October 4, 2019
Out in the Elements by Laura Hazan
Could not have been more appropriate to start my writer residency at a First Friday Art Walk that had artists painting en plein aire, outside, at night. Like feral cats scrounging for something to eat, these feral artists searched for just the right scene of Highlandtown to capture on their canvases. I realized, as I walked around to the artists, I too will be feral – a writer, out of her element, striving to find the best place to write.
I will wander the streets of the neighborhood, digging through my options, to find the perfect spot. It will be some combination of cozy and Highlandtown-centric, with Wi-Fi and lots of electrical outlets. I don’t necessarily need quiet; although it’s helpful because I’m easily distracted.
Some of the plein aire artists shared that they, too, were out of their element. Two artists had never painted outdoors, another practiced painting on her rooftop deck all week in anticipation of Friday night. Fascinated to watch their canvases come to life, I realized it can’t be easy to create art in a limited amount of time with the light changing as the night went from dusk to dark. The artist’s interpretation of the scene before them impressed me.
My typical place to write is on my laptop in my kitchen. It is rare for me to go to a coffee shop or the library, never mind an Italian deli, an art gallery, an ice cream shop, a laundromat – all places on my list to write during my residency. I wonder if the change of scene will make it difficult for me to be creative or be what I need to turn a blank page into a story.
A nocturne fits me as well. I’m a night owl, it’s when my muse seems to wake up. There’s something about late at night that stirs me. Intimacy? Silence? Relaxation? The painters last week were only allowed to work on their painting until 11 p.m. Some nights I don’t even start working until 11 p.m. Perhaps I will find a location open later into the evening, I noticed the wine store stays open late. I also noticed they have cans of wine. Late night writing while drinking wine, maybe being out of my element is exactly what I need.
