Observation and using all of the senses are invaluable to the writer. Sometimes we think we are observing, as human beings and as writers, but are we?
I am reading 'Dear Theo', a compilation of letters from Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo.
Even before he realizes it, Vincent is a born painter. His capacity for observation, although I'm sure it's not unique, is the best documented example I've ever read.
I have been trying to 'see' the way van Gogh did. Time will tell how this will affect my writing but, I'm convinced it can only lead to good things.
Observing life in its day to day mundaneness, Vincent sees every frame, to borrow a term from photography, as a painting.
While yearning to become a minister he writes, "I walked along the Buitenkant and the sand banks near the railroad. I cannot describe to you how beautiful it was there in the twilight. Rembrandt, Michel and others have sometimes painted it, the ground dark, the sky still lit by the glow of the setting sun, the row of houses and steeples against it, lights in the windows everywhere, and the whole mirrored in the water. And the people and the carriages like little black figures."
As a paragraph,beautifully written, it stands on its own admirably, but as I mentioned, the paragraph highlights how he sees everything in terms of painting.
Although I have not finished the book I have been inspired by Vincent's way of seeing the everyday and seeing paintings everywhere. If you see a painting when you look at ordinary people and things, you see a story in everything and everyone. If you're not a painter you can to tell these stories through fiction, poetry, sculpture, drama or film. In fact, if you have the gift to do so, you must.
Stone, Irving,ed. Dear Theo The Autobiography of Vincent van Gogh. By Vincent van Gogh New York: Plume, 1995
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Written by Fledermaus (3506 comments posted) 27th July 2008 | One of the thing painting does is to make one look more carefully. It seems that all too often people do things on auto-pilot, yet if you look at things as a painter, you have to look carefully.
Funnily enough though, I also noticed that when looking at things as a 'painter' (well, just someone who likes to draw), I do the opposite as when I look at them as a 'writer' (or rather someone who just likes to write stuff): As a 'writer', I dream on about what stories there could be behind things, while as a 'painter' I disect them into geometrical shapes, colours and shades... One of the wonderful things about drawing is that it makes one notice that the world is different from what he's always thought.
Van Gogh seems an interesting figure; I personally am not a big fan of his work, although I must admit it shows great craftsmanship. He seems to be one of those on the border between realistic and abstract art.
I'm curious about the place you describe above; 'Buitenkant' means 'outside', yet since you write it with a capital, I presume that here it's the name of some building or street? And if Rembrant painted it, it must be quite old... Where is it?
A nice piece of non-fiction and a thought provoking one too. Tomorrow I'll try to look at things like a painter... |
Written by Gwynedd (83 comments posted) 27th July 2008 | Fledermaus, thank you for the translation. I didn't know what Buitenkant meant but he writes it like a street name. Now I want to research as well. Why is the street named that? It's interesting. I agree with you about the age of the street and I wonder if it still exists. I have a dutch friend who's hard to reach but I will try to find out through him or a modern day street map.
My son paints and he always said painting makes you look more carefully and I write so I thought I knew what he meant and that I was 'seeing' in the same way as my son and Vincent but this book makes me realize that I'm only doing it maybe 25% as thoroughly as I should be.
I love your perspective on looking at things as a painter as opposed to looking at the world as a writer. I guess that's why I found Vincent's view of the world so shocking. And like I said earlier, I had always assumed I was seeing things the way a painter does so I wasn't developing in that area.
I'm glad you enjoyed my piece but you ended up making me think! Beautiful. |
Written by Josie (2849 comments posted) 15th August 2008 | I enjoyed reading your piece about Vincent Van Gogh too. Well, Fledermaus should be able to help you as he is Dutch. He's the right man for the job.
I loved what Van Gogh said:
""And my aim in my life is to make pictures and drawings, as many and as well as I can; then, at the end of my life, I hope to pass away, looking back with love and tender regret, and thinking, 'Oh, the pictures I might have made!'"
Vincent van Gogh
I would like to think this about poetry too, but I could never come up to his standard of work if I worked for a lifetime, but even to leave a little of yourself that others like is a nice thought. |
Written by Gwynedd (83 comments posted) 15th August 2008 | Thank you so much, Josie for your review. I LOVE the van Gogh quote! Especially to say after the work he had done, "Oh, the pictures I might have made!"
Yes, I read somewhere on the site, must have been one of Fledermaus' posts, that he was Dutch but I didn't know at the time. I thought I would ask my Dutch friend but as you said, Fledermaus is right here.
Thank you again, It's nice to hear from you. I haven't been writing or reading and I was in hospital for a while but I'm on the mend so no worries! Gwynedd |
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