Painting of a family game of checkers (“jeu des dames”), Louis-Léopold Boilly [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
From etymonline.com: “draughts (n.)British name for the tabletop game that in U.S. is checkers, c. 1400, from draught, perhaps because the pieces are “dragged” over the board in moves. Earlier it is recorded as jeu de dames (late 14c.).”
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While Mr. and Mrs. Bingley settled in to play draughts, Lorcan was given the privilege to play fox and geese with Kitty. It would have been a wonderful way to get to speak to her in hushed tones had not his annoying and ever-present cousin been at his elbow instructing him about which was an excellent move and which was a daft one.
Do you remember this little fellow who likes to climb drapes, pounce on tables, and steal pretty things? I used this picture before with a few lines from Loving Lydia. You can find that post here.
The Butterfly by John Henry Dolph [Public domain] via Wikimedia
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“Oh, how am I supposed to get you when you are under that?” Kitty gave a small stamp of her stockinged foot.
Oliver had slipped under a chest of drawers that held a clock, a lamp, and beautiful vase that stood waiting for a fresh bouquet of flowers.
She got down on her hands and knees and peeked under the piece of furniture.
“May I please have my ribbon?” she begged in as sweet a voice as she could muster when feeling as annoyed as she did.
Illustration from “Eugene Onegin” edition (1908); Elena Samokich-Soudkovskaïa [Public domain] via Wikimedia
Our couple takes a walk in the garden in chapter 4, and there is a bench involved. However, the couple in this painting look far happier than either Kitty or Lorcan will be during their walk in the garden.
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“Are you well?” Kitty cried.
Mutely, he shook his head, for speech had left him.
“Do you wish to sit down?”
He nodded. Sitting was not exactly what he wished to do, but it was likely better than standing when the garden began to waver. She led him to a bench, and gratefully, he sank down onto it before his legs could fail him.
“Go on without me,” he said when he could once again speak now that his mind was no longer focused so intently on keeping him upright.
In this quote, Voltaire linked writing and painting.
I tend to not only think of writing as painting word pictures but also as something possessing musical qualities. I listen to the rhythm and tone of what I write as much as I do the images I paint. I want my words to flow smoothly where they should and have a staccato rhythm where it is needed.
Both visual and audio arts can stir the emotions and resonate deeply with the person experiencing the art. I hope that my writing can do that — if not now, then, maybe one day as I continue to improve.
But how do the visual and audio arts inspire my writing? If you follow my Music Monday posts or my Wordless Wednesday ones, you probably have a good idea that both music and art spark my creativity.
Tomorrow, in our LLS Society Papers video, Rose Fairbanks and I will be discussing this very topic and likely sharing a few examples of the link between the inspiration and final product.
The live stream will begin at 3 PM Eastern, but the video of the discussion can be viewed after that as well.
*Longbourn Literary Society (LLS) is a Facebook group founded by three friends, who share a love of writing and Jane Austen for the purpose of promoting those loves and our work.
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You can find Rose and Zoe’s websites at these links:
In this quote, Voltaire linked writing and painting.
But how do the visual and audio arts inspire my writing? If you follow my Music Monday posts or my Wordless Wednesday ones, you probably have a good idea that both music and art spark my creativity.
Rose’s Links
Leenie’s Links
Music Monday: Five Long Years (Colin James)