Books have always been a source of inspiration for me.
Like many readers, there are certain stories that stay with me long after I’ve finished the final page. Sometimes it’s a character. Sometimes it’s a setting. More often, it’s a feeling or a symbol that lingers in my mind for years.
Recently, I began exploring a new series of gouache paintings inspired by some of my favorite books.
As I started planning the collection, I found myself asking an important question: Should I paint the characters and scenes that everyone already recognizes, or should I focus on something more subtle?
I chose the second approach.
Rather than creating illustrations of famous literary moments, I wanted to create paintings that capture the mood, symbolism, and atmosphere of a story. My goal is not to retell the book through art, but to create a visual interpretation of what makes that story memorable.
My love of literature extends beyond my personal reading life. While attending the University of Georgia, I completed so many Comparative Literature courses that I was only two classes shy of earning a double major in Journalism and Comparative Literature. Some of my favorite classes explored children’s literature, symbolism, character development, conflict, theme, and perspective.
Those courses changed the way I read. They also changed the way I look at life. They taught me to look beyond plot and pay attention to the symbols, imagery, and themes that give stories their deeper meaning. Looking back, it’s not surprising that those same elements are what inspire me most as an artist.
The first piece in the collection was inspired by one of my favorite books, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
If you’ve read the novel, you probably know the image that immediately came to mind: a tiny green light shining across the water.
That small green light becomes a powerful symbol throughout the story. It represents hope, longing, ambition, and the pursuit of something that always seems just out of reach. Instead of painting Gatsby, I painted the night sky, the water, distant shoreline lights, and that single green light reflected across the bay.
For me, that image captures the spirit of the novel more than a portrait ever could.
One of the things I love most about literature is that every reader brings their own experiences and interpretations to a story. I hope these paintings encourage people to do the same.
This collection is still in its early stages, but I already have plans for additional pieces inspired by some of my favorite classics, likely including The Picture of Dorian Gray, To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, In Cold Blood, The Yellow Wallpaper, Brave New World, and A Separate Peace, and more. Each painting will focus on the symbols, settings, and emotions that make those stories unforgettable.
While the collection is beginning with classic literature for adults, I also hope to eventually explore some of my favorite children’s books and young adult novels in future pieces. Stories such as The Little Prince, Peter Pan, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Charlotte’s Web, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Where the Red Fern Grows, The Outsiders, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower have left a lasting impression on me and offer rich symbolism and imagery to draw from.
Just as with the classics, I won’t be focusing on illustrating characters or scenes. Instead, I hope to capture the objects, settings, and symbols that make these stories so memorable. My goal is to create paintings that evoke the feeling of a beloved book while leaving room for personal interpretation and nostalgia.
I look forward to sharing more as the collection grows.
Thank you for following along on this creative journey.
— Allie Jackson