Sunday, October 05, 2008

Big draw Day 5

Pencil. Quickly executed drawing of my Mss.

I drove to the Brattleboro Literary Festival and heard Alan Cheuse and Robert Pinsky read for an hour and a half. The former a prose writer, the latter a poet. They were born in the same year and grew up in New Jersey not far from each other and met at Rutgers U. Both were excellent. You may have heard Cheuse on NPR doing book reviews. Pinsky's poems very good, it is wonderful to hear poems read, to hear the inflections and emphasis and the stories that go with the poem. Pinsky is very funny and most interesting I thought. Then I ate lunch, stopped in a few shops and heard the end of a far too academic panel discussion of Robert Frost. At that point my head was full so I drove on home.

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Suki, this is a nice sketch, so dynamic with the paper which bends! I don't know what an Mss is?

It sounds as if you had a full and wonderful day, listening to words which mean something. I guess I almost never have been to a reading, I don't know why. I shut put this on the list of things I'd like to do sometimes...

Thanks for the inspiration
love
Andrea

Anonymous said...

I love going to readings, though I rarely do. Glad you had a fun day.

Lynn Cohen said...

Suki kudos for your quick sketch of the papers...well done.

I'm glad you enjoyed your choice of going to the readings. Sounded like fun.

Can you tell me as you mentioned my photos no longer enlarge when clicked how to make this happen. I went to layout/settings but can find no where where this option is given. How did we do that???

Mim said...

Lovely sketch!

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Great quick sketch.
Nice you got out and about.
The longer you live there the more you will find that you like. It always takes a year or so to settle into a new spot.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

OH YES. What is MSS?

sukipoet said...

Hello everyone. A Mss is the abbreviation for Manuscript.

Andrea, interesting you've never bee n to a reading. Maybe so much focused on the visual. I'd imagine there would be tons of readings in Paris. They are usually free. Sometimes they have wine and crackers (but not yesterday)

Annie, I esp love poetry reading though prose are good too. On Cape Cod there are lots of readings all over the place, sometimes quite famous people too. I heard Mary Oliver and Grace Paley among a few highlights.

Lynn, I dont know how the pictures get posted so you can click to enlarge. I have never to my knowledge selected that to happen. It just happens. Are you uploading your pictures from Picasa?

Mim, thanks.

Cris, it took me a year to decide I guess I was here for awhile. but I've been to the Literary Festival three times now. It is great but I can only do a small part of it. Exhausting. My little brain cant take too much focusing.

Teri said...

What a fun drawing!

Claudia said...

I think you spent some very interesting hours there!- How do you manage to do all this and to paint, too? - I'm also very interested in literature (I even got a degree in this) -but now I dedicate most of my time to drawing and painting (although a good read once in a while is a fine thing)...

Andrea and Kim said...

Suki, what a lovely, full day you had. I bet it was so much fun getting to be around all of those literary types. A few years back, my daughter and I went to the National Book Festival on the Mall here in DC. It was great fun to listen to the writers speak, so I can identify with you enjoying your day. (I can also identify with the "all too academic" part.)

And your sketch is great! I think sketching your manuscript was the perfect subject...for you and as a reflection of your day! You are a very good line sketcher...I love that! Have you ever worked with the Betty Edwards books? She talks about line drawings a lot. I am just curious since you are really good with them.

Thanks Suki!

~Babs said...

The readings sound very interesting,,I've never been to any,,,,and not sure I could do more than short sessions at one time. I do love good literature, and also poetry,,,but I guess I am more drawn to the visual,,,at least when presented by someone else. It's so good you're able to get out & do these things you love!

PS: Also enjoyed your previous posts of all the art you've been making while I've been away,,,Good for you!!!

Anonymous said...

Your drawing of your mss is great, it's so realistic. Is that your novel? From the looks of it, it's close to completion!

soulbrush said...

yes i too like to hear poetry read (well). good simple sketch too.

fiorobbo said...

Hi Suki
Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you are enjoying the challenge of daily drawing, I know I am:)

Blue Sky Dreaming said...

Suki, I'm glad about your choice, the ride although long must have been beautiful in color. Good food, good poetry and good shopping. I'm a big fan of Robert Pinsky and I do like Billy Collins too. I so look forward to your drawings...your line has a lively spirit.
We are in the middle of "Art Studio Tour" and every corner seems to have balloons and arrows. Always good to meet the artist and I know the sales are good...it's a popular three week event.
Mary Ann

sukipoet said...

Hi Teri. thanks for stopping by.

Claudia, my undergrad degree was in English Lit and grad an MFA in writing. So literature is close to my heart. Actually I dont do that much getting out and about. It just sounds that way. And the sketch I had done the day before, cheating I guess.

Kim I did once own the Betty Edwards first book. Was there also a book writing on the right side? Or was it she who had clustering. I'm probably mixed up. I dont remember if I did any of her exercises. It was too long ago. The National book festival sounds fun. Some friends of mine just went down your way for the Geraldine R. Dodge poetry festival. The go every 2 years which is how often it is held.

Babs, thanks for stopping by. I have to get out now and do some things because once December comes there is nothing much going on up here till april.

Belle my novel is not near completion unfortunately. I get piles and piles of pages like that trying to complete just one book not that I've completed that many.

sukipoet said...

Thanks Soulbrush. wish you could have been with me.

fiorobbo, thanks for stopping by.It is a challenge for sure.

Hi Mary Ann. The artist studio tour sounds fun. Three weeks is a long time. Around here it is usually a weekend. There is one coming up next weekend and some in November too. I know Billy Collins' poetry too. I have a CD of him reading. Thanks for kind words re: my drawings. Be well,Suki

marianne said...

Sounds like a wonderful day for you!
Nice sketch!

sukipoet said...

thanks Marianne