My writing is full of colour.
As a descriptive writer colour is important to convey
atmosphere, environment, and emotion.
So, while the first book in The Seren Stone Chronicles is with beta readers,
I’m painting and playing.
First off, crystals are inherent in my Welsh future. After apocalyptic events in our century many changes occur to the foundation and appearance of the earth, meaning that rocks and crystals take on new traits and qualities.
I like pretty things – that’s obvious – and I’ve been collecting crystals and gems for years. I’ve done a fair bit of research into crystal therapy and it interests me greatly. If we believe in molecular power then why not in the vibration and essence of rock and crystal?
© Lisa Shambrook
Heather Askinosie, who writes at Energy Muse, said in an article worth reading: Do crystals really work? There is much debate regarding this question, as scientists say there is no hard proof to show that they do. However, every ancient civilization has utilized crystals in a vast variety of ways—from healing to offerings to protective talismans. And Quartz Crystal has been on this Earth since the beginning of time.
© Lisa Shambrook
She goes on to talk about the fact that over 90% of the earth’s crust is made of silicate minerals, about 46.6% Oxygen and 27.7% Silicon, and when these two combine they create silicon dioxide which is in its pure form Quartz Crystal – comprising about 12% of the earth’s crust. Quartz is currently used in electronics, watches, lasers, and IT. Magnetic particles have been used in tapes to record music; you can just imagine how vibration and the energy in crystals could be used. The value of crystals may be much greater than we currently understand.
© Lisa Shambrook
In my written world crystals and gems are used in many ways and are vital to medicine and technology. The most important stone in my world is peridot, formed, like diamonds, in molten rock and brought up to the surface in volcanoes and earthquakes. The vast changes in geography have not only returned dragons but brought geological change too. My protagonists wear talismans and I loved designing and painting them. When I feel overwhelmed I often work with my crystals, both in a therapeutic way and just to relax. Creating colour wheels was both restorative and fun.
© Lisa Shambrook
This takes me on to painting. I painted the covers for The Surviving Hope Novels and A Symphony of Dragons but haven’t painted since, so picking up my pencils and sketchpad has been good for me. I’m painting aspects of The Seren Stone Chronicles: gems, characters, scenes. In the end they’ll serve as inspiration for the covers, but right now they’re just delighting me, helping me give my expressive self a voice, and it’s a tranquil break from writing.
© Lisa Shambrook
I’m enjoying experimenting with watercolours for the first time. I’m a heavy acrylic painter, so trying out watercolours, both pencils and pans, is revitalising and fun. While I wait for my beta readers to come back with their thoughts, I’m hoping to fill my sketch book with dragons and crystals and colour.
© Lisa Shambrook
I find working with colour both calming and inspiring,
and these couple of months will refresh me leaving me ready
for my soon-to-do edits.
The paintings look good! I wish I had the time right now to do a little real artwork of my own.
I need to give myself more time for painting. I tend to get caught with whether I’m in the mood, rather than just playing regardless! Love to see your art too.
Another great post – I signed up to Energy Muse. I dabble in crystals (I dabble in so many things). I use amethyst a great deal and have lots of citrine, but I see they explain how to use them properly. Thanks for sharing that.
And I love your drawings and was enchanted by how you used crystals in The Seren Stone. We are so far removed in our current civilisation state, and we need to get reconnected, to our own energy as much as that as our planets.
As you know, crystals fascinate me, and though people question them, I’m much more open minded. Vibrations exist at a molecular level in everything, and we are all made from the same ‘stardust’, so it makes sense to me that energy could be found in anything if we understood it and how to access it.
I loved the idea writing about the earth changing substantially at a geological level with earthquakes etc and bringing crystals and rock to the fore, perhaps irradiated, and significantly altered.
My favourite crystals at the moment are chrysocolla, apatite, fluorite, and peridot.
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