Inspired by the Artist

By Kenneth A O'Shaughnessy

Art is designed to evoke a response. Sometimes that response is wonder, sometimes envy, sometimes revulsion, and sometimes, more art. Ekphrastic poems are poems written about another kind of art, like film, dance, or painting.

In the poem below, I write ekphrastically about two kinds of art: the art of the drawing artist, and the art of the Creator. 

The drawing below was made by 10 year old Anya. It depicts her naturalist younger brother examining a caterpillar he found.

The poem pays tribute to the artist by using her initials as the acrostic for each verse, and relates her drive to draw to the way she was created by the first Artist.

And if I be lifted up, I will draw

Lines that define a world created

Dividing light from darkness

And the earth was without form

Light made shade and shapes appeared

Darkness directing the eye to light

And God made man in his image

Lifting up a stick figure with his finger

Dust filled with artistic Spirit

And God saw that it was good

Loving what he had made for himself

Despite its imperfections

And if I be lifted up, I will draw

Like the artist who created me

Doing what I was drawn to do

Kenneth A O'Shaughnessy is a freelance writer and poet living in the upstate of South Carolina with his wife and four children. To find his daily poetry entries, log onto: 

http://wordhabitat.blogspot.com/

or find him on Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-OShaughnessy/

Hyperlinks

By Laurie Epps

When you first start blogging, it can be an overwhelming experience. Everyone seems to know the lingo except you. This is one of those discussions that should clear up at least one more vocabulary word for you.

Just follow along with us in Edie Melson's book, Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers. Her book will break down for you all the terms you need to know in very simple terms.

ACFW: Anderson Workshop

With Edie Melson, one of the most influential women in my life

By Laurie Epps

I can't tell you how valuable going to the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference has been for me. I've networked with writers from all over the country, learned new skills of my craft, forged friendships, and created job leads for myself that I'd not have made otherwise.

One of the tips I learned right away is that networking is essential for us as writers. Many of us are shy, and it's why we're writers in the first place. Writing gives us a forum to share our ideas. As many who know and love me, I'm not shy in the slightest, but I empathize with those that are.

Hauntings: The Work of Toni Scott

By Laurie Epps

In honor of African-American history month, I respectfully dedicate this column to their national legacy. 

Toni Scott is a painter and sculptor from Los Angeles, CA. I was fortunate enough to have met her briefly this past fall when her Bloodlines exhibition was showcased in my school's Vandiver Gallery. As the descendent of slaves, Europeans, and Native Americans, her artwork is very personal and tells us a lot about her family history.

Something about Toni Scott's artwork, and the presence of this very talented artist spoke to me on a very intrinsic level. Her line entitled Bloodlines, tells the story of slaves in this country. Though centered around tragic events, this is also a tale of triumph of the human spirit. (Much like the artist herself.)

To view the exhibit that was at my university, click here.

The Marriage of Labels and Keywords

By Laurie Epps


What's a label? What's a keyword? Today we're going to talk about not only what they are, but how they are connected. Both label and keyword form a marriage that increases your SEO = Search Engine Optimization. Let Edie and I teach you how.

Still, we are working with Edie's book, Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers. This is a step by step guide to teach you the in's and out's of how to create a successful presence on the Internet.

Love and Infatuation: A Story of a Young Woman

By Laurie Epps

Last spring in my Art History class we had a creative writing option in lieu of our term paper assignment. Being a creative writing major, and completely burnt out on a thesis driven paper, I just embraced the idea to express myself and my ideas in a different way.

Of all the portraits, Portrait of a Young Woman by Mary Louise Elisabeth really resonated with me. I imagined the subject of this French rococo painter to have the sweet and precocious nature of Marianne as in Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. So I just went with my idea, and much to my essay's delight. I hope you will all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

A Bit About Analytics

By Laurie Epps

Everyone has statistics on their blog, but what do they mean? How do they translate into positive changes on our blog or website? Today we'll talk about using those demographics to help tailor your blog to the mission of what you hope to accomplish.

Here to show us the ropes, is my mentor Edie Melson with her book, Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers.