When I'm really focusing on something creative - like the two paintings in this post I made for Sister (sorry for the odd angle of the pictures)- I get really hot. I mean like on-the-verge-of-a-seizure-if-I-don't-melt-like-the-wicked-witch-from-the-west-first kind of overheating. My blood boils, bones liquefy and my muscles turn to goo (which is like liquefying but WAY worse. It's stickier). It's unbearable. It's kind of like my entire being is so focused on creating that it works overtime and produces mass amounts of creative energy. All this energy can't possibly fit into a word document or on a canvas. The excess turns inward and my insides glow red until I'm radiating the heat and I want to die.
BUT! I just have to finish what I'm working on. I end up working in a feverish frenzy, trying so hard to get it all out even though I'm slightly delirious and crazed and on the verge of heat-stroke.
Has anything like this ever happened to you?
Anyways, my overheating makes me realize that writing (or anything creative) isn't just mental or emotional - it's physical too. My body does what it can to contribute to the creativity too (even if I wish it'd be a little more considerate and moderate the temperature somewhat). Writing is an all consuming experience - to do it, you need to invest everything.
I hope that your weekend is full of hot flashes and skin-melting-muscle-changing-bone-liquefying agony. I mean this in the nicest possible way.
Anything odd happen to you when you write? Do you have any other creative interests beside writing?
I’ve just started drawing again – after many years. When I look at the results, I get a lot of strange feelings too. But, not usually good ones.
ReplyDeletehmm... your superheat thing is superunique! very cool...err.umm. hot?
ReplyDeleteyour toothless is AMAZING! love the shadows and scales!
i like to draw and paint too! :)
Holy Crap, your paintings are awesome! Little Monster would love that second one!!
ReplyDeleteIt's physical for me too. I think its our adreneline kicking in. We're doing something that challenges us in a good way, and we can really actually feel it.
Wow! I don't get hot flashes, just obsessive. But what beautiful paintings.
ReplyDeleteAlready read and commented on your interview - good stuff!
ReplyDeleteAnd the painting of Toothless is great!
Your paintings are amazing!!! You're so talented, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteI color. I have fun coloring books: Winnie the Pooh, Disney Princesses, Strawberry Shortcake, Mr. Potato Head, Garfield, etc. I outline in marker first then color it in with crayon. It's so soothing and helps me work out plot points and evaluate story ideas!
I like to draw too, but I haven't done that in awhile. I'm not really all that good, I just like to do it. And I can't draw from an image in my head; I need to have something to look at in order to draw it.
I don't think I've ever had a physical response so intense like that, but it sounds kind of amazing! And scary :)
ReplyDeleteAmazing interview, amazing paintings. The dragon one is so sick! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteMy other creative interest is world dominance (the way I go about it at least).
Love those pictures. Writing isn't quite that physically intense for me, but it sure can drain me emotionally.
ReplyDeleteI love those paintings! That overheating thing is nuts though--I usually write in the bath, so I overheat now and then, but I've always related it to sitting in the hot bath... I wonder...
ReplyDeleteWow! I had no idea you could paint too!! LOVELY!!! I'm sooo impressed right now!!
ReplyDeleteOne the overheating part: I'm sorry...lol that just sounds awful!
AWWWW SU-WEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!! these are great! My other creative outlet is my hand-stamped jewelry business, so I hear you girl!
ReplyDeleteWow, you are INTENSE, and your paintings are lovely!
ReplyDeleteIf I get in the zone with creating something, I'm just good at ignoring everything else. Nothing crazy though. :)
Other than writing, I like to draw and do free-hand lettering. Mostly just sketching though. I like paints, but they make me nervous. Haha.
Hey. I need your address. You won!
ReplyDeleteUmm, I don't get hot, but the copious quantities of tea I drink when I write makes me associate frequent potty breaks with writing.
ReplyDelete;)
Awesome paintings! ;)
ReplyDeleteI also love art, painting, drawing, and music - gosh these are things I've listed when at school many many moons ago, but you know something? -They're still what I really love!
Have a fab weekend!
Those paintings are great! I was going to go into art, but decided on history instead. I've recently taken up painting- I love it!
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing paintings! I don't usually overheat, but I do get flustered and excited, and experience that gnawing feeling in my stomach.. you know the one where you feel like you just need to keep going or explode... because you're so close??
ReplyDeleteI love to cook and experiment with food... when I was younger I used to love to draw too, but I haven't done that in a really long time. I guess it's always been writing for me.. lol :)
I'm off to read your interview now, congrats on the second one! :)
Wow, those are some fantastic paintings!!!! I love them both :)
ReplyDeleteI've written poems that, afterward, left me shaking so badly I had to sit down. Once, I wound up in the floor, sobbing....
Other creative outlets? Scrapbooking. It's challenging and very rewarding.
You paint like that and you haven't done your own blog header? Whaaaaaaaat?
ReplyDeleteI don't superheat, but while I was driving home today I was thinking and thinking on a particular problem in my WIP, when the answer finally showed up. Then I realised I was grinning like a lunatic and freaking out other drivers!
I love the Eeyore print! He's one of my favorite characters, maybe because I know a real Eeyore or two in my life... :-)
ReplyDeleteI can so identify with getting so caught up and focused in a physical way, maybe not so much in overheating but by being amazed at how much time has passed while in the middle of writing--like 2-3 hours can go by and they seem like minutes. Does that count? Otherwise, I like to knit!
THIS HAPPENS TO ME ALL THE TIME!! I know you know that, but man oh man! its annoying!! grr! I loove these paintings soo much. How are you so talented at everything?
ReplyDeleteCool paintings! I used to do a lot of music - symphonies and such. I really miss playing; I should get back into it!
ReplyDeleteI find myself getting overheated a lot lately. Odd, since it's winter!
Gosh, your paintings are awesome, Melissa! I used to be in a public speaking club and Im missing it. Also used to paint and draw. Would love to do more of them! :)
ReplyDeleteA TON of other creative interests but the crazy/cool thing that happens to me is that time stops. Too bad it doesn't stop for everyone around me...
ReplyDeleteA fascinating post and beautiful paintings! Wow. You are so talented.
ReplyDeleteI did a lot of creative things before finally starting to write - mostly knitting or sewing. And I have in the past taken myself to near exhaustion to finish a project. I don't allow myself to get to that point now because of my migraines, but I do know how it feels.
I love Toothless! I just saw How to Train Your Dragon and just fell in love with him. Your picture of him is beautiful!
ReplyDelete