Rosanne Dingli

Rosanne Dingli

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Nothing beats F2F

Yesterday, I gave a talk about According to Luke, together with Robyn Varpins, the artist who created all the icons and other reverential artworks for the launch of the novel in May 2011.

Atwell Art Centre, Perth WA
We spoke to a room of very enthusiastic art patrons and practitioners, who were very intrigued by the interface between fiction and visual art. Talking in tandem, Robyn and I discussed the various aspects of the whole project.

I spoke about how I conceived the story and the characters. Robyn spoke about materials, inspiration, and working to a theme. Some of her icons were on display, and aroused a lot of interest. The aged timber supports, paints used, additions such as gold leaf... the audience was spellbound, and one could feel the questions start to form.

Although there was no time to read an excerpt, since this was a Wednesday lunchtime event with most people engaged for something else later in the day, it was lovely to see the rapt expressions of the varied audience. They watched the scrolling slide show on a large screen to one side, which showed various shots of locations from the novel, ancient icons, publisher BeWrite Books logo, locations used, and the cover of the paperback, of course.

Several copies stood on a table, in a display that included several Rubik's cubes, to highlight the significance of the cover illustration - a design by Tony Szmuk. In a very brief sidebar, I commented on the relationship one develops with the publishing team, and what joy and satisfaction can be derived from it. It is very much a part of what an author's life is all about.

Questions from the audience revealed a fascination with all things visual, and how they can relate to the human condition, fiction, and a host of other ingredients. A couple of audience members admitted to a fondness for writing, and all were avid readers - sometimes an author just gets lucky! Robyn and I could have answered questions all afternoon, but Deb Weber, our hostess for the event, wound up the session and opened the 'shop'. Yes, sales were very healthy for both books (they were all claimed off the table!) and icons, so Robyn and I both went home very pleased with the whole day.

Madonna icon by Robyn Varpins


One of the questions we were asked was whether we were going to attempt another collaborative project similar to the one for According to Luke. Robyn and I both nodded with the same enthusiasm. The success of this project is making us think very hard about the upcoming launch for my next thriller, Camera Obscura.

Since it involves visual art again, I have no doubt we shall be able to enthrall the growing body of fans for this kind of overlap between the different disciplines.

Do you read books about art? Leave a comment if seeing images from a novel portrayed in real paintings would elicit a shift in perception for you.

Do you write books about art? How does collaboration with an artist sound to you?
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11 comments:

  1. How awesome that you were able to do that together. That is an experience most people never get. They either see the author or the artist. What a coup. Congratulations.

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  2. Sounds like a very successful event and a great collaboration, Rosanne.

    For me, as an author, the covers showing people rarely convey the characters as I have 'seen' them, and I prefer the non-human covers, such as the cover of Family Connections paperback, showing a garden scene, or the ebook of Mistress of Marymoor, showing a small stately home in England, of the sort the heroine inherited. And I usually feel the same about books I read.

    Authors with the bigger publishers don't have the final say in covers, and I've wept over one or two (not recently).

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  3. Yes Rosanne, I have written about art; my main character in 'Leaving Gaza' was a woman artist. During severe difficulties she took courage and inspiration from the early Australian women artists like Grace Cossington-Smith and Stella Bowen. I am sure the references to great paintings unearths a vast field of opportunity for the writer.

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  4. What a wonderful experience and recount, Rosanne, and for those of us who are writers, there are some excellent ideas here (love the slide show and props - the rubik's cube for example), and the whole notion of artist collaboration is inspiring. I've never collaborated with an artist to this extent (beyond cover art - where I've had several collaborations, including one co-artist show that was fantastic), but it's something I will certainly explore in the future. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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  5. Sounds like a memorable, enjoyable -- and constructive -- long lunch, Rosanne. You and Robyn seem to team incredibly well. Stand by for an email idea that would bring your skills even closer together. Bestests and congrats. Neil

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  6. Well done! That sounds like a great session and I wish I had been able to hear it. Did you by any chance record it? That would be something well worth hanging on your website, so those of us thousands of miles away could hear it too. Share your words in all their forms.

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  7. Absolutely Rosanne! When I'm reading, I see it my way. If there were paintings, I would be able to see it the artist's way and with collaborative work, that would mean your way in the artist's perception. I would welcome that format too! I think a story told with pictures to accompany is a fascinating way to publish.

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  8. As an artist and now a writer, I love the idea of combining the two venues. Medieval art intrigues me and I love the Madonnas. Robyn's art put me in mind of James Christensen, a modern artist who paints Madonnas very successfully.

    Bravo on a great presentation. F2F is one of the best ways to go if you can arrange it.

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  9. Sounds like a great time. I find I write a lot about artists and read about them too and pore our over paintings, probably beause I am totally ungifted in any artisitic or craft skills, unless it involves words. I also write about singers but that one I know more about and enjoy doing.
    www.daleharcombe.com

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  10. It would be nice to know: Does the text and the bottom of Robyn's Madonna actually say anything or is it made up artistic design? It looks as if it has been derived from the Amharic script of the Ethiopian Copts.

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  11. Ian - I must ask Robyn but my guess would be the first alternative you gave. It is very refreshing to get a comment like this - one day I'll tell you why!

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