Author Archives: kathyhopewell

Francesca Woodman

Posted on August 1, 2018 by kathyhopewell

Liverpool Tate’s summer exhibition is called Life in Motion and places paintings by Egon Schiele next to photographs by Francesca Woodman.  Schiele was Austrian, working before World War One and Woodman was American, producing her photographs in the 1970s.  Arguably … Continue reading →

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Wolves, dreams and memories

Posted on July 1, 2018 by kathyhopewell

I’m guessing it’s happened to you: you are re-reading a book and a crucial scene, the one you remembered most clearly of all, doesn’t actually occur in the story at all. For me, this happened with Angela Carter’s short story … Continue reading →

Posted in psychoanalysis, writing inspiration | 2 Comments

The Great Spring

Posted on June 1, 2018 by kathyhopewell

Natalie Goldberg, one of the greatest writers on freewriting, began as a student of Zen Buddhism.  It involved long hours of sitting meditation, disciplined timekeeping and mundane tasks, all in the spartan environment of the zendo (meditation centre). At the … Continue reading →

Posted in freewriting, writing exercises, writing inspiration | 2 Comments

Surrealist novels?

Posted on May 1, 2018 by kathyhopewell

Can you name any Surrealist novels?  I don’t mean books with surreal elements such as magical, illogical or dream-like ideas or events, I mean novels about Surrealism as a movement or depicting Surrealist artists.  No?  That’s because there are very … Continue reading →

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Hopewell Ink on Radio 3

Posted on April 1, 2018 by kathyhopewell

Instead of a post this month, here’s the link to the Radio 3 programme Exposure featuring my band Hopewell Ink at Neuadd Ogwen in Bethesda, North Wales, broadcast last Thursday. We are on first, and there’s also a short interview … Continue reading →

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Hopewell Ink – Exposed!

Posted on March 1, 2018 by kathyhopewell

Since 2013 I’ve been part of a band called Hopewell Ink and we’ve performed in local venues around North Wales.  Hopewell Ink consists of spoken word, and various instruments including drums, harmonium, and slide guitar.  The words are written and … Continue reading →

Posted in original writing | 2 Comments

Finding Your Voice

Posted on February 1, 2018 by kathyhopewell

Some artists have an utterly distinctive voice.  Within a second of hearing one twisted, mournful note, I can recognise the great Johnny Marr of The Smiths.  In the same way, the weirdly uncomfortable but perfect half-beat-off of Emily Dickinson’s poetry … Continue reading →

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Dieting for the Unconscious

Posted on January 1, 2018 by kathyhopewell

New Year is the time for dieting but what is the best way to feed the creative mind?  A diet of high-energy, fast entertainment and hectic socialising is all very well for a short time and a change is as … Continue reading →

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It’s time for Surrealist Games!

Posted on December 1, 2017 by kathyhopewell

When people get together for Christmas or other festive events they often play games.  There’s Charades, especially for when a few drinks have been taken, or board games (often ending in family arguments). Then there’s the one where you have … Continue reading →

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The Surrealist Muse

Posted on November 1, 2017 by kathyhopewell

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a muse as “a person (often a female lover) or thing regarded as the source of an artist’s inspiration”. Here is one of the muses of Surrealism: The image appeared on the cover of the … Continue reading →

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