Nathaniel Mary Quinn

 A few months ago, I watched an episode of PBS Art Talk about a young life that will forever stay in my memory. It's the story of an accomplished American artist named Nathaniel Mary Quinn. Some people live through tough childhoods and he is one. He grew up in the poorest and toughest part of Chicago. His parents were illiterate, raising four boys on almost no income. 

He drew on the walls of his parents' apartment. His mother thought she should punish him but his big brother stopped her, pointing out that Natianial actually showed talent for good art. Then she encouraged him, repeatedly washing the walls so he could have new space to keep drawing. 

His art saved his life in many ways. As a young boy, he drew sketches of gang leaders so they would feel good about themselves and it stopped them from beating him up. As a teenager, he won a scholarship to a high school where he could live in residence. During this time, his mother passed away and he never learned the cause of her death. A few weeks after her passing, Nathanial went home for Thanksgiving but arrived to find an empty apartment. He didn't know where his father and brothers had gone. 

He gained a new appreciation for his school, seeing it as the place that gave him a secure life: three good meals a day, a roof over his head, and a chance to learn and grow in safety. He worked hard to gain top marks so he could stay in school. He won awards and world-wide accolages for his art. His art is very original, and when you learn about his life, it makes sense. He creates pictures of broken people; people who are still holding together somehow. Damages souls. 

He added his mother's name to his name to honour her. knowing she always wished she had an education, he made sure that her name would appear on his degrees and awards by having her name as part of his. I found this very moving. His life is very inspiring but, in the interview, he talked about it in a matter-of-fact voice, not complaining at all or feeling sorry for himself. He only expressed gratitude for the life he lives now. 

I tried to find that interview on the internet so I could share the link with you, but my technical wizardry only goes so far. Other, shorter interviews are available but not the one I saw. Watch out for him. His is an inspiring story. 

His story taught me a few things about life: to appreciate the safe and privileged life I live, for to take the opportunities offered and make the most of them. I hope you will do the same. 

Three Good Questions: 

Simplifying your life is simple but not easy. here are three questions to ask when making decisions, setting goals, or planning uyour day: 

• Will it matter tomorrow?
• Will it matter in ten years? 
• Will this matter at the end of your life? 

---Jennifer Louden, The Woman's Comfort Book 

Monarch of the Wild 

Joy at Work

I'm really enjoying these past weeks at work. It's been such a good feeling to get some important things done that have waited on the wings of a busy summer and fall. They're the building block type of things that have only mattered to me, making a difference in my art and writing business, and what a relief to finally have a day to take care of those tasks. I'm a methodical worker. I go from one completed task to another, which could be frustrating for some who like to multi-task, but if I know one job is completely done, then I can fully focus on the next one without my mind returning to the last, yet unfinished job. I strive for that peace of mind that comes from a job ticked off the list, crossed out, the door closed. I'll admit I am slow to accomplish things but it's worth it to gain that peace of mind. I love the doing the task, and love it when it's done.  

How does your mind work? Here is a short quiz you can do to find out, click on Idealist. 

We're not human beings trying to be spiritual. We are spiritual beings trying to be human. (Jacquelyn Small) 

Sunrise on the River

Reflections on my Backyard Art Sale

 In the summer of 2023, I was looking for a way to sell my art in a in-person setting. This was before I stared in community art sales and I was just starting out in selling. I have a pretty decent backyard and decided to use that. Once a month, I advertised on social media and set out signs on the day of the sale. My daughter has a Cricut so I bought the blank signs and asked her to put on the words and a graphic similar to my logo -- boots out a truck window, with a big heading that read, "Backyard Art Sale". I also sent notices to all my friends in the city, inviting them to come and bring a friend. 

This type of art sale is relatively new in my area and interest was high. In addition to original art and prints, I had a free draaw and offered a small framed print as the prize. I also offered free bookmarks with hand-painted flowers on the front and my name and website on the back. (I got these laminated at Staples.) I set out a few items from my RedBubble shop: coffee mugs, shopping bags, and cushion covers with my art printed on them. I also had some notecards with my paintings printed on them as well as some hand-painted cards. 

At the first sale, attendance was low but the word was getting out and more people came to following events. I learned how to talk to customers, how to display the items, and which items people were the most interested in. I also learned which subject matter people liked most in paintings. I sold a few things at each sale, enough to keep me excited to have another one the next month. 

After the first sale, I decided to invite a guest artist to join me for the next ones. I invited my son first to display his photography. The next month, I invited my daughter and husband to display their new craft business selling wood crafts and fibre arts. The summer was holding warm into the fall. I decided to have one last sale on October 14th and invited my writers' group. Two members signed up with their books and crafts. It turned cold that morning. Not many came except for the few intrepid souls and it was clear this would be the last outdoor sale of the year. In the afternoon, the sun came out and the day turned lovely and warm, bringing more people. 

At most sales (except for the October one) more people came out in the morning thatn the afternoon. The lowest attendance was in September with about a dozen people. The sale with the most people was in July with about 50. The best idea I came up with was to invite a different guest each time. Their products added variety to the whole display and I had someone to talk to in the quiet times. We generated ideas while we visited. 

Overall, it was a great experience and I'm glad I did it. The next summer, I signed up for some Art in the Park sales. I went into those being better prepared because of the experience of my backyard sales. With each sale, I went in being better prepared than the last one. I also procured more pieces of equipment each year: in 2023 I bought a folding table and borrowed another table and a canopy, in 2024 I bought my own canopy and a high folding chair for myself instead of using a lawn chair (in a high chair, I can talk to people face-to-face from the chair whereas in a lawn chair, I stood up each time to talk to someone). I enjoy talking to people about art, meeting new people in both customers and other sales people. It's a learning experience but an enjoyable one. 

Finding satisfaction under the sun

 

As I look out my window at the bending trees and scudding clouds I think, this is the kind of scene artists like to paint: the trees, the clouds, and people walking by holding their coats tight around them, but it's also a nice day to stay indoors and just watch the action through the window. I would paint the picture I see outside if I wasn't already deep into a painting of another kind. This one is a country scene with a boy, a dog, and a barn. The boy and his dog are running after adventure. His coat is flying open, the dog's ears are flapping, the barn stands big and solid, inviting. I love the freedom expressed here: the wide open landscape, the dog without a leash or even a collar, and no one is telling the boy to do up his coat or wear a hat. It's the kind of life all boys and girls (and dogs) want to live, and should live. Some other day, I’ll paint the scudding clouds and the cold wind that makes people hold their coats tight around them, but when I do, it'll be from the comfort of indoors. When I do paint outside, I'll wait for a warm, sunny, summer day.

What it takes to be a writer

I am the only writer in my family. Most of my friends do not write. When I told an acquaintance that I wrote poetry and articles, he looked askance and asked, “What do you want to do that for?” 

‘Why, indeed?’ I asked myself later. What is it about me that gives me utter peace after I’ve spent a few hours scooping ideas from my head and spreading them over a blank computer screen? 

Well, we all have our gifts. Some of us are created with a yearning to communicate through writing: not speaking, not music -- writing. I love writing whether it’s a diary entry, a friendly letter, or a piece for a contest. Journaling was a valuable catharsis while my marriage was failing. In happier times, I felt the thrill of learning that my writing had been accepted by a publisher. Knowing somebody else wants to read what I wrote was confirmation for me. It’s also addictive. 

To help maintain any habit, one needs supportive paraphernalia. Here are the items I know I need: 

1. Clear head space: It is not possible to have the capacity to write creatively unless I have some clear space in my head. Creativity needs room to flow freely. When in mourning, one does not have the resources to handle anything else but the healing. The mind is filled up. There is no room for thoughts outside of the current crisis. At the same time, having the drive to write gives a way to assist healing by writing out feelings and experiences. Healing takes time. Creativity will return when the mind is ready. 
2. Coaching: Back in the blur of raising a young family I saw an advertisement for a correspondence course on writing for children. It was in a magazine I perused while waiting in our doctor’s office. (When you have four children, your only free time is in the doctors’ office, child on floor playing with previously infected toys, waiting). I remembered that advertisement and decided that since I wasn’t totally consumed with child rearing anymore, I would take a writing course and see how I would do. When I finished that course, I took another. Besides learning how to write better, I also learned that not all courses are helpful. Some are better than others, but I did learn something from all of them. The day came when I knew I wasn’t a “beginning writer” any longer and I needed more than the basic courses. All went well while I took these classes. I got exclamations from my teachers. I even accomplished a published story. It was later, much later, that I realized I was going to have to do better than the simple offerings I produced for those assignments if I was going to get anywhere in the publishing world. Some of the classes were good and I don’t think it was a complete waste of time. It required me to think about thorough character development, explicit scene descriptions, and dialogue that kept true to the plot. One particular workshop was not the earth-shaking experience I hoped for, but I did learn I wasn’t a very good children’s writer as I listened to others read their work. On the positive side though, I picked up many ideas for things like overcoming writer’s block and I jotted down some experiences during the exercises that have since been the basis for some stories and poems that came later. The company of others in the profession: Although some writers don’t seem to need this, I covet interaction with other writers who give out advice and support. Many writers prefer their reclusive life, but I have cherished my time spent with my writers' group. 
3. Reading books on my craft: Reading books on writing has also been a big learning experience, albeit having to remember to pick out what pertains to my life and leave the non-applicable bits in the book. I plan to keep reading more books by other writers in future. 
4. The right location to write: Do you need a particular place to write or could you do it anywhere? I crave a quiet spot more than I need a computer at a proper desk. I’ll sit outside on a summer day with pen and paper as long as it's quiet. Some prefer to write in a restaurant, surrounded by people. I suppose there has been, in the annals of history, a writer who hunched in an attic corner in the dead of night. (Actually, come to think of it, I have hunched on the couch in the dead of night many times.) Ann Landers wrote in her bathtub. Steven King describes the grandiose office he remodelled for himself in the dining room, and then realized that it stifled his creativity. Remembering the value of living a crowded family life in their previous tiny home, he returned the dining room back into itself and chose a small nook in a closet for writing. Of course, a computer is an eventual necessity for the final product, these days. 
5. Endurance and patience: Canadian writer, Peter Eyvindson thought he’d break the Guinness World Record for having the most rejection letters from publishers. Anne Frank’s diary went through fifteen rejections. J.K. Rowling’s manuscript was rejected twelve times. Twenty-seven publishers rejected Dr. Seuss. These people eventually succeeded because they did their best work, had faith in their product, and kept trying until they found the right publisher. 

A writer’s characteristics are strengthened with training and practice. Not everyone wants to spend their free time tapping out a parade of ideas. The enjoyment of doing this makes that person a writer.