Tag: art

Daydream – Poetry Challenge 15

On By Editor Karolyn HIn W.W. poetry, Wednesday's WafersLeave a comment

I wrote this ekphrastic poem about an oil painting I bought 30 years ago at an art exhibit in a shopping mall north of Seattle. I only recently took the time to investigate the artist’s signature. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was painted by Caroline C. Burnett (1877-1950), an American-born artist known for her Impressionist street scenes of Paris. She was a member of the Societe de Beaux-Arts in Paris, where she exhibited her works in 1898 at the age of 21. When I first saw it, it made me dream of sipping a mocha at an outdoor café in Italy. Turns out, it was actually painted in Paris, France. The closest I’ve gotten to visiting either of these places so far is a hotel and airport in Frankfurt, Germany, and a hotel in Algiers. But I still hold out hope.

Ekphrastic poetry vividly describes a painting, sculpture, drawing, or other form of visual art. It doesn’t have any other rules.

Daydream

When I first discovered
the moment captured on canvas,
I was instantly whisked away
to stand outside the café bistro
admiring its bright olive exterior
and the flower baskets and boxes
in windows and all along la rue.
The archway leading to Hotel de Liones
beckons.
Warm rose and brown hues
contrast with the lone blue vase
on the small white table.
An everyday scene for Parisians
painted with unrefined brushstrokes.
I imagine a light breeze 
in that quiet moment on this early morn,
and the couple that might turn the corner
and stroll past the restaurant.
The desire for travel and adventure
on distant shores
is rekindled.

Text and images Copyright © 2023 Karolyn Herrera

Work of Art

On By Editor Karolyn HIn Editing Projects, Projects 2018Leave a comment

workofart

Project quote:

“Envision it, embody it, plan it, take action, and go for it.” (Abigail C., February 2018; Integrative MindBody)

My thoughts:

Once we dare to imagine our ideal self, then the next step to becoming this person is identifying the actions required to get there. When I say, “ideal self”, I’m referring to the person we truly want to show to the world. Not someone else, not someone else’s life, not someone else’s idea of the perfect person or situation.

Instead: talents we want to explore, fears we wish to banish, places we want to visit or live in, relationships we want to embrace. For me, it helps to think about the end goal as a finished painting – this is what I want people to see when they think of me.

So, what about the stages in between? Working backwards to now, each one can be a painting in its own right. Each transition is an illustration and requires certain brush strokes to achieve it. Building the foundation is just as important and worth celebrating as the final masterpiece.

Let’s take this example even further: what tools do we need to create this painting? Once we decide which brush and which colors to use, then we can pursue each one with purpose, knowing that it’s part of the process.

Editing projects for weeks ending February 4, 2018
Cover letter and academic proposal, Multiple Academic Research Articles, Mindbody Coaching Website, E-Card website, Real Estate Article
Client countries: US, China, Canada