“Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks," said the classical Greek lyric poet Simonides of Ceos. In this workshop, where no calligraphy experience is needed, we will explore the use of abstract calligraphic marks to make paintings that are inspired by poetry. We will work with the gestures of letters, flourishes, use of different tools and materials as well as inward reflection to begin our paintings. The more we can listen to our intuitive self, the more honest, powerful and alive our paintings will be. We will also integrate writing poetry as a way to further open the pathways to creativity.

Using poetry as our starting point, we will discuss how abstract paintings can have an intrinsic connection to a poem. This includes the quality of line, size of strokes, shapes, direction of energy, color, value and texture. We will use sumi ink and watercolor to do exercises in calligraphic mark making, choosing colors, value studies and cropping the page.

If you are interested in looking for new inspiration for your abstract paintings, if you enjoy poetry, if you want to have fun and make exciting discoveries, then this is the class for you. You will leave this class with some finished paintings and new inspiration to guide you.