Poetry Prompt: Ekphrasis or Writing About Art

Richard Scott, tutor on Faber Academy’s Writing Poems course, shares a prompt for beginning to write ekphrastic poetry.

Ekphrastic poetry is a type of writing which engages with other works of art to create a new work of art. It often begins in a place of vivid description. Indeed ‘description’ is the definition of the word ‘ekphrasis’. Or, further back, to ‘recount’ or ‘tell out’.

Begin by choosing an artist that you like and then do a Google image search. Select a visual artwork that is unfamiliar to you but which attracts your interest. Look closely at the artwork; try to see everything, including the things in the corners or the smaller details that are sometimes overlooked.

Now let’s do some writing. Start by vividly describing what you see. But use all of your senses to bring your images to life. So consider sounds, touch and even smell and taste – all of these will help the artwork spring to life and feel vivid. Focus on the artwork and try to render it in words, to capture its essence. But the mind is complex so other thoughts will intrude – memories or feelings associated with your images – allow these beautiful intrusions onto the page but always return back to the artwork. Be as focused as possible.

Give yourself 12 minutes to write. Something around 12-15 lines long would be perfect.

Writing Poems is a playful, supportive three-month poetry course for aspiring poets, with two of the best practitioners and teachers in the country – at Faber, the home of British poetry.

Join poets Rachel Long and Richard Scott for weekly classes as you share your work with like-minded fellow writers, learn new techniques and develop your reading and appreciation of poetry.

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