Using a shoreline for the book’s landscape, The Painting is about re-emergence from a crisis of confidence. It uses the metaphor of a young water-skiing artist painting his life with his beliefs, inspired by a muse. All ages will enjoy identifying with the insight into peer connections and society, reflecting on the wrecked confidence that is pieced back together in reinventing ourselves. Younger readers will appreciate the colourful symbols littered throughout the story for the simple pleasure of reading unpredictable sentences assembled to meet needs not satisfied by daily conversation. This is entertainment sympathetic to the journey of self-healing. Every word has been carefully chosen for its sound, shape (and colour!) which can be interpreted in ways that are as individual as those reading it.
Jo Dot is a Human Resources professional and a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). An interest in wellbeing at work and mental health led Jo Dot to training in mindfulness and alternative healing via several modalities. She is also a qualified therapeutic practitioner in forest bathing (shinrin-yoku). Her passions include painting large pictures, snowboarding, slalom water-skiing, trees and crystals.
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Jo Dot Parker’s wordplay across a somewhat static but multidimensional landscape is packed with a poetical prowess that intertwines colour and chaos like grains of sand cascading down a blue bubblegum and pink candy ice cream as it melts into the surreal. Her use of props along the way help to hold the intrigue within the storyline and symbolism is oftentimes an undercurrent to the plot.
The Artist who has one major and many subsequent minor life changing experiences finds himself trapped in time along a shoreline where he dives deep into his fixation on himself, the world around him and his place in it. Watched over by a mysterious female muse, his longing for a connection with her is one of yearning. He later is visited by one of her sisters following an horrific confrontation with nature and is subdued by the woman’s gaze and her reflections on his life.
As the world around him crumbles he holds steadfast to the hope that he can both finish his painting and simultaneously find himself.
A twist toward the end sees him recognise his very own wings something that lends the reader to believe that the story is somewhat celestial, either that or he was after-all only a bird!? ;)
The storyline was full of colour and remained true to the book title and the Authour’s ability to use intricately woven strands of power words repeatedly throughout was a pleasure as well as it was dizzying at times.
For a first novel i think the Authour really pushed the boundaries and i for one am excited to read her next book should she publish one.
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