Fiction-inspired paintings felt like a natural extension of my writing life and another way to tell a story when words may fail me.
For year, I worked to create immersive fictional worlds with feisty characters and twisty plots. Lately, my creative world expanded onto canvas. A painter’s brush brought my stories to life with each careful stroke and became a constant companion to my fiction these days. I relish in the opportunity to explore mood, atmosphere, and character without explanation or resolution, and how freeing is that?!
Morgana in Abstract
Fiction-inspired paintings
The Skylar Night Mysteries inspired the first painting I’m sharing here. Rather than a traditional portrait, I chose to paint a character from an abstract perspective. Morgana evokes a mix of emotions, especially when writing her, and painting her proved no different. While I sit on the fence on how I feel about her, the painting speaks for itself. The idea of leaving space for the viewer and readers to bring their own version of Morgana into the image is what I love best. It mirrors how fiction works: we’re never handed everything outright, and we actively participate in the story. It’s perfect, really.
Winter Orchard
Fiction-inspired paintings
The second piece included piece displays a winter orchard with a vibrant orange sky contrasted, green fields, and barren trees. This one feels like it belongs to the same world as my novels, even without a specific scene attached. It’s less about narrative and more about presence. The kind of presence that evokes familiarity, especially if you’ve ever wandered through the darker parts of a story (think Ominous Visions, Grave Decisions). This sprang to mind because of its Oregon setting.
In the traditional sense, I regard these paintings as more than illustrations. They display visual reflections of scenes, emotions, and characters that live inside my books. Sometimes a spark forms from a specific moment from a novel, and other times, they emerge from the feeling that the story leaves behind.
Since I envision my website a safe space, I love sharing these fiction-inspired paintings with you here. Besides, both paintings relate to my stories in some aspect or another, and why not share it with my beloved readers? Whether you arrived here through my books or through art, I hope these pieces offer a sense of quiet, curiosity, and connection.
Stories don’t always need to be explained. Sometimes, they just need to be seen.
Warm Regards,
KD
If you’d like more frequent updates, consider subscribing to my newsletter. No pressure. Click here!
