Color & Shape: Writing Poetry in Response to Visual Art

“Have you ever wanted to write a poem in response to a photograph or a painting? What about a film? How might you capture Rothko’s color field paintings in poetry?” asks instructor Thea Matthews. "This class is designed to stretch your creativity and bring out the joy in your creative process whether you have been writing poetry for decades or you drafted your first poem last week."

In this two-week class, we will explore the art of ekphrastic poetry (or poetry written in response to visual art) and generate our own new poems inspired by paintings, sculptures, photographs, and film. For guidance and inspiration with our own writing, we will read and discuss ekphrastic work by poets such as Robin Coste Lewis, Danez Smith, and William Carlos Williams. In addition to in-class writing, there will be optional opportunities to write ekphrastic poems outside of class during the week.

Thea says, "The premise of this workshop is to play! Through poetry, you will get to write a response to and/or tell an untold story from a painting, a photograph, or a film of your choosing.” We will close out the class with optional sharing of work you’ve generated during the two weeks. 

Students will leave class rejuvenated with newfound inspiration and the tools to write ekphrastic poetry as a way to converse with visual art and expand their creative process.

About The Writing Salon's Remote Classes

You will be able to participate in live class meetings via Zoom videoconference. To attend classes, you'll need a phone, tablet or computer and access to the internet. You can participate in the class from wherever you'd like, whether on your living room couch or in your office. Before your class meets, you'll receive an email from The Writing Salon with more information about Zoom and your remote class. If you have any questions about remote learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at hello@writingsalons.com.