Rereading Jane Eyre

This post was written in response to Linda G. Hill’s  Stream of Consciousness Prompt. This week it’s ‘Art’.

Art is ingrained in our essence, so we’re all artists. If you don’t believe me, read on for five minutes.

Art cannot be classified into neat little packages, or measured, or restricted. You can try, but it won’t work. There will always be someone who says: What if? Could this be? Let’s try this…

Art is infinite, unbound, immeasurable and inexhaustible.

Art is constantly developing and enlarging our perspectives and our universe.

Art is like water, it can appear in many different forms, shapes and sizes. It can be found on the surface, below the surface and in the sky. But it is always necessary for life.

It’s the wallpaper design on our wall, the priceless painting in a museum, the weathered and worn, ancient mosaic in an archaeological site, the T-shirt design the archaeologist is wearing, the funny picture on my mug, the photograph of The Kissing Sailor, the pebble design in my garden, the cover of my book, the ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs, the latest erotic bestseller, the Shard, the Christmas stencil on my window…

In fact, if it’s controversial and people are discussing whether it’s good or bad, art or not, then it’s art. If people are looking at it and saying ‘Marvellous!’  or ‘Rubbish!’, it’s art too. If it’s a free sticker, or the Mona Lisa, it’s art, too. If it’s a private letter written by a WWII soldier at war, or a massive billboard add, it’s art too, because we’re all artists.

An artist is someone who wants/wanted to express something, show something, or provoke something, in someone else.

We need artists to create, express and discover art, but remember, I started saying we’re all artists.

Some artists copy or reflect what they see, exactly as they see it (which is always subjective and unique) or how they’d like people to see it (which is equally unique).

Other artists look beyond what they see and copy or reflect what they imagine or would like to see.

Many artists never knew they were artists, or don’t even consider themselves artists. That’s a pity, but it doesn’t matter, other artists/people will recognise their talent sooner or later anyway.

The artist will explore what could be…? what if…? Should I try…?

Even if you don’t want to be an artist, you’re an artist. You chose the style and colour of the clothes you wear, the images of the pictures on your walls, the design and colour of your car, your hairstyle, the flowers on your crockery, the starting screen image on your mobile, perhaps you like taking photographs or writing poems or short stories, or painting pictures, or doodling, they are all artistic expressions.

So, which one of you isn’t an artist?

Some of you will say, OK, perhaps I’m ‘a bit of’ an artist in an ample sense of the word, but to be a ‘real artist’ have to be a ‘good artist’.

Well, that’s another topic for another day, but I’ll just leave you with one question:

Who decides what’s good? Why not you and me? Does it even matter?

My grandson’s favourite pastime is painting on huge sheets of white paper in my garden. Here’s one of his stunning murals… He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s a real artist!

Check out some of the other posts here: https://lindaghill.com/category/stream-of-consciousness-saturday/

Happy weekend to all you budding artists out there!

I’m not sure if there really is a recipe for the perfect book, but when I read a novel which I consider to be an exceptionally good book,  I try to analyse why exactly I thought it was brilliant. What made it stand out for me? 

There are a variety of objective (editing, plot…) and subjective (if I identify with the characters, preferred genre, expectations…) elements which determine a novel’s appeal, but they’re  not easy to pinpoint.

This morning on twitter, I came across this fabulous post by Rachel Carney http://createdtoread.com/about/ which identifies all the factors, which combined lead to a great book.

These are the characteristics Rachel Carney identifies:

1) The grip factor

2) A Plot that is Engaging

3) The Language Style

4) Speech that isn’t Confusing

I hadn’t thought of this one, but it’s so true.

5) Characters You Can See

6) A Satisfying Ending

7) Edited Thoroughly

8) Characters You Can Identify With

9) Meeting Expectations

10) The Approval of Jane Austen

I love this one!

“some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language.”

(an extract from Northanger Abbey

Read the whole article. It’s fabulous!

What makes a good book ‘good’?

http://createdtoread.com/what-makes-a-good-book-good/

Any other factors you can think of?

The beach at Arija, Burgos. Spain. Pantano del Ebro. 

This is the most authentic stream of consciousness post I’ve ever written.

I’m sitting next to my husband who’s driving and my son and grandson are sitting in the back seat.

We’re on our way to the beach, el Sardinero in Santander, Spain, and I was looking at the scenery and checking out some blogs, when I came across Linda Hill’s SoCs prompt: ‘second’ I love it! https://lindaghill.com/2016/07/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-2316/

So many wonderful things are ‘second’ for example second hand or second best, at least I think they’re wonderful. Second best is as unique as best, and she can still keep trying to improve while ‘best’ has already accomplished his dream! Second best is still on her journey of improvement,  and we all know the journey not the destination is all the fun!

Second hand shops and articles are just wonderful.  Haven’t we all found fabulous things others have used and loved to reuse and relove.

This leads me to my favourite ‘second’ word: second chances and second opportunities. We all make mistakes or wrong decisions, or suffer great loss, and we all need another chance to make things better, say your sorry, make amends, start a new.

There’s only one inconvenience about second chances, you have to purposefully go and get them.

Seek out that person  you need to see again because something was left unsaid. Open your eyes and look for new opportunities.

Remember second opportunities are better than first. We have the experience and the will to do it better, this time!

Go for it!🎆🎉😎

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Luccia Gray to the Storage Room. I’ve been a fan of Luccia’s books ever since I read the first book in her Eyre Hall Trilogy, All Hallows at Eyre …

Source: Luccia Gray – Author Interview