Summer Arts Festival, Day 3 7/20/11

Frank emphasized we should take our bluebook (or a pocket notebook) wherever we go. Again, the goal is to find material for an essay, but it may not be the essay you are first thinking of.

He then got into fiction, and assigned us to write about 150 words abut our characters by tomorrow.

In contrast to essays, fiction requires a willing suspension of disbelief. Partly, this requires that the story is self consistent, even if it is not consistent with the real world. Dialog can be used widely, but let the characters rule. They decide the ending. He recommended we look at The Complete Short Stories of Flannery O’Conner.

You can use flashbacks to clarify how your characters got into the situation they’re in, and use surprise within the limits of the story’s world.

Another recommendation: Ordinary Wolves by Seth Cantor, especially as a guide to using material on real people.

Jonny again took us outdoors, and divided us into groups of 4 or 5. Each group had to pick three words and present each of them in a tableau, which the rest then guessed. (Ours ere geese flying, a dog team and a rhubarb plant. The rhubarb was generally seen as a tree.)

We then had to combine our tableaus into one.

Margo introduced us to more on pochoir after lunch. We are supposed to put our text—no more than 150 words total—into the template she sent us, using 11 point Calibri (not on my Mac.) Margo and the other instructors will print it out and if necessary let us have it on a flash drive (bring.) We started doing the pochoir by planning the image shapes on tracing paper. The shapes were then transferred to drafting vellum with a sharp pencil. We need to bring an envelope to store our stencils.

We will be using gouache paint, which is water-based so dried paint on an a palette can be rejuvenated by adding a very little bit of water. We need to use separate brushes for mixing colors and actual application of paint. The paint should be very dry, and is applied with near-vertical movement of a stiff brush. Near vertical, but with a slight movement toward the center of the stencil to avoid paint under the stencil. Between colors, we need to wash the brush in water and dry it thoroughly with a paper towel.

Dorothy Sayers Trivia

“The taker always ends by hating the giver.” Dorothy Sayers, Have His Carcase. Peter to Harriett, as he explains that he understands her reluctance to accept his aid when she is entangled in a second murder case.

“Third-class musicians are a nuisance.” Dorothy Sayers, Strong Poison. Miss Murchison, explaining why she became a secretary rather than a musician.

“Even a little boredom might be welcome by way of change from alarms.” Dorothy Sayers, Gaudy Night. Harriet is brooding in her rooms, after a day of instruction on how to defend herself against an attacker..

“There is a limit to the number of eggs hat can be spun by human hands.” Dorothy Sayers, Strong Poison. Part of Miss Murchison’s history, referring specifically to the financier whose machinations came crashing down about his ears, leaving her without a job. Written in 1930, but all too timely today.

“I can’t be sorry for anything. I’ve forgotten how.” Dorothy Sayers, Busman’s Honeymoon. Part of a conversation Harriet is having with Peter in the churchyard after he says she might say she is sorry for how long she resisted him.

“You’ll never become a professional till you learn to do a little work.” Dorothy Sayers, Whose Body? Charles Parker (policeman) scolding Lord Peter on his somewhat cavalier attitude to detection.

“The younger they are, the easier they take to free fall.” Bowling. Homecoming. Derik’s comment after a birthday party for a two-year-old in a free-fall gym.