Am I crazy or eccentric? You decide.
Bess Willer is one of the five main characters in Paint, Passion and Promises. She is a famous Australian landscape artists and her life, from her birth in 1940 up to 2015, is interwoven in this story.
During the course of the book, Bess and her life partner, Anne Samson, live in rural western Queensland, Sydney, Stanwell Park, Leura in the Blue Mountains, Paris and Giverny in France. In all these places she painted, landscapes, cityscapes and seascapes.
Her artistic journey intersected with famous Australian Artists, like Brett Whiteley and Charles Blackman. Bess Willer had scores of successful art exhibitions.
In 2027, Bess Willer is having another art exhibition.
Bess painted in an impressionistic style. I know, because I created Bess and her painting style. As well as being a writer, I’m a painter so, to pay homage to Bess Willer, a great Australian artist, Viktor, my studio assistant and I are creating a series of Bess Willer paintings.
Paintings will include: A bend in the Balonne River; Cattle mustering; Stanwell Park Lighthouse; Paris cats; Monet’s waterlilies at Giverny; Monet’s bridge; My Leura studio and jacarandas; Blue Mountains and Rusty; Cottages on the Balonne; A patchwork land in western NSW; Gums and night skies; Dark Paris; Giverny home; and more. All paintings will be signed by Viktor or me and annotated with ‘Homage to Bess Willer.’
What will they look like?
A BEND IN THE BALONNE RIVER.
The Balonne River was the life blood of the St James district. In drought times it dried up to water holes, but in torrential rains, it broke its banks and flooded the district. Bess painted the Balonne River in all it’s seasons.
CATTLE MUSTERING
With low annual rainfall, the St James district was best suited to Cattle and Sheep rather than the growing of grains like wheat and sorghum. Of course Bess, often with her nephew Joe, would paint cattle grazing, watering on the Balonne and being mustered.
RUSTY AFTER BATHTIME
When Bess had her art studio in Leura on the Blue Mountains, Rusty, a blue Heeler, followed her everywhere. He appeared in many of the paintings she did in that ten year period. Of course, a painting of Rusty must appear in any Bess Willer Art Exhibition.
Why am I organising an exhibition of a fictional character’s paintings?
It took me ten years to write, Paint, Passion and Promises. Bess and the other characters lived in my head for all that time. I knew everything there was to know about my five main characters, Bess, Anne, Joe, Ali and Birdie. For me, Bess was the most complex character. She was tough, rough, loving, hurtful, caring and above all an artist who had to paint, whether she was overjoyed or mired in dark depression. I wrote about her style of painting, her paintings and her exhibitions. I lived beside her as she produced masterpieces. I don’t paint nearly as well as Bess, but I want to celebrate her dedication to creation. This is half the reason for doing a collection of 15 paintings paying homage to Bess Willer.
What’s the other reason?
Paint, Passion and Promises was the first book in what will be a trilogy. In January, 2027, I will publish, Under Drought Skies, the second book in the trilogy. I intend to launch this book at the Bess Willer Art Exhibition, which will be held in my Ubud, art studio.
Every year in October, Ubud celebrates the Ubud Writers Festival, with thousands of people attending. I intend to have a second launch or both Under Drought Skies and the Bess Willer Art Exhibition at this festival.
Is it a gimmick?
It’s not so much a gimmick as a vehicle to gain recognition for my books, their characters and me, the author.
What do you think?
Am I crazy, eccentric, innovative or a self-published author keen to build my sales and readership?
You can support my writing by clicking on the links below and buying a copy of Paint, Passion and Promises.
Amazon – Paint, Passion and Promises.
books.by/steve-castley Paint, Passion and Promises
I’m always keen to hear from you at stevecastley124@gmail.com . Send me an email and share your thoughts.