Irene Latham's Blog, page 80

ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem after "Girl with a Pearl Earring"

Hello and welcome to day 26 of ARTSPEAK! Portraits, my 2017 National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets. 

But first: Be sure to check in with birthday-girl Renee at No Water River to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing! Happy Birthday, Renee!

Also: earlier this month I visited Oakwood University and taught a session called "When Poetry Meets Picasso" on, you guessed it, writing poems inspired by art! Here's what the beautiful, talented Dr. Kem Roper blogged about it.


And now, here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

25. "Gratitude" after Tahitian Woman's Head by Paul Gaugin
24. "The Postman in Spring" after Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin, April 1888 by Vincent van Gogh
23. "Dark the Day" after Little Dutch Girl by Robert Henri
22. "Tiger" after Tiger by Hwang Jong-ha
21. "Self-Portrait as a Painter" after Self-Portrait as a Painter by Vincent van Gogh
20. "What to Do in the Desert" after Nubian Girl by Ervand Demirdjian
19. "In Summer" after In Summer by Auguste-Pierre Renoir
18. "Night" after The Outlier by Frederic Sackrider Remington
17. "Boy Blowing Bubbles" after The Bubble Boy by Paul Peel
16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today's painting is one I've been putting off, because it is so popular! I think there's added pressure when the painting is famous and already means something to the viewer. How can my poem bring something fresh to the painting? How can my poem not disappoint? Well, there are no answers to these questions! I can only write the poem that wants to be written by me. Which means setting aside all those expectations and just doing it.

Here's what the Girl with a Pearl Earring told me:


The Way You Look at Me - after “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer
as if I am all rainshimmer and skyglaze
as if I am a waterfallof moonlighttumbling out of an apple
as if I am not borneof salt and currents
as if I've never been lost
as if I don't gritagainst your teeth
as if there was neverany oyster –
<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">only you</span></span></span></span></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>- Irene Latham</i></span></span></span></span></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>------------------</i></span></span></span></span></strong></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=..." width="100%"></iframe><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So... it's a love poem! Love poems are totally my default setting. :)</span></span></span></span></strong></div>

ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem "Gratitude"

Hello and welcome to day 25 of ARTSPEAK! Portraits, my 2017 National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets. 

But first: Be sure to check in with Robyn (whose name has been gifted by AmyLV to a poem-parrot!) at Life on the Deckle Edge to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

Also, @newsbookology featured me today on a podcast reading "Dear Wandering Wildebeest." I invite you to give it a listen!
And now, here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

24. "The Postman in Spring" after Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin, April 1888 by Vincent van Gogh
23. "Dark the Day" after Little Dutch Girl by Robert Henri
22. "Tiger" after Tiger by Hwang Jong-ha
21. "Self-Portrait as a Painter" after Self-Portrait as a Painter by Vincent van Gogh
20. "What to Do in the Desert" after Nubian Girl by Ervand Demirdjian
19. "In Summer" after In Summer by Auguste-Pierre Renoir
18. "Night" after The Outlier by Frederic Sackrider Remington
17. "Boy Blowing Bubbles" after The Bubble Boy by Paul Peel
16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today I have "Tahitian Woman's Head" by Paul Gaugin. I love the sweetness of this woman's expression, and of course the flower in her hair. Here's what she told me:


Gratitude - after “Tahitian Woman's Head” by Paul Gaugin
And I would give you     milk from the morning'sfirst coconut
a symphonyof palm fronds,     the scent of salt
I would give youthe eye of every hurricane,     waves to batheyour every shore
this red dresswith its lace collar,    this brown skin
all the sunshine      that lives insidean island flower
all the sunshine
     the sun
- Irene Latham
Why gratitude? Why not? This woman's face is soft and open... I would like to BE her more often. Her face just looks like gratitude to me.

ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem "The Postman in Spring"

Hello and welcome to day 24 of ARTSPEAK! Portraits, my 2017 National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets. 

But first: Be sure to check in with Amy at The Poem Farm  to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing! 
And now, here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

23. "Dark the Day" after Little Dutch Girl by Robert Henri
22. "Tiger" after Tiger by Hwang Jong-ha
21. "Self-Portrait as a Painter" after Self-Portrait as a Painter by Vincent van Gogh
20. "What to Do in the Desert" after Nubian Girl by Ervand Demirdjian
19. "In Summer" after In Summer by Auguste-Pierre Renoir
18. "Night" after The Outlier by Frederic Sackrider Remington
17. "Boy Blowing Bubbles" after The Bubble Boy by Paul Peel
16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today I have another van Gogh. This painting reminds me of my father, who could look intimidating because of his size and the beard, but really was a softie. Here's what Joseph Roulin would like you to know:


The Postman in Spring- after Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin,April 1888by Vincent van Gogh
I am morethan brass buttonsand a postman's cap.             See? My beard isn't just brown – it's gingersnap.
My eyes nail you to the floorfor at least a minute,            maybe more.Those bouquets dancingbehind my head?
They're there so you'll know my soul is       soft            as a featherbed.
- Irene Latham <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </span><br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=..." width="100%"></iframe>

ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem "Dark the Day"

Hello and welcome to day 23 of ARTSPEAK! Portraits, my 2017 National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets. 

But first: Be sure to check in with Ruth at There is no such thing as a godforsaken town to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing! 
And now, here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

22. "Tiger" after Tiger by Hwang Jong-ha
21. "Self-Portrait as a Painter" after Self-Portrait as a Painter by Vincent van Gogh
20. "What to Do in the Desert" after Nubian Girl by Ervand Demirdjian
19. "In Summer" after In Summer by Auguste-Pierre Renoir
18. "Night" after The Outlier by Frederic Sackrider Remington
17. "Boy Blowing Bubbles" after The Bubble Boy by Paul Peel
16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today I've got an un-happy camper for you! I did just the tiniest bit of research on this painting -- enough to learn that Robert Henri loved to use dark colors in the style of the Old Masters, so that the subject's face would shine forth... here's what this little Dutch girl would like you to know:


Readers, do you recognize the "tune" of this poem? Yes, I simply modeled the rhythm of "Row Your Boat." I actually wrote another verse, too, but in the end decided for this little girl, less is most definitely more! 
One thing that interests me about the painting is the swatches of red -- across her cheek, her lips, her clothing... it almost looks clown-ish?? I think the general broadness of the strokes is the main thing that makes me see this little girl as one who would much prefer to be outdoors. Plus she reminds me of Girl with Black Eye by Norman Rockwell!

ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem "Tiger"

Hello and welcome to day 22 of ARTSPEAK! Portraits, my 2017 National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets. 
But first: Be sure to check in with Jone at Deo Writer to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing! Soon it will be time for titling... any ideas?
And now, here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

21. "Self-Portrait as a Painter" after Self-Portrait as a Painter by Vincent van Gogh
20. "What to Do in the Desert" after Nubian Girl by Ervand Demirdjian
19. "In Summer" after In Summer by Auguste-Pierre Renoir
18. "Night" after The Outlier by Frederic Sackrider Remington
17. "Boy Blowing Bubbles" after The Bubble Boy by Paul Peel
16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today I've got an animal for you! Here's what she wants you know:




Tiger- after “Tiger” by Hwang Jong-ha
Striped hide,    inky eyes –
look inside
and you will find
both samurai <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> <br />--> <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">    and lullaby.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- Irene Latham</i></div><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=..." width="100%"></iframe><br /><br />I think perhaps we are ALL both samurai and lullaby...

ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem "Self-Portrait as a Painter"

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit the generous, talented Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference for Roundup.

Welcome to day 21 of ARTSPEAK! Portraits, my 2017 National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets. THANK YOU for your comments on these posts! I can't tell you how much I am encouraged by your words. What a gift! I'm so grateful for this community.
Before we go any further: Be sure to check in with Donna at Mainely Write to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing! Our poem continues to delight and surprise... yay!
And now, here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

20. "What to Do in the Desert" after Nubian Girl by Ervand Demirdjian
19. "In Summer" after In Summer by Auguste-Pierre Renoir
18. "Night" after The Outlier by Frederic Sackrider Remington
17. "Boy Blowing Bubbles" after The Bubble Boy by Paul Peel
16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today's portrait is a self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. I'm sort of fascinated by van Gogh, so I enjoyed doing a little research before writing this poem. I especially enjoyed this article about 7 Things You May Not Know about van Gogh. Also, I am loving the beautiful book VINCENT'S STARRY NIGHT AND OTHER STORIES: A Children's History of Art by Michael Bird, illus. by Kate Evans. I love it so much, I bought myself a copy. I could live inside this book!

Self-Portrait as a Painter- after “Self-Portrait as a Painter” by Vincent van Gogh
These brushes hold starsin their bristles,and steeples and people.This canvas grows irisesand sunflowers,wheatfields and crows.     Can you see the yellow house in my eyes, the Arles bedroom, the boots? Paris glitters in my beard. The colors shout, Faster! But I am neither God nor saint.I do the one thingthat keeps the tigers away –     I paint.

<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> <br />--> <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i> - Irene Latham</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=..." width="100%"></iframe><i>----------------</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Readers, this poem reminds me a bit of myself. Whenever I get grumpy, my husband will sometimes say, "Why don't you just go write?" Because I always feel better when I spend some time creating! I also feel better when I play the cello or take a walk or take a nap or piece a quilt... speaking of which: WE LOVE GEE'S BEND DAY! is this Sunday!! Yay! I wish all of you could be there. xo</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-giqUzL_vIo..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-giqUzL_vIo..." width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div>

ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem "What to Do in the Desert"

Hello and welcome to day 20 of ARTSPEAK! Portraits, my 2017 National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets.
But first: Be sure to check in with BJ at Blue Window to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

Here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

19. "In Summer" after In Summer by Auguste-Pierre Renoir
18. "Night" after The Outlier by Frederic Sackrider Remington
17. "Boy Blowing Bubbles" after The Bubble Boy by Paul Peel
16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today I've got a desert girl for you. Some readers may recall that I lived for a time in Saudi Arabia. Some of my most vivid memories of that land include the ginormous red sand dunes against blue sky. Awe-inspiring for sure! Here's what this desert girl had to say:

What to Do in the Desert- after "Nubian Girl" by Ervand Demirdjian
wander
drink the stars
bury your doubtin a shipwreck of wind
walk alonga skeleton of forever
don't stop
draw your swordof sunshine
invite sandto nest in your eyes
<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">shout <i>I'm alive</i></div><div><span style="font-family: "times";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times";"><i>- Irene Latham</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times";"><i>------------------</i></span></div><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=..." width="100%"></iframe> <div><span style="font-family: "times";">Readers, this doesn't usually happen, but I was revising this one as I was creating the graphic... which is frustrating! There is always revising to be done, isn't there? Thanks so much for reading!</span></div>

ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem "In Summer"

Hello and welcome to day 19 of  ARTSPEAK! Portraits, my 2017 National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets.
But first: Be sure to check in with Pat at Writer on a Horse to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

Here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

18. "Night" after The Outlier by Frederic Sackrider Remington
17. "Boy Blowing Bubbles" after The Bubble Boy by Paul Peel
16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today I have a portrait that looks so much like one of my nieces! Except my niece is 10, and the model for this portrait, Lise Trehot, is 20. According to Wikipedia, Lise was a favorite model of Renoir's, appearing in at least 23 of his paintings. Here's what Lise told me:





In Summer - after “In Summer” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
I long forthe peppermint days of fall
when the future isn't a worryat all
the air is sharpto keep me awake –
not like thesetaffy days at the lake
- Irene Latham <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </span><br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=..." width="100%"></iframe>----------</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Okay, so, yes, a little bit of me in this poem! I am not a huge fan of summer's heat and bugs and sun and exhaustion... and doesn't Lise look weary here? I think my niece who so greatly resembles Lise would also agree. :) And isn't it in those lazy times that our minds turn to worries? In fall, who has time for such leisures? At least that's MY experience. Thanks so much for reading!</div>

ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem "Night"

Hello and welcome to day 18 of  ARTSPEAK! Portraits, my 2017 National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets.
But first: Be sure to check in with Buffy at Buffy's Blog to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

Here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

17. "Boy Blowing Bubbles" after The Bubble Boy by Paul Peel
16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today I have a piece for you that is both a departure, and a return. It's not a close-up portrait, as has characterized this series so far. But it's subject brings us back to poem #4 "I Am," which also features a First Nations man. Here's what he said to me:



Night-after “The Outlier” by Frederick Sackrider Remington
You think I'm alone,that I will fadeinto darkness.But I am joinedby this steady mount,this cold steelacross my thighs.I know every river.From this grassy hillI can see the beast'steeth, I can feel itsAugust breath.What else wouldyou take from me,the moon?
- Irene Latham--------------------- Readers, I waffled on the title of this one. I couldn't decided between "The Outlier" or "Night." I ultimately chose "Night" because I think it adds another layer of meaning to the poem. Plus, Sunday's poem was titled "Morning." :) For more information about the artwork, click through to the Brooklyn Museum, where this painting is on view.
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ARTSPEAK! Portraits poem "Boy Blowing Bubbles"

Hello and Happy National Poetry Month! Here it is day 17 of ARTSPEAK!: Portraits, my National Poetry Month poem-a-day project, during which I am looking, listening with my spirit ear, and asking these subject to share with me their secrets.
But first: Be sure to check in with Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

Here are the ARTSPEAK! Portraits poems so far:

16. "Morning" after Buki Rinsen by Tsuchida Bakusen
15. "When Papa Paints" after Portrait of Anne by George Wesley Bellows
14. "Whistler's Mother" after Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler
13. "In the Company of Kittens" after Contentment 1900 by Henriette Ronner-Knip
12. "Sixteen" after Jeanne Hubuturne-1919 by Amedeo Modigliani
11. "Promise" after Portrait of a Little Italian Girl by Maria Kroyer
10. "Portrait of a Writer" after Oskar Maria Graf by Georg Schrimpf
9. "Speaking of the Weather" after Profile of a Woman by Fujishima Takeji
8. "Happiness" after Self-Portrait with Straw Hat by Elisabeth Vigee le Brun
7. "Virginia, Sitting for a Portrait" after Portrait of Virginia (Little Girl) by Frida Kahlo6. "Paint-by-Number" after Portrait of a Woman by Alexei von Jawlensky4. "I Am" after The White Cloud, Head Chief of the Iowas by George Catlin
3. "What If?" after Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh2. "The Lady Confesses" after Portrait of a Lady with Mask and Cherries by Benjamin Wilson1. "Mona Lisa in Love" after Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Today I have a little boy for you! He's such a busy fellow, it's a miracle I got any words out of him at all! Here's what he'd like for you to know:

Boy Blowing Bubbles- after “The Bubble Boy” by Paul Peel
Is there anything   more hopeful
than a fat    soap-bubble
rainbowing its way   across a July sky?
- Irene Latham <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div>--> <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=..." width="100%"></iframe>-------------- </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Readers, someone asked me how I plan this series -- do I randomly select a new portrait each day, or do I plan the whole thing out before April? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Well, I'll tell you! Because time is so precious during April, I gather my group of 30-35 images BEFORE the month. And then each morning during April, I go to that file on my computer and choose whichever artwork speaks to me that day. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">This year I selected exactly 30 portraits, which doesn't allow any wiggle room, say, if for instance, I'm not able to get one of these subjects to speak to me. I am trusting that they will all speak! It helps knowing that this is a challenge of "progress not perfection." I write these poems because I love art, and I love words, and it's a way for me to celebrate that. Thanks so much or reading!</div><div><span style="font-family: "times";"><br /></span></div>