What the Poet Does

Maybe some of you know that I have been writing poems rather intensely for quite a long time (and some of them even made it into anthologies) some years ago. I still do now, but not very often honestly. Seems that my actual need to express myself in stamped, collaged or painted images has taken the place of the urge to express myself in written images. But I definitely feel that there's not much of a difference between writing or painting an image...I always feel like painting with words (and also sounds and rhythm) when writing a poem and I often feel like creating a poem when making a mixed media piece of art.

So I tried to put in words, images and colours what it is that a poet does exactly on this art journal page.

The background is a gelli print and I found that the 6''x6'' format is a size I really love. Maybe I will just bind some more pages into a booklet some time. I also love the borders of the prints - with those imprecise overlaps from the various layers. So I left some white around the edges instead of cutting them off.

I love that poet stamp from Paper Artsy! Being a good poet requires a lot of discipline and the will to force yourself not to content with your very first tries. So I find the gentleman really appropriate.

To me words have colours in a special way. Or maybe some feeling of "visible" sound that evokes an impression similar to colour when I hear them play together. I often pick the words before I realise the idea that has already started to form in my head to find that they evoke exactly what I wanted to write about.

Sometimes I build poems around certain words - just because they evoke a certain melody, rhythm and/or image in me. It's always a wonderful thing to let the words take the lead, but trying to guide them into their perfect places. Which is really very similar to working with colours and textures, isn't it?

I am sure poetry means something different to each of us, but we all feel those similar "ingredients" at the core of our creations (written or painted ones) - bringing something to light and into shape by partially letting it build up from our vague ideas, letting the materials we work with take the lead sometimes.

And you simply feel it, when you have done a "good poem/painting", don't you? (And most of the time you also feel when you have messed up ;).
Being creative to me means that perfect balance between controlling a medium and letting go at the same time - listening to the inner nature of the materials we work with. Which is what makes it that joyful I guess.

Seen from this angle we are surrounded by poetry, aren't we?

Hugs and happy crafting/composing.

Claudia x