tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post4482182815982328452..comments2023-06-11T19:53:49.994+10:00Comments on WENDY L: Writer with an Artist's Brush - Marion Sipe Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00435753141533984134noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-2787165899360906552013-04-05T14:30:19.268+11:002013-04-05T14:30:19.268+11:00@Kay Dee - Hey there, Kay Dee! Sorry your comment...@Kay Dee - Hey there, Kay Dee! Sorry your comment got lost in cyberspace. It's nice to meet you as well! MuseItUp has a very creative team all around! *nods*<br /><br />@Wendy - LOL! Actually Mother and Child is based on my cats. *G* We brought home two little kittens and while most of our cats were terrified of them, one cat--Kismet--pounced on them and made them her own. They adore her. In their minds, no one (even humans!) is better than their momma kitty. And when she cleans them (especially their heads and faces) they look at her as if she is the center of their little universes. I wanted to take that some kind of emotion and translate it into a species we rarely think of in that way. Plus, I wanted to draw dragons. *G*<br /><br />Knowing how something is built (for a human, how the muscles connect, where the bones are, etc.) is really essential to drawing it. If you start with simple shapes in those areas, you can build off of them until you have the full shape, to which you then add detail. I think the biggest impediment to most people who are trying to draw is that they want to just automatically translate what they're seeing (definitely start with things you can physically see) onto the paper, but most artists (unless they're really, really experienced) begin by drawing simple shapes and build that up into more complex shapes. For instance, using simple circles to indicate the musculature of the person or creature you're trying to draw. <br /><br />Finally, you say, "If we don't know this well enough to convey to our cover artist, then we really don't have much basis for a story at all, do we?"<br /><br />And that's a really good thought. A lot of writers have difficulty seeing the big picture, even in their own writing. It's even more confused by the fact that many writers think that themes have to be something huge and grand, with philosophical points. Themes, though, can be simple (a person's love for their family, etc.) but those are exactly the things you want your cover art to convey! Themes are built from the motivations and emotions of the characters, but many authors have trouble standing back and seeing how that theme is echoed throughout a book. I'm actually going to be doing a blog post on this, after the April interviews. *nods*<br /><br />Okay, okay, I'll stop talking now! *G*Marion Sipehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018535641577067069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-84430105186589401672013-04-04T15:04:17.114+11:002013-04-04T15:04:17.114+11:00Hi Kay Dee,
Lovely of you to stop by. I just found...Hi Kay Dee,<br />Lovely of you to stop by. I just found you comment (it was in the spam, which I rarely check). It would have been so disappointing to miss it and I can't see how that could have happened. You are so right, so many talented MuseItUp members, including your dear self. :)Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00435753141533984134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-82754299339162260962013-04-02T19:27:17.146+11:002013-04-02T19:27:17.146+11:00Hello dear writing friends. Thank you for being he...Hello dear writing friends. Thank you for being here when Marion let us inside her creative head.<br /><br />Rosalie, you being a painter and a writer will certainly understand where Marion is coming from. You have that special eye for detail when you created the worlds in your Chronicles of Caleath. <br /><br />Edith, I see what you mean. Double strength highs and double strength lows, and at the rate Marion puts out work, I suspect she had many more highs than lows. You are putting out a lot of books too lately.<br /><br />Jim, I had a look at your site and Marion's 3 covers. They are awesome and so is your site. You put a whole lot of work into it and it works so well.<br /><br />Sara. I had a look at your cover in your author page at MuseItUp. Like mine and Jim's, Marion has added warmth and a definite spark of magic to yours. I suspect drawing might be Marion's prime source of relaxation.<br /><br />Carole, it's hard to believe we are not alone with the blank page syndrome. If only I could draw my way out of this dilemma, if only I could draw, if only...I would draw those beautiful dragons. Marion's 'Mother and child' make me smile. There is a story in there somewhere.<br /><br />Annie, you're right, it is lovely to put a face to the name we know so well. Marion's covers do have many layers, don't they? They are full of symbolism that often surprises even the authors.<br /><br />Nancy, Marion's talent to pick up on the most relevant words in the blurb amazes me, too. I loved seeing how Marion interpreted the sentence describing Norlander. Her cover is warm and magical. I love the cover of A Summer Squall too. :)<br /><br />Laurel, I agree, Marion did share a lot about her art and writing. I picked up some creative tips. e.g. Marion says you can't draw something unless you know how it works. I'll bear that in mind and apply it to my writing as well.<br /><br />Marion, As a writer, I picked up something else from what you, the artist, said here: 'I find it hardest when a writer doesn’t seem to have a clear vision of their own story, of what the central themes and elements are...' <br /><br />If we don't know this well enough to convey to our cover artist, then we really don't have much basis for a story at all, do we?<br /><br />Thank you everyone. Hey, I know who has a stash of half priced Easter Eggs. Haven't found where they are hidden yet, probably where Lea hides the cheesecake. When I find it, I'll send you some. Chocolate doesn't melt in cyberspace.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00435753141533984134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-9399515897270089072013-04-02T15:31:26.813+11:002013-04-02T15:31:26.813+11:00I loved your wonderful interview with Marion Snipe...I loved your wonderful interview with Marion Snipe, Wendy. Such a lot of information about how a talented artist and writer goes about her business.Laurel Lamperdhttp://www.authorsden.com/laurellamperdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-20473799851526864992013-04-02T07:27:05.636+11:002013-04-02T07:27:05.636+11:00Wow, thank you all for the wonderful comments! I&...Wow, thank you all for the wonderful comments! I'm so pleased that it struck<br />a chord with you all!<br /><br />@Sara - You are totally right about relaxation. And I'm getting better about it. I like to think of my self as a workaholic, in recovery. Although, it's still one day at a time!<br /><br />@Carole - Thank you! I really love the cover for Nolander, and Becca is such a visual writer. She knows what she's looking for and we work together to make it<br />happen. I think writing and art are really entangled for me, they're water from the same well, so to speak, and when that well runs dry, it effects them both.<br />Fortunately, there are lots of things that refill it! :-D<br /><br />@Annie - It was so nice to be here, too! Wendy is really great at interviews, and I'm hoping to pick up some tips. *G* <br /><br />@Nancy - Thank you! I love doing cover art, and working in indie and small press publishing in general. It's all built on words, and words are... well, just the<br />best thing EVER! *G*Marion Sipehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018535641577067069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-36914453701175443382013-04-02T03:32:48.022+11:002013-04-02T03:32:48.022+11:00What a great interview Wendy and Marion. Interesti...What a great interview Wendy and Marion. Interesting to see how a CA views the bit of things we put in our blurbs and then pulls images from that. Love the cover for A Summer Squall.<br /><br />Nancy Nancy Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03356478899930577271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-77016552382528404162013-04-02T00:52:02.919+11:002013-04-02T00:52:02.919+11:00Hi Marion and Wendy:) It's great to virtually ...Hi Marion and Wendy:) It's great to virtually meet you through this interview along with your cover art samples. WOW, Muse It Up truly does have many creative members. I'm dazzled by your work and your words:)<br /><br />Thanks for sharing her, Wendy:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-35483085321581426742013-04-01T22:45:36.454+11:002013-04-01T22:45:36.454+11:00I always enjoy Wendy's interviews and lovely t...I always enjoy Wendy's interviews and lovely to meet the face and talent behind so many book covers. Absolutely awesome how much Marion does with her time.<br />A Summer Squall is a wonderful story on so many levels and the cover, like the book, conveys multiple layers of meaning.<br />So nice to meet you Marion and thanks to Wendy for the introduction :-)Anne Duguid Knolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10332742931248440319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-87526054681045262013-04-01T22:43:21.320+11:002013-04-01T22:43:21.320+11:00I always enjoy Wendy's interviews and lovely t...I always enjoy Wendy's interviews and lovely to meet the face and talent behind so many book covers. Absolutely awesome how much Marion does with her time.<br />A Summer Squall is a wonderful story on so many levels and the cover, like the book, conveys multiple layers of meaning.<br />So nice to meet you Marion and thanks to Wendy for the introduction :-)Anne Duguid Knolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10332742931248440319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-3284879940557081322013-04-01T20:03:38.435+11:002013-04-01T20:03:38.435+11:00I viewed Wendy Laharnar’s presentation of Marion S...I viewed Wendy Laharnar’s presentation of Marion Snipe as Writer with an Artist’s Brush, with a touch of envy. To have two such precious gifts – no wonder Marion has a smile on her face! I could also understand Wendy’s natural assumption that all Marion had to do was to utilise her second gift if the first on let her down. But of course, as Marion was quick to point out, life is not as easy as that! It is interesting to hear that even someone as talented as Marion can suffer the blank page syndrome.<br /><br />I loved your book designs, especially the cover of Nolander, by Becca Mills. It has a great depth of feeling.<br />Carolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11412888794609103726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-58929347828346567412013-04-01T14:53:22.598+11:002013-04-01T14:53:22.598+11:00Great interview Wendy and Marion, and how cool tha...Great interview Wendy and Marion, and how cool that you write too! I love your art work, and of course the cover to The Jaguar Sun was spot on!<br /><br />You sound like a very busy girl, but I hope you can find time to incorporate relaxation into your days, because I think it energizes us and allows us to regain our perspective on the little joys in life:)<br /><br />Cheers, SaraS. Durhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506422099030437934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-18059106870351331162013-04-01T05:35:25.269+11:002013-04-01T05:35:25.269+11:00Thank you all! I had so much fun with this interv...Thank you all! I had so much fun with this interview and Wendy asks such wonderful questions!<br /><br />@Rosalie - Thank you! I love it when a writer's description of their story just *boom* creates a cover in my head.<br /><br />@Edith - Oh, when I'm inspired to both write and draw (for instance, when worldbuilding) I forget about everything else. Sometimes I don't come up for days. If it wasn't for my mom and the fiance, I'd probably die of starvation. *G*<br /><br />@Jim - Hey there! I've got another of yours coming up soon, too! *G* I'm so glad you love your covers. It makes me so happy to see happy authors! And after all the work of writing the book, I really think authors should get something beautiful to represent their story.<br /><br />@Wendy - Thank you so much for having me!Marion Sipehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018535641577067069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-57373988924709764022013-04-01T00:50:48.960+11:002013-04-01T00:50:48.960+11:00Yay, Marion! I am a proud possessor of three Mario...Yay, Marion! I am a proud possessor of <b>three</b> Marion Sipe covers on my MuseItUp books ("Magic to the Rescue," "This Wand for Hire," and "Change Partners") and all I can say is three cheers for Marion. If you'd like to see those three examples of her work, go to my website at http://teenangel.netfirms.comJim Hartleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08033770381343017153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-75838566943018268222013-04-01T00:37:01.678+11:002013-04-01T00:37:01.678+11:00A fascinating interview, Wendy and Marion. I was s...A fascinating interview, Wendy and Marion. I was starting to feel a little stressed to imagine facing creative blocks on more than one level, but then the combined creative fits must feel even more euphoric than only writing.<br />Edith Parzefallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12861941454295101808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6067896649152086022.post-91377726785395822932013-03-31T20:36:34.939+11:002013-03-31T20:36:34.939+11:00Wow, Marion, what an incredible insight into your ...Wow, Marion, what an incredible insight into your art and writing. Fantastic covers and wonderful read about how you do both.<br />I agree with Wendy, your cover for A Summer Squall is perfect. Thanks for sharing, and, Wendy, thanks for asking the right questions.Rosalie Skinnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530160674372850136noreply@blogger.com