On Art and Whimsy
[Plus a video]
Today I received an UnTarot card that doesn’t exist, but should.
Whimsy.
My friend Dover Whitecliff drew it for me and sent it as a Christmas gift. It included a one-page LWB (little white book) explaining the card. I quote:
Whimsy—Embracing the improbable. Creating moments of fun for yourself when things look dark.
Whimsy is an attitude. A “let’s do it for the fun, rather than the profit” attitude. A “let’s play” attitude.
It’s a belly laugh. A silly joke. It’s childlike but not childish.
Whimsy is a sprinkle of fairy dust on the mundane.
It’s daydreams of secret societies and talking gargoyles.
It’s the rebellion against the tyranny of the ordinary, the secret handshake of creativity, and the giggle in the face of gravity.
Tim Burton’s film aesthetic.
Salvador Dali’s melting clocks.
Dr. Seuss.
Art with a touch of whimsy is memorable, because it helps us see the world with a little more wonder and a lot less seriousness.
The world needs more of it. WE need more of it.
Indie authors are told to write to market, put our big girl pants on and learn to SELL. And as someone who makes a living by my writing, this is good, nose-to-the-grindstone advice.
But I think authors need to add some whimsy to the mix too.
Whimsy is a creativity engine. It fuels the soul. And when it’s woven into a book, readers feel it.
Positive emotions are just as contagious as negative ones.
So why not be whimsical?
My UnTarot cards come with questions to ask yourself. Dover’s Whimsy card does too. I’ll finish this missive with another quote her:
How can you reshape your day to bring in some whimsy? What improbable thing can you visualize that makes you smile?
P.S. Attn: Raven(ous) Society members! Prepare your tiaras, for the Yule Gala is upon us!
On the night when the moon waxes full and the stars align in mysterious patterns (or when the calendar says December 21st, whichever comes first), be sure to gather in the library for this not-to-be-missed event. Don’t miss the mulled wine and mistletoe!
That’s utterly perfect. The kind of card we need!