January 21st, 2012 Doug
This post is part of the River of Stones guest post series, our mindful writing challenge. Properly notice one thing each day, and write it down. Click here to find out more. Our guest post series features writers talking about the art of noticing, writing and more…
Today we’re delighted to host Douglas Robertson…
Douglas writes: I’m trained to see, that’s what I do for a living.
One of the purposes of the River Of Stones project is to encourage people to pay attention, to be more aware of their surroundings and build up an awareness of the space in which they exist.
As part of this I’d like you to take a bit of time to discuss and understand how you see.
‘What?’ I hear you say, ‘but I can already see, the man’s a fool!’
What I’d like to talk about is the difference between looking and seeing. People often look without seeing, not fully understanding the space that is around them, what makes it what it is, and how it also makes them who they are.
This sense of place is an important element of any artist or writer’s work. The colour, mood and personal connection to a particular area, and an understanding of your role in communicating this to your audience, is made so much easier if you can see it clearly.
Many writers and artists have developed this skill by understanding and seeing the spirit of one dear familiar place. Throughout history, writers, artists and musicians have strived to communicate their subject matter clearly, and we can learn so much from the makers that have preceded us.
One particular area where clarity of vision and communication with the audience is reached is in the Japanese art of the Haiku and the Haibun. One of the greatest exponents of this style of prose poem was Matsuo Basho. In his work, Basho takes his readers on a journey, using words and phrases as markers or sign posts which enable the audience to understand not only what Basho is seeing, but through using their own vision and experiences, reconstruct and see the journey in their own way.
By the careful structure and use of language, and by not ‘telling’ the reader what they see, the poet creates a world in which his abstract ideas and situations can be understood clearly by the audience. And through the use of this method, they are allowed take their own emotional and mental journey, seeing their version of Basho’s world.
So, how can we try to ‘see’ more clearly, and apply this to our own work?
Ensure clarity in words and images. Your vision of what you are trying to communicate to your audience should have little or no superfluous language. Create your journey through the work carefully, placing the markers and laying the path for your readers.
Make work about what you know. You will always find it easier to express ideas of what is familiar and close to you, and it will bring honesty to your art and vision that will make it easier for you audience to follow your journey.
I’ve worked as a visual artist for the last twenty years, and I have tried hard to ensure my vision and the art I create come together to communicate the ideas to my audience. Visitors to an exhibition, or readers of a book bring with them their own set of experiences and personal tools that they will use on the journey. I work on making my art open enough for the viewer to see their path through the concepts and ideas, and by giving them the signs and markers they need make the emotional and spiritual connections all the more poignant.
Thank you for your time, and here’s to seeing more clearly!
Many thanks to Fiona and Kaspa for their friendship and support. Please take some time to browse their excellent website at http://www.writingourwayhome.com/
Posted in AROS, Guest Post, Writing Our Way Home |
August 26th, 2011 Doug
Many thanks to Fiona Robyn and Kaspa Thompson for inviting me to take part in their Creativity Interviews series.
It was very enjoyable answering the questions, and in a world where you spend the majority of your time working alone and focused on creating your art, it is good to take stock of what it is that drives your creativity. Hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I enjoyed taking part.
Follow the link to read the interview, and to find out more about Writing Our Way Home.
Posted in AROS, Event, Writing Our Way Home |
July 7th, 2011 Doug
Many thanks to poet and photographer Teri Hoover for this excellent collaboration piece, produced as part of the River Of Stones project
To read more of Teri’s work, follow this link to her website.
Posted in AROS, Collaborations, Poetry From Art |
July 2nd, 2011 Doug
Once again, I am taking part in the River Of Stones event, with the aim being to write a small observation everyday during the month of July.
Fiona and Kaspa are looking for participants to contribute a post each day during July to the River Of Stones blog. Each written piece will give the writer an opportunity to share their observations of life around them in a way which Fiona and Kaspa describes as ‘paying attention’.
“Because choosing something to write about every day will help you to connect with yourselves, with others, and with the world. It will help you to love everything you see - the light and the dark, the happy and the sad, the beautiful and the ugly.
You don’t have to be a ‘writer’ to get involved. The PROCESS of paying attention is what’s important. I’d especially like ‘writers’ and ‘non-writers’ to get involved. If you’d rather not publish your small stones on a blog, you can write them in a note-book. It could change your entire year…
Will you join us?”
Click on this link to visit the River of Stones website, or here to read my own daily obsrvations
Posted in AROS, Writing Our Way Home, poetry |
June 21st, 2011 Doug
Carried Home
I am cradled in the silent rush,
the feathered threads of his white wings
straining toward bliss.
Hovering sentries singing me safely through~
with the beating of their wings.
And the heart of the white bird carries me
home without so much as a whisper.
By Teri H Hoover, June 20, 2011
To find out more about American writer/photographer Teri Hoover’s work follow this link to her website.
Posted in AROS, Collaborations, Writing Our Way Home, poetry |
May 18th, 2011 Doug
As part of the Writing Your Way Home website, I have created a group to encourage the members to use art as the stimulus for writing new poetry.
For the first post, I used my Pocket Noost assemblage as the start point for the poets. This piece has been used by award-winning poet Pascale Petit in her Poetry From Art workshops. Here is the first poem, written by Jem from The Sound Of Splinters blog, based in West Sussex.
in high winds
the boat tin rattles
eager to release
memories held within
the sound of hail
on a caravan roof
a choosing a poem
about the sea
for her to read
at her mother’s funeral
her mother always
chewed a nutmeg
kept ever-ready in her pocket
swore it did her no harm
while mine took blue pills
against seasickness
except on that school trip
up the Thames and back
where she embarrassed me
Watch out for regular updates from the Poetry From Art group, here on The Net Mender.
Posted in AROS, Collaborations, Guest Post, poetry |
March 2nd, 2011 Doug
Pay Attention: A River Of Stones
The book of the collected small stones is available to buy online.
To purchase this collection of beautiful small observations of the world,
click on this link
My small stone for the 2nd of January is included in the book:
The still silence
of the Downs
is only broken by
my footfall
Posted in AROS |
January 31st, 2011 Doug
Using what
we know
to make sense
of the confusion
Click image to read the River Of Stones
Posted in AROS |
January 30th, 2011 Doug
Pay close
attention,
and do what
you’re told!
Click image to read the River Of Stones
Posted in AROS |
January 29th, 2011 Doug
Time can
very often
be unkind
to art
Click image to read the River Of Stones
Posted in AROS |
