I most certainly do! Often I title a piece Ive finished with a very poetic or metaphorical image through language. I find it very intriguing to do so. as it adds an inner depth or even mystery, or perhaps even a clarification of mystery to the visual image Ive produced. I am strongly influenced by poetry and traditional stories. Wow, what a great topic! Thank you so for posting it! I will think about this more and return!

Tashi, I also joined the Folklore and Mythology group because really, at the deepest level, all of my work is connected to myth and lore, born out of culture and tradition (or the lack of it). People who study myth and lore experience it through art, "its really all we have" sqldave says. Could you share a sample of your poetry I would love to hear it and about the inspired artistic experience which follows...

I will check out that group (Myth and Folklore). I very much interested in such things and have half a dozen books of tales from different ethnic groups. Mostly western including Native American. One group that I do not have anything on but fascinate me is the Japanese with their huge numbers of spirits of different types and the folklore that goes with them.

Taishi, What are some of the words, sayings, or stories and poems which inspire you? Can you share some with us? What form of visual art do you enjoy?

Two posts for two examples.

One

My most intense experience was waiting in a dr's office and found my self writing down dozens of small poems. It was like I was channeling in the patients of a mental ward or hospital. Poems of pain, sorrow, nightmares, of being forgotten and forsaken. The poems are not quite right as poetry but they are written as they appear. I hope to make a book from them.

Snippets from The Last Refuge of Hope Sanitarium

no.8

Lights go out

what should signal end

really hell begins

door creaks

light through seeps

a monstrous silhouette

raised fist begins the pain

spirit and sheets permenantly stained

I leave to some other place

someplace beautiful

someplace safe

no.1

Death walks these Halls

Checking here,

Collecting there,

Ultimate Patience

A constant companion

reassuring, reminding

Death walks these Halls.

no.16

Oh Mary was

Quite Contrary

Wouldn't listen to what was said

That's OK, now she is dead

no.18

I've been forgotten

forgotten for days

no one comes

and here I stay

no family, no friends

no well wishers you see

just the roaches and the rats

gnawing, their gnawing on me.

No.5

Oh little pills

little pills of joy

makes things all sunny

and a bright handsome boy

The last one I have done. It is a psychological related one too.

Though the moth

knows though such

lies sorrow and pain

still the moth

is drawn, drawn

to a fresh candles flame.

The image is a giant moth coming up from behind a candle. The eyes spots are human eyes instead of the circular faux ones you normally see.

Wow, big questions (at least for me)

Fiction doesn't normally inspire me. Music inspires me both music and the words. Images, paintings, photographs, etc inspire me. That little zone where Philosophy and Religion meet is a rich area for inspiration.

The Dali Lama inspires me to be a better person

the documentary Earthlings was a big inspiration artistically, Drew a bunch of sketches from that, all related Made me cry in frustration from my lack of 3D and sculpture skills. Went and signed up for a sculpture class soon there after.