In the interview below, you’ll also see mention of “Ekphrasis.” In the days where each Thursday painter gave a brief presentation to the class, Skillman inspired us all with her presentation about ekphrastic poetry – a poem based on a work of art. In an ekphrastic poem, the writer describes the work of art, and may extend into the work’s underlying story or significance. One of the earliest examples is in the Iliad, when Homer describes Achilles’ shield. Another is John Keats’ poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn.” Some day I hope to post a V. Note on ekphrastic poetry, but today I most wanted to share this book and her interview.
Interview: Judith Skillman and Carol Smallwood on Ragazine
Smallwood:In Premise of Light you dedicate the collection to your mentor in art and your first poem mentions a famous artist. Please expand on your art study and the cover you did for this collection:
Skillman: I began taking art classes in fall 2014 at the Pratt in Seattle, and stumbled into Ruthie V., a wonderful teacher. Because my first major was visual art, the study of painting has been a gift. Ruthie V. is a talented painter and an excellent teacher. She is thoroughly versed in art history. I found I could employ Ekphrasis while learning about Lucien Freud, Édouard Vuillard, Emil Nolde and the myriad other artists who came alive through a mere skim of their lives, subject matters, and techniques.
The cover art comes from a small oil painting I did as an attempt emulate the work of an artist I love—Joan Eardley. This piece was a pass at her “Seeded Grasses and Daisies, September“. In visual art the student is encouraged to copy, unlike poetry, where both teachers and students consider it plagiarism to imitate another writer.
To me this disparity seems flawed, as the act of copying or modeling one’s work after an artist or a writer one admires may be one of the best ways to learn craft. That said, I did not in any way capture the essence of Eardley’s painting. What happened was more like translation, in which a different version appeared, barely recognizable as the original.
Wallace Stevens’ essay The Relations Between Poetry andPainting, printed in pamphlet form after his talk at Museum of Modern Art in 1951, reinforces the similarities between writing a poem and painting a picture. Both require composition and execution. Neither writing nor art ‘happens’ from inspiration alone. Both require forethought, planning, and then abandonment to the creative process—followed of course by revision.
Read the full interview here: https://www.ragazine.cc/2019/03/carol-smallwood-interviews-judith-skillman/
If you’re looking for a painting class with solid techniques balanced with 1:1 direction to help you develop your own personal style, take Thursdays. No one paints the same way in Thursday class. We’ve got 2 Thursday shorties for spring, and a coupon. Join us!
If You Could Only Save the Louvre’s Art or Its Visitors, Which Would You Save? This week’s question is a variation of one from The Book of Questions, stolen boldly and without remorse from Wait But Why. “Say on a given morning, there are 100 people in the Louvre in Paris. If a wicked sorcerer threatened …
According to her website, Carol Marine was showing in 7 galleries, but still not making a living on her artwork. In addition, since art school she thought paintings had to be big, and that was causing her a lot of misery. After adopting her baby son, she had no time for painting, but when her …
Meet Britain’s most straight-talking and foul-mouthed artist, Maggi Hambling Busy days – sunny days – I can’t stand to sit here for long thoughts. Here’s a quickie video (below) from a new favorite of mine: Maggi Hambling. More about her tomorrow. Enjoy! [nectar_video_lightbox link_style=”play_button_2″ nectar_play_button_color=”Default-Accent-Color” image_url=”6012″ hover_effect=”defaut” box_shadow=”none” video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNpvS-DYEmA Painter and sculptor Maggi Hambling CBE …
I’m working on a new series of posts about Alberto Giacometti’s drawings and paintings. Giacometti is the guy who made the big tall skinny guy sculptures. They look like this: For my post, I searched for Giacometti’s early works and found artworks from 1910. Alberto was born in 1901, so in 1910, he would have …
Judith Skillman; interview on poetry, painting, and the League
Poetry and painting by Judith Skillman
In the interview below, you’ll also see mention of “Ekphrasis.” In the days where each Thursday painter gave a brief presentation to the class, Skillman inspired us all with her presentation about ekphrastic poetry – a poem based on a work of art. In an ekphrastic poem, the writer describes the work of art, and may extend into the work’s underlying story or significance. One of the earliest examples is in the Iliad, when Homer describes Achilles’ shield. Another is John Keats’ poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn.” Some day I hope to post a V. Note on ekphrastic poetry, but today I most wanted to share this book and her interview.
Interview: Judith Skillman and Carol Smallwood on Ragazine
Smallwood: In Premise of Light you dedicate the collection to your mentor in art and your first poem mentions a famous artist. Please expand on your art study and the cover you did for this collection:
Skillman: I began taking art classes in fall 2014 at the Pratt in Seattle, and stumbled into Ruthie V., a wonderful teacher. Because my first major was visual art, the study of painting has been a gift. Ruthie V. is a talented painter and an excellent teacher. She is thoroughly versed in art history. I found I could employ Ekphrasis while learning about Lucien Freud, Édouard Vuillard, Emil Nolde and the myriad other artists who came alive through a mere skim of their lives, subject matters, and techniques.
The cover art comes from a small oil painting I did as an attempt emulate the work of an artist I love—Joan Eardley. This piece was a pass at her “Seeded Grasses and Daisies, September“. In visual art the student is encouraged to copy, unlike poetry, where both teachers and students consider it plagiarism to imitate another writer.
To me this disparity seems flawed, as the act of copying or modeling one’s work after an artist or a writer one admires may be one of the best ways to learn craft. That said, I did not in any way capture the essence of Eardley’s painting. What happened was more like translation, in which a different version appeared, barely recognizable as the original.
Wallace Stevens’ essay The Relations Between Poetry and Painting, printed in pamphlet form after his talk at Museum of Modern Art in 1951, reinforces the similarities between writing a poem and painting a picture. Both require composition and execution. Neither writing nor art ‘happens’ from inspiration alone. Both require forethought, planning, and then abandonment to the creative process—followed of course by revision.
Read the full interview here: https://www.ragazine.cc/2019/03/carol-smallwood-interviews-judith-skillman/
See more of Judith Skillman’s poetry: http://www.judithskillman.com/
Don’t you just want to eat this painting?
Thursday Class
If you’re looking for a painting class with solid techniques balanced with 1:1 direction to help you develop your own personal style, take Thursdays. No one paints the same way in Thursday class. We’ve got 2 Thursday shorties for spring, and a coupon. Join us!
PAINTING FROM LIFE OR IMAGINATION
10:00-2:00 or 6:00-10:00pm, 4 Thursdays
Starting April 4
ABSTRACTING FROM AN IMAGE
10:00-2:00 or 6:00-10:00pm, 4 Thursdays
Starting May 9
Special Offer: Use the coupon code SWEET at checkout to get 20% off your second Tuesday or Thursday Shortie (4 week) class. Expires March 31, 2019.
Related Posts
Which Would You Save?
If You Could Only Save the Louvre’s Art or Its Visitors, Which Would You Save? This week’s question is a variation of one from The Book of Questions, stolen boldly and without remorse from Wait But Why. “Say on a given morning, there are 100 people in the Louvre in Paris. If a wicked sorcerer threatened …
Daily Painters: Carol Marine
According to her website, Carol Marine was showing in 7 galleries, but still not making a living on her artwork. In addition, since art school she thought paintings had to be big, and that was causing her a lot of misery. After adopting her baby son, she had no time for painting, but when her …
Maggi Hambling
Meet Britain’s most straight-talking and foul-mouthed artist, Maggi Hambling Busy days – sunny days – I can’t stand to sit here for long thoughts. Here’s a quickie video (below) from a new favorite of mine: Maggi Hambling. More about her tomorrow. Enjoy! [nectar_video_lightbox link_style=”play_button_2″ nectar_play_button_color=”Default-Accent-Color” image_url=”6012″ hover_effect=”defaut” box_shadow=”none” video_url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNpvS-DYEmA Painter and sculptor Maggi Hambling CBE …
Alberto Giacometti’s drawings, age 9
I’m working on a new series of posts about Alberto Giacometti’s drawings and paintings. Giacometti is the guy who made the big tall skinny guy sculptures. They look like this: For my post, I searched for Giacometti’s early works and found artworks from 1910. Alberto was born in 1901, so in 1910, he would have …