My poem Larsson House is a little different to my usual ekphrastic poetry. You probably recognise the style of Swedish painter, Carl Larsson (1853-1919), as many of his children’s illustrations are still around. A painter of the Arts and Crafts…
inspiration
National Wine and Cheese Day – July 25
A little wine, a little song, a little friendship. Perhaps a dinner gathering? A picnic on the beach? A tasting amongst the vineyards? Feet up by the fire? What would be your favourite way to celebrate National Wine and Cheese…
Struggling To Be Seen – A Poem
According to Art Institute Chicago, Cézanne painted over “at least three other pieces of fruit (presumably oranges) at lower left and near the vase attest to the artist’s changing opinion as he struggled to make the arrangement work“. You can…
Peasants Eat Herring – A Poem
This drawing reached out to me across three-hundred years. It, in turn, took me back in time in memory. I love that these journeys are happening as a result of my decision to commit to this ekphrastic poetry series. Too…
Still Life with Bottles and Fruit – A Poem
Alexej von Jawlensky was an expressionist. Expressionist artists strive “to convey their inner emotions and thoughts via their works, frequently using distorted forms, vibrant colors, and vigorous brushstrokes to establish their own visual language.” – Sparks Gallery You may not…
A Roman Feast – A Poem
My first prompt for “A Roman Feast” was the image at the very bottom of the page of a Roman serving vessel. I began to imagine what was actually served in it – which led to peacock, snails and dormice….
Migrant Mother – A Poem
It’s funny what we remember, and how memory is triggered. In this case, by a soup bowl. More of my ekphrastic poems can be found here. More on the huitain form here. Migrant Mother My mother made me drink pea…
Life in Arles – A Poem
I love that you can access incredible artworks through galleries’ open access policies. I encourage you to follow the links in either the quote or the caption below and see van Gogh’s painting in zoom close up. There’s no way…
Still Life with Mustard Pot – A Poem
Mustard goes back thousands of years, with references in ancient Indian, Sumerian, Greek and Roman texts, and in the Bible. If you’re a mustard fan, here’s a brief history and a summary of different mustard types. I was struck by…
Break The Cycle – A Poem
The Art Institute Chicago tells us that this painting is from a much larger portrait of a family that Manet decided to cut into sections, not all of which have survived. It was not the only time Manet decided to…
Strawberries, Nuts, &c. – A Poem
Riddle Me This How is it possible –Orange, so fresh the leaf is intactRuby-red strawberries that if wild would collapseTogether with nuts and raisins, to beIn the same still life in a nineteenth centuryComposition? What, summer and winter?Unless, if not…
A Pomegranate, Siena – A Poem
George Henry Hall was considered a “master of fruit, vegetable and flower still-life painting”, although that’s not all he painted. Here’s a selection of some of his works. A Pomegranate, Siena is a beautiful example of the artist’s renowned realism….
