that dog’s face is so incredible! Addressing your appetite for reading fiction echoes mine. When I was around seven in the 1950’s; my father brought home many boxes of books from a co-worker. His daughter had read all of them and he was looking to share them with a new audience. The entire series of Cherry Ames, student nurse, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and Ellery Queen mysteries! A treasure trove of literal riches. My mother had to place these books under her bed and parcel them out; so I would exist in the real world. Eventually, I read my way through all of them. While I needed assistance to manage my addiction; there was a huge upside… I won almost every spelling bee in elementary school! My mother always took us to the library every week or so. I am eternally grateful to my father’s co-worker, whose kindness and generosity introduced me to diverse and interesting stories and professions.
I didn’t do a lot of reading as a child because I learned to read late and struggled with it. I became an avid reader as an older teen and an adult, though! 🙂
I have recently read The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. It is a series of 8 books, and I got them on Kindle Unlimited. I highly recommend them! If you read the first one, I can almost guarantee you will finish all 8 books and look forward to number 9 that is supposed to be available this fall. Happy reading!!
Ah! You’re being an enabler! I really am useless when I read novels. 😂
If this is not the time in your life to read these books, put them on a “to be read” list for future years. I, too, at one time during my working days had to abstain from reading very much. Now, at 89 years old, I have the leisure to enjoy so many books that I once could not read. I hope someday you will have the time to read the books I suggested (The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion) and many, many others.
By the way, I do so enjoy your blog.
Julianna,
I love the Emma Lion series. Last night I giggled so much I was afraid I would wake my husband up. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book series so much–delightful yet poignant. I think I will be rereading it for years.
I got Kindle Unlimited (which might be dangerous) and added that to my list to read. Thanks for enabling me! 🙂
Did you ever paint Sebastian? Would love to see it! Love following you!
I have painted him twice, but I will paint him again.
Loved True Grit! I also loved the book “Where the Crawdads Sing”. It’s a must read even if you have to hide in the back of the closet to do it! 🙂