What Writing and Painting Have in Common

I’ve always wished I could paint.  But I never had a chance to take any classes or really try it.  Earlier this year several of my friends felt the same way I did, we all wanted to paint and never had.  We decided there was no reason not to start painting, so we just did.  One in the group was an artist/art teacher, so she got us started in our new adventure in acrylic painting.  Now we get together each week for art. 

What I didn’t expect was to find so many similarities between painting and writing.  For example, though I was painting a “nonfiction” subject-a pumpkin-there were endless ways to paint said pumpkin.  Just like a book about a nonfiction topic, there are endless ways to do it.  I knew what a pumpkin looked like, but I painted my pumpkin, my way. 

My pumpkin, my way.

But that isn’t the only similarity for me between writing and painting.  Here are a few others: 

I choose what details to put in a painting and what to leave out, just like in my books.

Revision is necessary in art, just like my books. 

I decide when a painting is finished, just like my books. 

I sometimes look at the painting later and wish I’d done something a little bit different or better, just like my books.

When other people see my art and it isn’t the sort of thing they like-it is ok, just like my books.

As a beginning painter every piece of art I attempt is a challenge, just like my books.

There is satisfaction when a painting is finished to know that I started with a blank canvas and ended up with something, just like my books.

If I’m happy with the final piece that is all that matters, just like my books.  

Carla Killough McClafferty