Let’s Paint like Emily Wrote – Emotional Connection with Childhood Novels
This week, we are reminiscing about childhood novels while painting naturally with watercolors. Do you have this kind of emotional connection with the books from your childhood?
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Now that spring has arrived in Finland and the plants have started to grow, two words have risen above others: “warm” and “natural.”
In January, I decided that my word of the year would be “Release.” This word takes my thoughts to childhood. Again, I want to be a person who is expressive, but also warm and natural.
Can Art Be Natural?
I think art can be abstract and original, but still natural. In this introductory video for the course Freely Grown, I open up about this way of creating.
Watercolors are perhaps the most natural art supplies. When a color meets water, it blooms, and as Henri Matisse said, “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”
When painting naturally, seeing and creating alternate. A hazy spot that looks like a mistake can be the seed for something bigger.
Natural vs. What You Expect from Yourself
With the word “Release”, I have been thinking about how difficult it is to let go of conventional interpretations and expectations. Can you paint dandelions – doesn’t everyone want roses?
To some extent, I identify more with the dandelion: persistent, sometimes pushy and overwhelming, often stepping over the borders.
The more I think about my shortcomings, the more I think about L.M. Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon, a brave orphan girl who wanted to be a poet. She felt like a real person to me. Her story was also a growth story of an artist that had a big impact on my life. I recognize this kind of emotional connection with other childhood novels, too.
The Brave Girls of Childhood Novels
In Finland, we had a popular children’s book series written by Anni Polva. The main character there is Tiina, a pretty wild young girl. Tiina isn’t an artist, but an adventurer. Isn’t it so that to release is also to go for an adventure?
What about Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five books? You could also go on an adventure in those, and in good company.
I also read L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series and Louisa M. Alcott’s Little Women books. Memories of these girls’ books and the word “Release” strongly resonate with me right now. We are living turbulent times, and need to be brave and adventurous – but still in a warm and natural way.
Do you too have an emotional connection to childhood novels?
P.S. I also wrote about children’s books in these blog posts:
In 2023: Watercolor Flowers in Louisa M. Alcott Style
and in 2022: Turning Memories into Paintings
8 thoughts on “Let’s Paint like Emily Wrote – Emotional Connection with Childhood Novels”
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The books I read in my childhood remain a part of me regardless of how old I get. I also read the “Anne” books and “Little Women”, but I also loved the illustrated books for children (girls) a bit younger… Two of my favourite author/illustrators are: Laura Bannon (The Wonderful Fashion Doll, a sweet mystery tale for young girls) and Marguerite di Angeli (Thee, Hannah! about a little Quaker girl trying to understand her life in mid 19th Century Boston.) Also the Misty books about the wild horses on the island of Chincoteague (illustrated by Wesley Dennis) and Pookie, about a little rabbit with wings by Ivy Wallace. And of course, who doesn’t love the Winnie the Pooh books illustrated by E.H. Shepard and all the lovely animals done by Beatrix Potter? And I could go on…
Thank you for the lovely comment, Louisa! The Wonderful Fashion Doll looks like a fun book. Many of who you mentioned are new to me, but for example Marguerite di Angeli’s illustrations are delightful and remind me of some Scandinavian illustrators.
I enjoyed Enid Blytons Secret Seven, but my favourites were her one offs, particularly the secret of killimooin, about a secret world inside a volcano. I also like the wierdstone of brisingimen. I always had an interest in the ‘other worldly’ and history.I was and am an avid reader, loosing myself in other times and places.
I think that’s why I like your paintings and courses Paivi. They transport me elsewhere
Thanks so much, Elizabeth! The Weirdstone of Brisingamen is new to me but looks like an exciting fantasy story.
Such a lovely painting.
I don’t think i have an emotional connection to childhood novels, though I still enjoy reading some books written for young people.
Thank you, Tammie!
I’m so glad I saved my children’s books because now I read them to me grandchildren. So I’m reliving some three times now from my own childhood until now. I love the old illustrations. So many look like watercolors to me. I’ve been having a wonder time experimenting with new colors and seeing how they effect being on top or under or next to, each other. I used to this for weeks in end when I worked in clay. The underglazes I used act just like watercolors when I was able to get a good kind of swirl going. I love, love, love dandelions. So do the bees!
Thank you for the comment, Adrienne! To me, many old illustrations also look like they have been made with watercolors or gouache paints.