Category Archives: image prompts

Yemaya’s Children – the Orishas return

Another story from Damyanti in response to the image I put up as a writing prompt for her. I never know what will spark her writing or the direction it will take, but I am always delighted to read what … Continue reading

Posted in character, Damyanti Ghosh, damyantiwrites, ekphrasis, fiction, fish, image prompts, lucid dreaming, picture prompts, speed-writing, the Orishas, Uncategorized, writing, writing prompts, Yemaya's Children | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Damyanti Writes

I lifted Damyanti’s story from her blog, the Daily (w)rite : a daily ritual of writing. She wrote the story from the image I put up Feb 3rd. She spins amazing stories out of just about anything, just for exercise. … Continue reading

Posted in art, Daily (w)rite, Damyanti Ghosh, ekphrasis, hat chick, image prompts, painting, poetry, stories | Leave a comment

Creation Myth # 12

Two for Damyanti Ghosh, who requested image prompts. Survey her work at http://damyantiwrites.wordpress.com/ This drawing is of my niece, McKenzie Jones, when she was a teen-ager. Not so long ago…   At one time I was putting up new images every thursday … Continue reading

Posted in art, collaborative storybook, creation myth, creative process, Damyanti Ghosh, damyantiwrites, ekphrasis, image prompts, McKenzie Jones, poetry, stories | 11 Comments

How Many Stories Can A Picture Tell?

Catherine Nesbitt called the other day to buy a painting. It was her husband’s birthday and the painting gave Jim pleasure so she wanted him to have it. If the truth be told it wasn’t her favorite. The other painting … Continue reading

Posted in art, childcraft books, collaborative storybook, Crayola crayons, creative process, Doug Palmer, ekphrasis, image prompts, institutional racism, Jim and Cathleen Nesbitt, painting, poetry, selling art, the wheelbarrow woman, whypaisley, Wilmington NC | 7 Comments

image prompts

Nanda Sosa just emailed me the pictures below, which are of paintings hanging on the walls of her home in Caracas. I had forgotten them. Which means it has been too long since I visited that beautiful, amazing, troubled country … Continue reading

Posted in art, below the line, ekphrasis, image prompts, maria fernanda sosa, painting, storybook collaborative, Venezuela, work in progress | 5 Comments

song for amuirin

Now Cleo faced the nighttime she thought the urge a little strange her pencil and papers in a stack before her hoping darkness her thoughts would arrange. . She stared out of the window thought of her lover sleeping alone … Continue reading

Posted in amuirin, children, cleo, gerard manley hopkins, image prompts, paint dept., painting, passion, poem, poetry, relationships, stop and wander, with warm breast and with ah! bright wings. | 4 Comments

alone time

is hard to find these days but I have some now and I am puzzling out how to use this blog. I stay away from writing and painting too long – which happens whenever I take a movie job – … Continue reading

Posted in art, art for film and tv, babelfruit, birdie jaworski, Broadus and Ada, callings, citylights, collaboration, ecphrasis, ekphrasis, faith, film work, first presbyterian church las vegas nm, gallinas magazine, georgia o'keefe movie, homeless shelter, homelessness, image prompts, las vegas nm, let's hope, love, making a difference, naomi swinton, painting, pertussis, picture prompts, poetry, protestpoems, Rev. Randy Campbell, Rosie Lopez, samaritan house, san miguel county, sharon seto, sizzle, spencer and janet swinton, storybook collaborative, Uncategorized, uwc-usa, whooping cough, why does good change take so long?" | 21 Comments

10/24/08 closing a chapter – one last prompt

I’m writing from the coast of North Carolina as tropical rain and winds lash the house and the lights flicker inside. My extended family is gathered for a reunion here. There is something comforting about working while the winds rage … Continue reading

Posted in art, completion, cucaloris film festival, ekphrasis, image prompts, independent art company, male nudes, painting, picture prompts, poetry, storybook collaborative, wabi sabi warehouse | 28 Comments

10/16/08 image prompt

I’m actually posting these images on a Thursday, like I said I would. Life gets a little hectic here with a new baby, workaholic parents, a wild 9 year old. Almost 9. Okay, about the baby. Omygod, what a baby. … Continue reading

Posted in ada corinna, art, broadus, children, collaboration, ekphrasis, halloween, image prompts, painting, poetry, Rockheads, stories, storybook collaborative, works in progress | 10 Comments

10/9/08 image prompt, a poem, and marcia abigail ryder

We’ll call this painting this week’s image prompt. I’m in Agua Prieta, Mexico, on the border with Arizona with a group of UWC-USA students who are doing a week-long Border Issues study. Internet is sketchy so while I have it … Continue reading

Posted in art, cape cod, ekphrasis, friendshp, image prompts, kittery maine, love, marcia abigail ryder, painting, picture prompts, poetry, roger cole, storybook collaborative, teaching art, walking on water, wellfleet mass, winchester high school | 11 Comments

10/3/08 day late image prompt

Oops. It’s been a topsy turvy week. I apologize to those who have sent work in that I have not yet put up. I’ll try to post it later today or tomorrow. In the meantime, here is something Broadus and … Continue reading

Posted in art, broadus aurelius, collaboration, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative, works in progress | 9 Comments

9/24/08 image prompt

A day early but I’ll be out of town tonight (off to Santa Fe to hear Isabel Allende with my son, Broadus, who loves her children’s stories, and a van full of international students from UWC-USA). And besides, this is … Continue reading

Posted in art, ekphrasis, image prompts, isabel allende, painting, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative, supernatural bridge, Uncategorized, works in progress | 13 Comments

9/18/08 image prompt

This image was inspired by the spirited freedom always evident in the artwork produced by my son, Broadus. If a dragon needs four eyeballs, or double jaws, or teeth in its belly he does not hesitate to add them. It … Continue reading

Posted in art, broadus, collaboration, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, poetry, quesrtionable rights of the state, stories, storybook collaborative, stupid war, tell us a story!, the children's hour | 5 Comments

openhand’s story

.the dragon prince Mister Openhand, I think maybe it would be okay to quit your day job.

Posted in art, birth, ekphrasis, image prompts, myths, openhand, painting, poetry, stories, the children's hour | 6 Comments

9/11/08 image post

Maybe someone can find a story here? Or a poem? This painting belongs to Broadus, and he would like a story, please. It’s almost bedtime. Sept. 11, 2008 image prompt . The Dragon Prince, by Openhand . A Not-story, by … Continue reading

Posted in art, callings, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative | 15 Comments

9/4/08 image prompt

Wanted to call it, “Bruno Goes To War”, but that’s not really what it’s about. So, for lack of a title I’ll just call it “The Fight”. Have fun with it. Next week I’ll get back to, heck, I don’t … Continue reading

Posted in anger management, art, ekphrasis, image prompts, law, painting, poetry, race in america, stories, storybook collaborative, Uncategorized, vegetarian pacifist boxers | 3 Comments

Praise, pepek the assassin

hmmm… can’t seem to let this one go. Joyce (pepek) has changed a line in her poem, Praise, written to accompany the image below. I am posting both versions below. Would love to hear your response to the change… . … Continue reading

Posted in art, callings, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, joyce ellen davis, painting, pepektheassassin, poetry, stories | 17 Comments

8/28/08 image prompt

(Backstory) 4′ x 3′ approx. mixed media on linen. This picture came out of another time. It grew out of a loose scumble of color on the back of a piece of printed upholstery fabric. The fabric was a fine … Continue reading

Posted in art, callings, carol roberts, egnima, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, poetry, red shoes, storybook collaborative, supernatural bridge | 18 Comments

this is the post that opened the storybook

I am catching up here, having been distracted by some 8 weeks on a film crew, and having a baby (well, Naomi had the baby. At home! Welcome, Ada Corinna Meridian Swinton!), followed by driving a moving truck 2000 miles … Continue reading

Posted in Ada Swinton, alice o'leary, art, art for film and tv, big-time collaboration, Broadus Mobbs, callings, collaborative storybook, damn cat, ekphrasis, friendshp, Grand Canyon, image prompts, making up stories, myths, naomi swinton, painting, picture prompts, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative, tell us a story!, who the heck is alice?, with ah! bright wings, xpalla | 3 Comments

new writing / catching up!

. Here is Grand Canyon, a poem from Tiel Aisha Ansari, creator of the blog, knocking from inside. The poem is from her 3 trips to the Grand Canyon and accompanies this week’s image. . And flesh and rock, from … Continue reading

Posted in art, collaboration, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, footprint of the creator, geology, Grand Canyon, image prompts, myths, painting, picture prompts, poetry, Rockheads, Uncategorized, works in progress | Leave a comment

early image prompt

I am once again on the road. This time with my 8 year old son, Broadus. Today we drove to Flagstaff, Arizona. Tomorrow we leave on an 8 day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, a trip that fell out … Continue reading

Posted in art, bruno, Coach, coach morgan, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, picture prompts, poetry, sherridale morgan | 12 Comments

pepek the assassin

I haven’t singled out a poet’s work and talked about it specifically, but Praise, by Joyce Ellen Davis struck me powerfully and I wanted to bring it up and see what feedback came in. I love the painting but it … Continue reading

Posted in art, callings, collaboration, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, joyce ellen davis, painting, pepektheassassin, poetry, stories, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

8/7/08 image prompt

the summer is flying by. Hope it is a good one for you. Here is a summertime prompt I hope will elicit a story or two… …and they have. Here are some… .thresholds, from lirone (words that sing) . sisters, from … Continue reading

Posted in art, collaboration, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, my four sisters, painting, poetry, stories | 25 Comments

this week

new writing: I am a Hawk and a Mouse, by Christine a note from the artist, from jo Bluebirds are meant to sing by damyantig Avian Armor from marlow44 liberate yourself from guatami tripathy memories from lirone tunnel of bones … Continue reading

Posted in art, ekphrasis, image prompts, new work, poetry, with broadus | 8 Comments

back in new mexico…

i’m sitting here with a babe in arms. hence the lack of caps. she’s a month old and i’m pulling at her toes as she watches the screen. amazing little thing, making charming little sounds – grunts and chirps, little … Continue reading

Posted in art, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, family, image prompts, moving day, picture prompts, poetry, roadburn | 7 Comments

7/31/08 image prompt

Hello from the road. Tomorrow we’ll start burning it up. Here is a prompt that reflects the chaos of the moment. Actually it was a fun collaboration with my son, Broadus, but when I look at it now it seems … Continue reading

Posted in art, broadus aurelius, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, myths, painting, picture prompts, poetry, road-burn, stories, storybook collaborative, Uncategorized | 21 Comments

7/24/08 image prompt

It’s the dog days of summer, inviting musings on loyalty, long walks and rolls in the grass, unspoken friendship and the simple satisfactions and creature comforts that make up some of the good things in life. Next week I’ll be … Continue reading

Posted in art, collaboration, collaborative storybook, dog days, dogs, ekphrasis, friendshp, image prompts, loyalty, naomi swinton, painting, picture prompts, poetry, stories | 12 Comments

new work!

and still more to post… I is for Bugs . I is for… by Lirone, author of the blog Words that Sing. (Lirone means “song is mine, joy is mine”…) . Tiel Aisha Ansari, author of the blog, knocking from … Continue reading

Posted in art, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, nanda, painting, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative | 3 Comments

something new from the art predator, and more…

Lunch-break. The show is winding down and I’m working myself out of a job. That’s the way it works and we are usually ready to be done with the movie at this point, anyway. It never was a calling, just … Continue reading

Posted in 'tis a gift to be simple, art, callings, collaboration, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, film making, film work, image prompts, maria fernanda sosa, nanda, painting, pepektheassassin, picture prompts, poetry, scenic artist, script writing, stories, works in progress, you can't say you can't play | 4 Comments

the (friday) thursday image prompt’

We are a little scrambled here, with days and nights, hearts and minds full with work and children – so I am a little late with this one. But with kids in mind, here is a prompt to make up … Continue reading

Posted in 'tis a gift to be simple, ada corinna, art, awakening, birth, children, collaborative storybook, completion, ekphrasis, faith, family, image prompts, love, painting, picture prompts, poetry, portraits, stories, Uncategorized, works in progress | 11 Comments

7/10/08 image prompt

Good morning! Time for work, gotta go. Here’s a picture. Backstory, and more about Ada, later! . praise, by joyce davis (pepek the assassin) . The Condor Soars, by Lirone, on Words that sing . Bystander, by one more believer, … Continue reading

Posted in 'tis a gift to be simple, ada corinna, art, awakening, birth, callings, children, collaborative storybook, damn cat, ekphrasis, faith, home birth, image prompts, kiss of the wind, myths, new baby..., painting, picture prompts, poetry, prose poem, stories | 18 Comments

7/3/08 image prompt – harbor lights

Hello everyone. Those of you who frequent here know we have been expecting a baby to arrive any day for the last 11 or 12 days now. Maybe it will be tonight, maybe tomorrow. Who knows? In the meantime it … Continue reading

Posted in art, birth, callings, collaborative storybook, completion, ecphrasis, faith, home birth, image prompts, kids, light, painting, poem, poetry, prose poem, stories, storybook collaborative, thursday prompt | 18 Comments

6/26/08 image prompt – soup kitchen witch

Hello everyone. Since we never really know what the day will bring (or when we will knock off and go home), I am putting this Thursday image prompt up early and offering both the original and a later (scribble witch) … Continue reading

Posted in angels, art, collaborative storybook, ecphrasis, ekphrasis, faith, image prompts, light, myths, oil painting, painting, picture prompts, poem, poetry, portraits, prose poem, soup kitchen witch, stories | 20 Comments

lots of hummingbirds

around the feeder (me) but still no baby. We are in no hurry. Movie has taken over my life. It feels good to be back in the saddle again. More later. Here are links to new work to go with … Continue reading

Posted in aa, art, art for film and tv, awakening, callings, ecphrasis, electric cow, faith, film work, home birth, image prompts, light, love, myths, painting, picture prompts, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative, the art of recovery, the writing life, works in progress, you can't say you can't play | 13 Comments

6/18/08 image prompt

Here is this week’s Thursday image prompt. Take in whatever direction you wish, and enjoy. Follow this link to the storybook collaborative for an easy to follow guide to images and writing thus far. This is open to everyone. The … Continue reading

Posted in art, collaborative storybook, ecphrasis, ekphrasis, image prompts, kiss of the wind, love, new baby..., ozy, ozy where are you?, painting, picture prompts, poem, poetry, prose poem, stories, storybook collaborative, the kiss, where are you?, works in progress, you can't say you can't play | 30 Comments

lunch break

big, big raindrops starting to fall. movie okay so far. I am getting more paint on the set walls than on myself, making an old hotel in Las Vegas NM look like one in Juarez, Mexico, with color references from … Continue reading

Posted in art, art for film and tv, collaboration, collaborative storybook, ecphrasis, electric cow, image prompts, myths, painting, picture prompts, poem, poetry, prose poem, stories, thursday prompt, works in progress | 4 Comments

6/12/08 image prompt

For all the hurting people out there. The quote is from Eileen Mayhew. Some of you work so quickly, and produce such neat things. First out of the starting blocks is paisley, with her poem, paint me a picture. Her … Continue reading

Posted in art, ecphrasis poetry, eileen mayhew, healing, image prompts, let your tears come, love, painting, picture prompts, poetry, thursday prompt | 16 Comments

movie start date pushed

update…. it looks like my start date on the movie is pushed to Monday, which is fine with me. We are still doing the last minute ordering and nesting which we hope will make life in the coming weeks easier. … Continue reading

Posted in art, art for film and tv, birth, broadus, collaboration, collaborative storybook, completion, ecphrasis, elizabeth withnall, faith, homebirth, image prompts, love, NM midwife, picture prompts, poetry, pregnancy, thursday prompt | 5 Comments

starting a show

I start Wednesday on a movie in pre-production in Santa Fe. It will be my first show since moving to NM. I’ll be helping to make Las Vegas, New Mexico look like Jaurez, Mexico. Not too big a stretch, actually. … Continue reading

Posted in 'tis a gift to be simple, art, art for film and tv, birth, callings, children, collaboration, collaborative storybook, completion, ecphrasis, faith, film work, fun stuff, iatse, image prompts, painting, picture prompts, poetry, scenic art | 9 Comments

thursday image prompt 6/5/08

Enjoy. Take in any direction you wish. Backstory later. This one dedicated to the funny, talented, joyful and beautiful lakota, naughty lakota, naughty naughty naughty lakota.

Posted in art, birth, ekphrasis, image prompts, lakota, myths, painting, picture prompts, poetry, prose poem, stories | 26 Comments