A few weeks ago the Argyll Art Map
weekend took place in this area, with various local artists and photographers
opening their workshops to the public. It was a great opportunity to peak into
places you may not normally be allowed, and to examine works of creativity outside
your comfort zone.
I expected to enjoy, and did enjoy, the
amazing pictures of local towns and beauty spots, of wildlife and boats – lots
of boats. I was less keen on the picture of Jesus being stabbed by pens
(really!), or the urinal turned into … something arty? But it certainly meant
there were things to appeal to a wide range of tastes.
What intrigued me, as a writer, was the
ways in which this experience of visual art both is and is not the same as
writing. I can look at a still life or a scene, and take an emotion from it,
but after that I want to move on to the story – what happened here? Why
is it significant? Does it mean different things to different people? Not being
an artist, and not having thought to ask any of the ones I visited, I don’t
know if they also form stories about their work (Neil may be able to answer!).
But I do know that their inspiration helps to inspire me, either to write or
just to dream.
This picture at the head of this post is
Winifred Nicholson’s ‘Gate To The Isles’. It’s one of my favourites, which I’ve
had on my bedroom wall for many years. I’ve wondered and wondered who went
through that gate last, and why, and what that means to the painter. Below is a
painting done by my great-grandfather, which has intrigued me since I was a
child. I wanted to walk along that road and find out where it led. Sometimes I
even dreamt I was in the picture, finding out what happened next. Perhaps one
day I’ll write my way to an answer!
Are there any pictures that inspire you?
