09-08-2014, 07:41 PM
Hey Victor, glad to see you back. 
So many folks get bent when you get something from their poetry or art that they did not intend. What is the big deal with that? As I have said before on this site, for my own poetry, I welcome all interpretations and it does not bother me at all if the reader sees the piece in another way. In fact, I get very excited when readers reveal something that never occurred to me. Perhaps it is my own subliminal or cryptic message that I missed or some double entendre that I did not catch. I will try to reread my poetry through that reader's lens and many times realize, 'Oh yes, I can see that as well now'.
This happens a lot with artwork. Individuals will tell my about some hidden figure in one of my watercolors (like there's a face in that stream). Once I see it, it becomes part of the painting for me. I love it! One time my cat Fuzzy stepped into some titanium white and dabbed a few highlights into a impressionistic floral piece. I swear that I never noticed it until my wife pointed it out. Now that we lost him, it is the first thing that I point out to guests. It is beautiful to know that we painted together.
Finally, I write what I am compelled or inspired to write. However, I will often challenge myself to go far outside any personal experience. Many times that requires taking on other roles, as both actors or all novelists do. I am a strong advocate of the poetry not being the author, as Leanne stated. Nonetheless, I receive criticism that something is too preachy or demeaning, etc. What can you say to them...creativity is all about the art and challenge and not necessarily personal statements for me. Cheers/Chris
So many folks get bent when you get something from their poetry or art that they did not intend. What is the big deal with that? As I have said before on this site, for my own poetry, I welcome all interpretations and it does not bother me at all if the reader sees the piece in another way. In fact, I get very excited when readers reveal something that never occurred to me. Perhaps it is my own subliminal or cryptic message that I missed or some double entendre that I did not catch. I will try to reread my poetry through that reader's lens and many times realize, 'Oh yes, I can see that as well now'.
This happens a lot with artwork. Individuals will tell my about some hidden figure in one of my watercolors (like there's a face in that stream). Once I see it, it becomes part of the painting for me. I love it! One time my cat Fuzzy stepped into some titanium white and dabbed a few highlights into a impressionistic floral piece. I swear that I never noticed it until my wife pointed it out. Now that we lost him, it is the first thing that I point out to guests. It is beautiful to know that we painted together.
Finally, I write what I am compelled or inspired to write. However, I will often challenge myself to go far outside any personal experience. Many times that requires taking on other roles, as both actors or all novelists do. I am a strong advocate of the poetry not being the author, as Leanne stated. Nonetheless, I receive criticism that something is too preachy or demeaning, etc. What can you say to them...creativity is all about the art and challenge and not necessarily personal statements for me. Cheers/Chris
My new watercolor: 'Nightmare After Christmas'/Chris