Gosh, Nicola and I go way back. I was an envious unpubbed author and she had a cool website — a corrugated tin look, which I loved. In fact, I wrote and told her so and we got talking. Nicola’s website has since gone on to bigger and better things (although I miss the tin) and so has she with the worldwide distribution of her last couple of books.
I was delighted when Nicola asked to be a part of my website. I hope you like her author portrait (my blog series that celebrates the delicate relationship between artist and sitter — the theme behind my latest release).
Here we go, Nicola,
Q: Pose and composition are important factors for a portrait. What kind of ‘look’ would you like your portrait to have?
- On a chaise lounge (Kate Winslet/Titanic style)
- Fully clothed in a rocker (Whistler’s Mother style)
- A close up of your face (Girl with the Pearl Earring style/Mona Lisa)
- In all your formal finery befitting your ‘authorly’ status (Regal style)
- Other
A: I think I’ll have to go with 5 (other) and choose pop art style – less opportunity for my flaws to show up in those bold block colours!
Q: *Snap* I just took your photo, Nicola, to use as I do my portrait of you. Tell us where you are and what you’re wearing. (Be honest.)
A: Cross-legged on the couch in shorts and singlet with a nanna blanket on my knees. Not exactly the best way to be immortalised!
Q: Given a choice, what precious item would you want to be included in a portrait of you?
(skipping this question cause I can’t for the life of me think of something!!)
(*Nic, may I suggest you don’t let hubby, the kids, or the cat, dog, goldfish, etc read that!)
Q: With acquired savant syndrome* featuring in my next novel, I’m curious . . . If you were to wake up from a coma one day to find yourself totally obsessed and a genius (in something other than writing, of course) what would you want it to be? (music, painting, languages, maths, touching your toes while typing, etc)
A: Oh, this is hard! I’m torn between music and languages – because I’ve always loved music but never had an ear for it. But on the other hand, I would kill to be able to speak another language. I think it’s incredible when people can seamlessly switch between multiple languages.
Q: If you happened to wake up one day and be a genius with a paintbrush, whose portrait would you want to paint and why?
My mum’s. She’s an extraordinary woman who’s done incredible things throughout her life – but on top of that, she’s always had this mischievous streak about her and I would love to capture that in her portrait.
Q: Your preferred medium would be?
- Oil on canvas
- Watercolour
- Pencil/Ink
- Pastels
- Kiddy crayons
A: I choose 2, watercolour. There’s something so beautiful about the way watercolours blend and drip and splash across the paper to create art.
Picasso once asked the question: “Are we to paint what’s on the face, what’s inside the face, or what’s behind it?” In my next novel, the artists says to 58 y.o Ava, “A mature person has depth of character and it’s their layers, built from life’s lessons that interest me the most—when wisdom replaces curiosity and experience replaces youthful exuberance.”
Q: What two traits would you hope an artist captures in a portrait of you?
A: A touch of cheekiness and a streak of passion.
Q: Because every fireplace deserves a portrait, in whose house would you hang a Portrait of You as a surprise and what would they say?
A: Any one of my sister’s homes and they would LAUGH and LAUGH and then they would say, ‘oh for God’s sake, Nicola, take it down.’
Q: Keeping in mind that lucky recipient of your portrait, how would see yourself framed?
- Minimalist or no frame at all – just the canvas (take me as I am)
- Modernist – chrome, nothing too fancy
- Sophisticated – warm, wood, old world
- Flamboyant – go all the way and gilt-edged!
A: Always 4.
Q: Finally, if someone was to add a plague/title your portrait, how would it read?
A: ‘Portrait of Girl with Mars Bar.’
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nicola Moriarty is a Sydney-based novelist, copywriter and mum to two small (but remarkably strong-willed) daughters. In between various career changes, becoming a mum and completing her Bachelor of Arts, she began to write. Now she can’t seem to stop. Her published works include the novel, The Fifth Letter, which was released in several countries and optioned for film and television. Connect: nicolamoriarty.com.au facebook.com/NicolaMoriartyAuthor
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And before you go, I have more author portraits to celebrate the release of my 5th novel, so stay tuned (or sign up to my newsletter – look right!).
Check out my Book Room for info about A Place to Remember.
*Acquired savant syndrome, in which a person acquires prodigious capabilities or skills following dementia, a head injury or concussion, epilepsy or other disturbances.
Nicola Moriaty – THEN
the chilli plant that I’m slowly (and unintentionally) killing off, and I’ve actually become quite fond of him over the years.
right?