A Flash of Fiction

I had a fun little experience with words the other evening, and the result turned into 'Flash Fiction'. Flash Fiction is just what it sounds like, but for most writers it's more complicated than it seems because the entire story has to be word-painted in a very small space. The fun thing about it is that the limited space forces some of the traditional story elements to get pushed aside - unwritten. Those elements must then be insinuated or implied within the written storyline, and the ending is often open or questioning, leaving individual readers to create different interpretations.
 I didn't set out to write at all that night, especially not knowing much about Flash Fiction. My goal was to fill a need for written words to add to a visual collage. It didn't really matter what the words meant as I didn't think they'd be read-able in the art anyway. Because I'd removed all restrictions it seems that creativity flowed, and before I knew it I'd written a little 'something'. I never did add written words to that collage project, but in the next few days I did move with a succession of creative ideas and art related problem solving, so I can't help but feel that I patted the Muse's back by letting the writing out and She patted mine by zooping up my projects with fresh energy.

Read my mysterious Flash Fiction foray titled, What Now. 


*Original art images ©Tree Pruitt T. E. Pruitt, unless otherwise indicated. Contact the artist prior to ANY use please.

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Rainforest Inspired

This month has featured numerous days of rain in my area. My houseplants are loving the soft light and the art studio is nicely cooled. So far, no hot Indian Summer like I'd expected, but enough rainy days in a row to make me think back to when I lived in Washington state. Here are two bits of art, a painting and a poem, that were inspired by the misty Pacific Northwest rainforest.

~ My Eye Will Not Forget ~

Blurred vision of a distant horizon --
Cedar rhythms dance my eye --
American rainforest a-drip with neon green.
Rivers run my pulse.
Sunset explosion of fiery, bright orange --
Solid color fills the sky,
As if upon another world!
The trees come down to kiss the shore
Where Pacific waves have their way.
Red forest trails --
My eye is filled with wonder!
Water hovers in the air.
Faces look from shapes in trees;
Primordial magic!
Moss beds and alder swamps,
Blue mountains hold a burning secret.
My eye will not forget.

©Tree Pruitt

Artwork shown, "The Road to Aberdeen", oil on canvas painting by Tree.
*See a previous post about this piece, here.

  

*Original art images ©Tree Pruitt, unless otherwise indicated. Contact the artist prior to ANY use.

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Portrait of Poet Carl Dennis

A while back I attended a poetry reading given by Pulitzer Prize winning American poet Carl Dennis, and I had the foresight to bring along a sketchbook. During the reading I was entranced by his emotive voice and body postures, so found myself taking the opportunity to capture the moment. I enjoyed the entire artistic experience.

   "Carl Dennis Poetry Reading" by Tree Pruitt

  For fun recently I used that sketch to paint this small portrait of the poet onto 5" x 7" canvas board, (signed as T. E. Pruitt), using Liquitex Artist Paints. I'm glad to show it to you and I hope you enjoyed your visit. Thanks!

*About Carl Dennis 

 

"Carl Dennis Poetry Reading" by Tree Pruitt © 2011. Contact the artist prior to ANY use.

 

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Steinbeck Planted A Seed

Much of my artwork is inspired by the many places I've been too, and since I have again recently relocated I though it appropriate to share this entry from an old blog here.



28th Street Landing provided by the City of Hoquiam, WA

 I've travelled Americas highways more than most, being a chronic "tumbleweed" or Bohemian, and the interaction with so many personalities has had a wonderful effect on my art and self. I would love to travel Europe someday, but America is quite large enough. I have crossed it many times and still cannot hope to see it all. I was a fan of a book by the writer John Steinbeck when I was young, and that likely had an influence on my travel desire. He wrote, "Travels with Charley" that captured me with charm and adventure off the beaten path. Charley was Steinbecks dog, and I lived with one that looked just like him. Steinbeck had been asked to write about America, but he despised commercialism and tourist traps. He refused to write about or visit the mundane famous locations that middle class America drags children off to by droves each summer. He wanted the real people -- the real America. So he packed off with his dog in a tiny travel camper and went from town to town, staying off of the main highways and onto the back roads of America; That just sounded too romantic for me to resist!
Johns theory was that to know the people you must live with them. So from the time I was 13 years of age I have lived many places. I educated myself, utilizing the public library system in what ever town I happened to have landed in for a time. I "payed" for my education by offering my services in return to the library by performing tasks such as sweeping floors, reading to children and the elderly, working used book sales, artwork and signs, landscaping; what ever I could do. The closest I've come to growing roots under this Tree was the nearly ten years I spent in Washington State; the Great Pacific Northwest. I now find myself back in the family home in Ohio. My husband and I are both open to whatever the future may hold for us. But the Internet now makes it possible for me to grow roots, of a sort, under this Tree and I am grateful.

• http://www.steinbeck.org/Travels.html
• http://www.ci.hoquiam.wa.us/murals.htm Hoquiam has many wonderful works of art that create the town. View some images here that will give an idea, but photographs don't compare to standing in front of these, some times, immense, vivid, creations. The town tells its own story through images and artists.
• * Artist Portfolio

Life influencing art that influenced this artists life!

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Edgar Allen Poe Raven ACEO

Edgar Allen Poe Raven ACEO was fun to put together!!! I love collage anyway, but the challenge of the tiny collector card format is over the top! The main body of this piece is from a Smithsonian Magazine snippet about Poe, a color scan of a vintage funeral photograph, with a touch of a Van Gogh (magazine cut-out of course). It's really art about love, and self torment. The background is a dark gold paper and it's filled with text about Poe -- a wordy ACEO is perfect for a poet -- nevermore!

ArtistTree

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*Original art images ©Tree Pruitt, unless otherwise indicated. Contact the artist prior to ANY use or for purchase information.

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