Sunday, January 24, 2010

Finding Inspiration

Vivaldi’s Virgins
By Barbara Quick
HarperCollins

At best, studio time has been sporadic over these last few weeks as my familial duties ebb and flow.  Although I don't have any worthy images to share with you, I thought that I could share with you a bit of unexpected inspiration.

I have been reading a most stimulating historical fiction by Barbara Quick titled "Vivaldi's Virgins".  I am addicted to art related fiction.  It's a genre in writing that easily sucks me in and keeps me up at night as I obsessively turn pages.  This story recreates for us 18th century Venice thru the eyes of a cloistered orphan and student of Vivaldi, the Red Priest.  Barbara Quick's style of writing immediately set my visual senses a flutter.   There are passages that had me weeping at the brilliance of the idea.  Here is a favorite:

"Are all lives such a complicated puzzle?  Maybe it's only in Venezia - in this place where everyone's role is so striclty and precisely defined - that the cracks between the puzzle pieces tell as much a story as the pieces themselves.  Each piece, seen in isolation, makes no sense at all - a corner of this, a limb of that; a leaf, a shadow, a section of water or sky.   The meaning only becomes clear when all the pieces are fitted together."

I also found an insightful review by Terez Rose that you may read HERE.

Have you found inspiration in writing before?  Do you have a favorite art related fiction to recommend?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Now, I must binge on Vivaldi's beautiful scores as I paint and draw.

3 comments:

  1. Dear Alia,

    Oh the Internet is a wonderful thing! Your blog post came to me this morning, courtesy of Google Alerts, which is set to mentions of my novel.

    I myself have derived so much inspiration from the world of visual art. My newest novel, A GOLDEN WEB, depended entirely on art and illuminations I was able to find from the 14th century. Art captures life (as I know you know!) in a way that history books never can.

    Anyway, I'm going to look at more of your paintings now. I found the collection featuring "Women Painting Women" (including yours) to be breathtakingly beautiful--and will pass it on to other artist friends of mine.

    Warmest wishes,
    Barbara

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  2. a beautiful thought provoking quote from the book.
    sorry i don't have any recommendations of the type you asked about but i think most writers can't help but be artistic. r.

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  3. Barbara- Thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond to my blog. It really means a lot that you've commented. I'm a bit speechless and star struck. I will look forward to the release of your next novel A Golden Web! Also, thank you for the praise of Women Painting Women. It's been a wonderful project to be a part of.

    Rahina, I'm glad you've enjoyed the quote. Try to get your hands on a copy of Vivaldi's Virgins as there are many more splended arrangements of words and thoughts inside.

    Happy painting, writing, being creative!

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