Where was I? Paris, New York, Washington, Vienna, Geneva .... the sheer blitz of colour from the wonderful art exhibition entitled: Persona Perspective by Plymouth artist Rosie Cunningham, was a treat to behold. A veritable palette of colours swept before our eyes. If you knew nothing about abstract art before entering the gallery, then the delight of the colour ensemble was enough to give you a feel of immense well being.
The day after a well attended launch evening, we held a creative writing workshop on the theme of Ekphrasis - or how to write about art from art. That too was well attended with some faces from the past in among several of the new. A few of the writer's from Plymouth Proprietary Library who were so loyal to me in my battle against the more sinister forces which try to control Plymouth, came unexpectedly to the fore. It was a pleasure to see you all.
If you feel you need an injection of colour in the midst of a dull January, take a step into Devonport Guildhall. You won't be disappointed. Devonport really is doing very well indeed.
Showing posts with label Devon Literature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Devon Literature. Show all posts
Monday, 16 January 2017
Saturday, 5 November 2016
Therapy in Creativity
Those sharp eyed followers of my blog have already contacted me to say they noticed my change of title heading. Ruth Snell Creative Writing is now re-labelled as Ruth Snell Creative Arts. The simple reason being that painting has formed a large part of my life lately and I've found it easier to reach people through my painting than my writing. Not that my book has fallen into the mire. A lovely message came in only today to say how much someone enjoyed the story, so it is warming to know people out there are reading it.
When you create a painting and show it to a viewer, what you see is what you get. When you write a book, people are aware the creative process is more of a two way street. They have to acquire a copy of the book and then engage some of their spare time to read it. It may not be what they expect or it can give them a few surprises. Paintings aren't like that. A split second of viewing will either draw someone in or they will walk on by. Their appreciation is more instantaneous.
Perhaps then it is time to consider the importance of a book cover. What sort of judgements do you make on browsing in a book shop? Do you have expectations of how a book cover should look or does it not worry you? The official line from those who conduct studies into such observations say that the cover of a book will firstly make a browser pick it up. This can occupy some four to six seconds and if the 'blurb' on the back cover is attractively written, you have another hook in on a possible purchaser.
Is it all about hard sales? Well, the general idea in writing a book is that you want your 'message' to get out there. You have spent tremendous amounts of time writing the thing. Imagine if someone was paying you by the hour ...
For me the creative process must make me feel better about myself. That is why for me, designing - and painting - the cover of my books is important to me. The reader will hopefully have 'more of me' in what they take from the bookshelf. The package must be more rounded. I read several years ago that the singer/songwriter, Kate Bush, was very serious about record covers. Before she made it as a hit in the music world, as a young teenager, she would take a train into London on Saturday's to browse the shops. If she bought a record (LP to us oldies) she would sit on the train back to Kent pouring over the record sleeve, absorbing the design. At this point she didn't know what all the songs on the record sounded like, aside from the one perhaps she'd heard on the radio, but for her it was important to take in the cover design as it led her to understand more of what the music was portraying. Occasionally there were surprises but more often than not, the design emphasised the audio effect.
So if you are a writer and plan to publish, think carefully about your book cover. You may not be artistic but that doesn't matter. The point is that you know what you want your cover to be like. And, painting is a very therapeutic occupation. Writing can be extremely stressful. Even if you have the most perfect plot in the world and stunning characters, time for editing could be tight, your laptop may be playing up or even worse, crash losing your work. Painting (or drawing) may even help you understand what you are trying to say. Art, in all its forms is highly enjoyable but it can help the mind to cross over to another discipline. Think carefully about your book cover and make it intrinsic to the text. Make it ... you ...
Happy creativity!
http://www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk/artists/ruth-snell
When you create a painting and show it to a viewer, what you see is what you get. When you write a book, people are aware the creative process is more of a two way street. They have to acquire a copy of the book and then engage some of their spare time to read it. It may not be what they expect or it can give them a few surprises. Paintings aren't like that. A split second of viewing will either draw someone in or they will walk on by. Their appreciation is more instantaneous.
Perhaps then it is time to consider the importance of a book cover. What sort of judgements do you make on browsing in a book shop? Do you have expectations of how a book cover should look or does it not worry you? The official line from those who conduct studies into such observations say that the cover of a book will firstly make a browser pick it up. This can occupy some four to six seconds and if the 'blurb' on the back cover is attractively written, you have another hook in on a possible purchaser.
Is it all about hard sales? Well, the general idea in writing a book is that you want your 'message' to get out there. You have spent tremendous amounts of time writing the thing. Imagine if someone was paying you by the hour ...
For me the creative process must make me feel better about myself. That is why for me, designing - and painting - the cover of my books is important to me. The reader will hopefully have 'more of me' in what they take from the bookshelf. The package must be more rounded. I read several years ago that the singer/songwriter, Kate Bush, was very serious about record covers. Before she made it as a hit in the music world, as a young teenager, she would take a train into London on Saturday's to browse the shops. If she bought a record (LP to us oldies) she would sit on the train back to Kent pouring over the record sleeve, absorbing the design. At this point she didn't know what all the songs on the record sounded like, aside from the one perhaps she'd heard on the radio, but for her it was important to take in the cover design as it led her to understand more of what the music was portraying. Occasionally there were surprises but more often than not, the design emphasised the audio effect.
So if you are a writer and plan to publish, think carefully about your book cover. You may not be artistic but that doesn't matter. The point is that you know what you want your cover to be like. And, painting is a very therapeutic occupation. Writing can be extremely stressful. Even if you have the most perfect plot in the world and stunning characters, time for editing could be tight, your laptop may be playing up or even worse, crash losing your work. Painting (or drawing) may even help you understand what you are trying to say. Art, in all its forms is highly enjoyable but it can help the mind to cross over to another discipline. Think carefully about your book cover and make it intrinsic to the text. Make it ... you ...
Happy creativity!
http://www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk/artists/ruth-snell
Monday, 1 August 2016
Poets and Painters
Poets and Painters ...
We think of poets and painters seperately yet quite a few were multi-talented. The two names of William Blake and Dante Gabriel Rossetti should resonate with you even if you cannot immediately place their work. After the steam of the EU Referendum (aren't we all glad that is out the way?), I wanted to set out a stall on Britishness (note I didn't say Englishness) and our unique ability to absorb other cultures while still impressing the rest of the world with our own home-grown talent.
William Blake (1757-1827) is probably most recognized for his words to the resounding song 'Jerusalem'. We recognise it immediately: 'And did those feet in ancient times walk upon England's mountain green.' Yet few actually realise he was a hugely respected artist and was at one point considered '...one of the greatest artists Britain has ever produced.' Blake started his career as an engraver and was apprenticed to James Basire of Great Queen Street in London. Closely observing the Gothic work of many churches, I personally feel much of his artistic style was affected by the impressions he was working with. Blake later went on to become an art student at The Royal Academy where interestingly he did not take to the work and style of Plymouth's home grown artist, Joshua Reynolds. There was an interesting antagonism between them.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) was British born and the son of an Italian scholar. He was born in London and although his friends called him Gabriel, he used his first name of Dante through preference. He painted in oils using water colour brushes which drew a great curiosity from his artistic observers. Nevertheless, aside from some unique paintings, his poetry has become classic in our tome of the very best.
In both men there is plenty for us to see - and see again. Both born in Britain yet one with links abroad and the other as British as a stick of rock. Note their work: There is a close correlation between painting and poetry. The mind of the artist is relaxed through a brush; the mind of the poet drifts like a conduit through the pen. Find and compare works by both Blake and Rossetti. There are many differences but similarities too.
We think of poets and painters seperately yet quite a few were multi-talented. The two names of William Blake and Dante Gabriel Rossetti should resonate with you even if you cannot immediately place their work. After the steam of the EU Referendum (aren't we all glad that is out the way?), I wanted to set out a stall on Britishness (note I didn't say Englishness) and our unique ability to absorb other cultures while still impressing the rest of the world with our own home-grown talent.
William Blake (1757-1827) is probably most recognized for his words to the resounding song 'Jerusalem'. We recognise it immediately: 'And did those feet in ancient times walk upon England's mountain green.' Yet few actually realise he was a hugely respected artist and was at one point considered '...one of the greatest artists Britain has ever produced.' Blake started his career as an engraver and was apprenticed to James Basire of Great Queen Street in London. Closely observing the Gothic work of many churches, I personally feel much of his artistic style was affected by the impressions he was working with. Blake later went on to become an art student at The Royal Academy where interestingly he did not take to the work and style of Plymouth's home grown artist, Joshua Reynolds. There was an interesting antagonism between them.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) was British born and the son of an Italian scholar. He was born in London and although his friends called him Gabriel, he used his first name of Dante through preference. He painted in oils using water colour brushes which drew a great curiosity from his artistic observers. Nevertheless, aside from some unique paintings, his poetry has become classic in our tome of the very best.
In both men there is plenty for us to see - and see again. Both born in Britain yet one with links abroad and the other as British as a stick of rock. Note their work: There is a close correlation between painting and poetry. The mind of the artist is relaxed through a brush; the mind of the poet drifts like a conduit through the pen. Find and compare works by both Blake and Rossetti. There are many differences but similarities too.
Friday, 4 March 2016
Words, Polysemes, Capitonyms and more ...
It is always an unknown factor with a blog as to whether you are writing purely for yourself or whether anyone will read your composition. Therefore, I've been delighted to receive a few messages from people to say they are following my rambles with interest. To them, I would like to say thank you and use this opportunity to say hello to Penny Taylor.
Penny is interested in the history of Plymouth and due to various activities on local walks and so on, became aware of my book, Inspeximus. Amusingly, she referred to it in one message to me as 'Inspecsy-Mouse' which immediately set my mind to a wide range of images, mainly - that here was an excellent title for a children's detective character.
This in turn (as one thing always leads to another), generated my thoughts towards how words are interpreted and the challenges of the English language with all its foibles. We could start by looking at Homonym's and Homophone's:
Homonym: One of a group of words that share the same pronunciation but have different meanings. One easy example is 'bow'. This could refer to the bow in bow and arrow, to bow down to the king or queen, tie a bow in your hair or create music by putting a bow to a violin.
Homophone: A word that has the same sound as another word but is spelled differently with a different meaning. for example, to/too/two and pray/prey.
However ..... the word Heterographs are also referred to as to, too, two and there, their. Confused? A breakdown of the word Heterograph means 'different writing' so technically this is correct.
Consider this sentence: The wind swirled up the leaves/I must wind up the clock today.
What about a Synophone then? These are a little more slippery and can be identified with how a foreigner learning English, may make an easy mistake. Think of spellings and sounds, for example ...
Methods of teaching English in our schools is quiet weak.
Did you see the Synophone above? Yes, the word 'quiet' and 'quite' sound the same if said quickly.
We can grow even more adventurous with Polysemes. These are words which are seen more in creative writing although we don't consciously use them. For example, 'the strong arm of the law,' or 'the gaping mouth of the cave on the beach.' The word 'arm' can be the physical limb, ammunition or used to describe a form of strength. the word mouth can again be a physical part of the body, an opening or description of where a river yawns ahead at its widest points.
And it means that Capitonyms don't escape categorizations either. Think of when you 'polish' the furniture or your neighbour has a 'Polish' student staying with them.
They say that English is one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn. Personally I think I would find Chinese a challenge. Not that I'm looking to learn Chinese as I'm still trying to capture my knowledge of English.
So thank you Penny for your message on Inspecsy-Mouse. I already have rich images in my mind of a little whiskered chap with a Sherlock Holmes hat and cap, sporting a curled pipe and speaking like the detective Columbo. 'Excuse me sir/ma'am .... Just one more thing ... When you rose from your bed this morning did you notice that dead body in your rose garden?'
Penny is interested in the history of Plymouth and due to various activities on local walks and so on, became aware of my book, Inspeximus. Amusingly, she referred to it in one message to me as 'Inspecsy-Mouse' which immediately set my mind to a wide range of images, mainly - that here was an excellent title for a children's detective character.
This in turn (as one thing always leads to another), generated my thoughts towards how words are interpreted and the challenges of the English language with all its foibles. We could start by looking at Homonym's and Homophone's:
Homonym: One of a group of words that share the same pronunciation but have different meanings. One easy example is 'bow'. This could refer to the bow in bow and arrow, to bow down to the king or queen, tie a bow in your hair or create music by putting a bow to a violin.
Homophone: A word that has the same sound as another word but is spelled differently with a different meaning. for example, to/too/two and pray/prey.
However ..... the word Heterographs are also referred to as to, too, two and there, their. Confused? A breakdown of the word Heterograph means 'different writing' so technically this is correct.
Consider this sentence: The wind swirled up the leaves/I must wind up the clock today.
What about a Synophone then? These are a little more slippery and can be identified with how a foreigner learning English, may make an easy mistake. Think of spellings and sounds, for example ...
Methods of teaching English in our schools is quiet weak.
Did you see the Synophone above? Yes, the word 'quiet' and 'quite' sound the same if said quickly.
We can grow even more adventurous with Polysemes. These are words which are seen more in creative writing although we don't consciously use them. For example, 'the strong arm of the law,' or 'the gaping mouth of the cave on the beach.' The word 'arm' can be the physical limb, ammunition or used to describe a form of strength. the word mouth can again be a physical part of the body, an opening or description of where a river yawns ahead at its widest points.
And it means that Capitonyms don't escape categorizations either. Think of when you 'polish' the furniture or your neighbour has a 'Polish' student staying with them.
They say that English is one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn. Personally I think I would find Chinese a challenge. Not that I'm looking to learn Chinese as I'm still trying to capture my knowledge of English.
So thank you Penny for your message on Inspecsy-Mouse. I already have rich images in my mind of a little whiskered chap with a Sherlock Holmes hat and cap, sporting a curled pipe and speaking like the detective Columbo. 'Excuse me sir/ma'am .... Just one more thing ... When you rose from your bed this morning did you notice that dead body in your rose garden?'
Thursday, 21 January 2016
Overpopulation and Literature of the Future - Perhaps Coming to a Bookstand Near You.
The post Christmas spell has made me read more than usual. January has that something about it where after the flurry of a Christmas run around, we retreat into the turn of the Winter Solstice and ponder what will come in the year ahead. Every time we switch on the television or radio we are met with tenterhooks gloom and doom, from migrants wanting that 'better life' sinking on unstable boats in the Mediterranean to a volatile stock market which means we are under the boot of more austerity (according to our illustrious leaders in parliament). Easy to say for those earning way above the minimum wage in the London power house. Here in the West Country, jobs which equate London salaries are non-existent unless you are a Doctor or Lawyer.
So, all of this rather negative news throws my mind to future scenarios. If someone approached me to commission a novel and then asked me what the suggested topic would be, I would say look to the overpopulation of the British Isles. Something has to give. The terrible floods in the north of England around Christmas echoed a similar situation to the Somerset Levels in more recent times where some of the residents have still not been compensated. And the reason for much of this? The weather causes the flooding - yes - and the meteorological merchants of gloom have been talking about global warming for a few years. While they have been talking about it, what have the powers that be been doing about it? Encouraging us to recycle waste products, use less plastic bags, car share where possible or use public transport ... yes, it all sounds nice, sensible and responsible but it isn't the root cause. The root cause is the amount of people not just on the planet Earth but in the country as a whole. And, like many stuck in the cycle of the Syrian war, they all want a 'better life'. If we lay down any more concrete then like the Somerset Levels and Cumbria, the better life will become an unsustainable nightmare.
Looking at how fit, athletic and energetic some of the young Middle Eastern men are, I would hope they could stand and fight against their oppressors. They certainly have the enthusiasm to make hazardous journeys with expectations at the other end. How does this impact into literature? The stories here are massive. Images of demanding migrant women with their fat faces pushed into severe headscarves, wailing with their crying babies pushed in front of television cameras for sympathy, feeds the fuel of journalism, which in turn fuels the socialist echelons for more to be done while ignoring the needs of the indigenous population who are losing their jobs through austerity and often their homes. Journalists can be very dangerous people. Trouble keeps them employed so they want more of it.
Zoom forwards some forty years. Britain - currently with a population of 60 million (and that is a conservative estimate) could see a population of 100 million quite easily. Everyone will have to be housed, fed, educated, cared for through hospitals and expect transport links and green space. It makes me think of a cinema with a certain seating capacity. If you pile too many people in, few will be able to see or hear the film, arguments break out and a safety hazard ensues which leads to every man for himself and some injured or killed in a stampede for survival. Yet everyone expects this 'better life'. I cannot see anything getting better. If anything it is already growing worse quite rapidly.
What is to be done? Build more skyscrapers? Throw anyone occupying a house where they have a spare bedroom out and force them to hand it over to a larger family? Enforced euthanasia? A one child policy? Those answers are derivatives of Communism and would be quickly rejected but governments may try to force them in under their right of democracy. Just look at the recent upheaval over the bedroom tax. Food production? If the land is chewed up with so many building and road projects, where will the food come from and surely we will need more reservoirs for vital water supplies? Off the top of my head I see some terrifying consequences. You only have to be in a supermarket the week before Christmas to see what tension can do for a mini-siege. Read 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' by Philip Dick or 'Rule Britannia' by Daphne Du Maurier for their view of the future. Different angles on different places but oddly, they weren't far off the mark.
*Recent news of the Zika Virus just adds to the dangerous mix of how fast an illness can spread in overpopulated areas.
The future is full of literature. Creativity can solve problems. Start writing.
So, all of this rather negative news throws my mind to future scenarios. If someone approached me to commission a novel and then asked me what the suggested topic would be, I would say look to the overpopulation of the British Isles. Something has to give. The terrible floods in the north of England around Christmas echoed a similar situation to the Somerset Levels in more recent times where some of the residents have still not been compensated. And the reason for much of this? The weather causes the flooding - yes - and the meteorological merchants of gloom have been talking about global warming for a few years. While they have been talking about it, what have the powers that be been doing about it? Encouraging us to recycle waste products, use less plastic bags, car share where possible or use public transport ... yes, it all sounds nice, sensible and responsible but it isn't the root cause. The root cause is the amount of people not just on the planet Earth but in the country as a whole. And, like many stuck in the cycle of the Syrian war, they all want a 'better life'. If we lay down any more concrete then like the Somerset Levels and Cumbria, the better life will become an unsustainable nightmare.
Looking at how fit, athletic and energetic some of the young Middle Eastern men are, I would hope they could stand and fight against their oppressors. They certainly have the enthusiasm to make hazardous journeys with expectations at the other end. How does this impact into literature? The stories here are massive. Images of demanding migrant women with their fat faces pushed into severe headscarves, wailing with their crying babies pushed in front of television cameras for sympathy, feeds the fuel of journalism, which in turn fuels the socialist echelons for more to be done while ignoring the needs of the indigenous population who are losing their jobs through austerity and often their homes. Journalists can be very dangerous people. Trouble keeps them employed so they want more of it.
Zoom forwards some forty years. Britain - currently with a population of 60 million (and that is a conservative estimate) could see a population of 100 million quite easily. Everyone will have to be housed, fed, educated, cared for through hospitals and expect transport links and green space. It makes me think of a cinema with a certain seating capacity. If you pile too many people in, few will be able to see or hear the film, arguments break out and a safety hazard ensues which leads to every man for himself and some injured or killed in a stampede for survival. Yet everyone expects this 'better life'. I cannot see anything getting better. If anything it is already growing worse quite rapidly.
What is to be done? Build more skyscrapers? Throw anyone occupying a house where they have a spare bedroom out and force them to hand it over to a larger family? Enforced euthanasia? A one child policy? Those answers are derivatives of Communism and would be quickly rejected but governments may try to force them in under their right of democracy. Just look at the recent upheaval over the bedroom tax. Food production? If the land is chewed up with so many building and road projects, where will the food come from and surely we will need more reservoirs for vital water supplies? Off the top of my head I see some terrifying consequences. You only have to be in a supermarket the week before Christmas to see what tension can do for a mini-siege. Read 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' by Philip Dick or 'Rule Britannia' by Daphne Du Maurier for their view of the future. Different angles on different places but oddly, they weren't far off the mark.
*Recent news of the Zika Virus just adds to the dangerous mix of how fast an illness can spread in overpopulated areas.
The future is full of literature. Creativity can solve problems. Start writing.
Thursday, 1 October 2015
Acrostic Sonnet for Whitleigh
Acrostic Sonnet for Whitleigh
Wend through these ancient Whitleigh trees
Hiding blooms of Cuckoo Flower,
Infused with misted eau de vie
Time flows by on seasons showers.
Lancaster Gardens; bridle path
Encapsulating ghosts of old,
Indentured men grind plane and lathe
Gladdened nights wrap darkened folds.
Hewing five-bar farm gate and post
Guarding green fields of Budshead Road,
Ribboning west towards the coast;
Echoing Whitleigh Hall's abode.
Elegies sing of hearth and home,
Now here we rest, no more to roam.
(c) Ruth Muttlebury
2015
Wend through these ancient Whitleigh trees
Hiding blooms of Cuckoo Flower,
Infused with misted eau de vie
Time flows by on seasons showers.
Lancaster Gardens; bridle path
Encapsulating ghosts of old,
Indentured men grind plane and lathe
Gladdened nights wrap darkened folds.
Hewing five-bar farm gate and post
Guarding green fields of Budshead Road,
Ribboning west towards the coast;
Echoing Whitleigh Hall's abode.
Elegies sing of hearth and home,
Now here we rest, no more to roam.
(c) Ruth Muttlebury
2015
Friday, 24 April 2015
Whitleigh Words Festival
I am pleased to have been invited along to the Whitleigh Words Festival 2015.
My memories of the Whitleigh area are good ones. My father lived there for a few years after the Second World War in what was then a 'new estate' and my Grandmother lived in Lancaster Gardens from around 1973 to 1984. Both of them had vivid memories of Whitleigh when it was rambling green countryside and ancient woodland before the war changed so much in the Plymouth area.
I will be running a Poetry Walk and a Japanese Poetry Workshop as part of the Festival events. Dates and details can be found on the Whitleigh Word Festival website. Bookings for all workshops with myself and other writers need to be arranged through the contacts shown.
In particular, we must all thank Sandy Wager for working so tirelessly to make the festival happen. She has lined up a galaxy of different activities which all come down to words - and their importance in our lives. Her achievements have been huge in grasping such a wide undertaking and putting the special community of Whitleigh people into a higher profile. Thank you Sandy.
Keep on writing!
Ruth
My memories of the Whitleigh area are good ones. My father lived there for a few years after the Second World War in what was then a 'new estate' and my Grandmother lived in Lancaster Gardens from around 1973 to 1984. Both of them had vivid memories of Whitleigh when it was rambling green countryside and ancient woodland before the war changed so much in the Plymouth area.
I will be running a Poetry Walk and a Japanese Poetry Workshop as part of the Festival events. Dates and details can be found on the Whitleigh Word Festival website. Bookings for all workshops with myself and other writers need to be arranged through the contacts shown.
In particular, we must all thank Sandy Wager for working so tirelessly to make the festival happen. She has lined up a galaxy of different activities which all come down to words - and their importance in our lives. Her achievements have been huge in grasping such a wide undertaking and putting the special community of Whitleigh people into a higher profile. Thank you Sandy.
Keep on writing!
Ruth
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