Writers Are Artists

The photo today is a lovely wreath that could be used to brighten a winter day or to highlight Valentine’s Day. The artist who created this beauty began with a frame of some kind, then started placing different floral pieces together in a pleasing pattern. Maybe he/she pulled some out and added others. Maybe the artist changed the whole idea he/she had in the beginning. The artist worked on the wreath until it satisfied him/her enough to call it finished. 

The next time you’re at a florist or home decor shop, have a deeper appreciation for what artist created when making a floral wreath.

Writers go through the same process as the person who put the wreath together. We start with an idea—the frame for that wreath. We put words together, then change some of them. We work at arranging those words in the best way we can. We leave our project for a while, then return to edit and revise once more  

The wreath maker is an artist, and so are we. The process is much the same. Both aim for the best product he/she can produce. Writers can feel a real sense of accomplishment with each finished writing project  

 

Writers Are Artists

 

The following poem was a winner in the Kansas Authors Club annual contest several years ago. As an exercise today, write a poem about the writer as an artist. Even is you've never tried poetry, I feel sure you can do this. Give it a try. You might enjoy it. You can share in the Comments section if you like.

Artists All

Painting with oils,

watercolors brushed across paper,

clay molded by loving hands, 

marble chiseled to exquisite form

Artists ply their trade

by the golden light of day,

by the velvet depths of night

with passion and joy.

One more artist joins the ranks.

The writer brushes words over paper,

molds a story bit by glittering bit,

chisels a novel to survive the ages.

Life stories are gathered 

from country roads to city streets,

written from the depths of a heart

bursting with intensity and rapture.

Artists all, masters of creation,

be they painters, sculptors or writers,

leaving footprints on canvas, marble and paper--

heartfelt tributes embraced by mankind.

                                     --Nancy Julien Kopp  

(c)