Writing Prompt & Reading List

Writing About Art

Francis Bacon, Three Studies for a Self-Portrait, 1967. Oil on canvas. CR number 67-01. © The Estate of Francis Bacon / DACS London 2019. All rights reserved.

Hi, Friend.

I recently wrote a post about cross-pollination. We’re constantly being inspired and influenced by others, and when we write—or paint, sculpt, act, sing, dance—we don’t know how far the ripples of our work might travel, or who they might touch, and what art those people might make.

Writing inspired by art—ekphrastic writing—is a way to bridge divides between art forms, and also a wonderful way to get unstuck. Today I’m sharing a writing prompt and some of my favorite examples of ekphrastic poems, for you to read, teach, or both.