In The Father a character named Morgan is a sculptor. He’s also a scientist with an interest in acting. He makes a realization with the remark quoted above. The Father’s author, Brett Williams, couldn’t agree more (naturally – given he made Morgan say this). Williams is an oil painter and used paintings he created as occasional source, reference, and inspiration for descriptions of setting and place throughout The Father. (For the utility of science and engineering in the writing craft see, How science helped illuminate the story. For character development through acting go here.)
Of course, one can employ face-to-face experiences with nature, photography or their own imagination. But the author discovered that getting in the imagery he was trying to describe on paper could also be done on canvas at home or in nature of a wilderness. Even if only a portion of a scene could be found in an otherwise unrelated painting - completed or in work - reimagining the painting in words could help the writing. Like, “Hung by vines having strangled their host, jungle tree branches, like arms pulled from a man, swayed bodiless in the air.” (see the painting More Than The Rainforest below) Or, “Behind the Magician a magnified full moon rose, dwarfed by their monolithic manmade mountain.” (see the painting Pharaohs Dream below). And, “Shadow soldiered over land and its irregular contours in a muscular march about to push over the house.” (see the painting “Tribute To My Home” below)
“Even describing common clouds, rocks, or the texture and curve of clothing,” says Williams, “can be aided through methods invented when painting as one strives for bigger than life effects.” (see paintings Like Cotopaxi above, a tribute to Frederic Church’s Cotopaxi, and Portal, Eyes Of Castolon Peak, American Ethic, and African Warrior below).
Pharaohs Dream, © 1995
Portal, © 1995
Eyes Of Castolon Peak, © 1991
American Ethic, © 1989
African Warrior, © 1990
Bald Eagle, © 1981
We Fish Togther, © 1991
Country Apostle, © 1991
Fosseys Memory, © 1990
3 Rams, © 1980
Tag, © 1991
Heaven Sent, © 1992
Falcon Overlook, © 1991