Happy Poetry Friday!
I’ve been participating in Laura Shovan’s 9th Annual February Poetry Project, where we write a poem a day during February. This year our poem prompt focus is the body. My Poem-Drawing here is from a prompt this week that Rebecca Brock offered us, we were to reflect on our brains. We were also given two articles to read. I gathered source material from this article: Neuroscientist Explains Secrets of the Creative Brain. I was very taken with this article especially the end of it that focuses on Five Secrets of the Creative Brain, and artists that fall into the Polymath area. Any information that I find that speaks to artists that work across spectrums–in different mediums, and different areas of the arts holds a special place for me. Dividing one’s time between areas is not always an easy task–throw in having to work, family, and you often have quite an interesting dilemma… Reinforcing articles like this one, help me to keep my balancing act in the air.
I found an interesting article on Poet-Artists by the Getty Museum, and William Blake is included in this article.
Ruth Hersey at her blog There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town, is hosting this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Ruth. Ruth is sharing a book she recently finished called Braiding SweetGrass and talks about it’s connection with facts and poetry, be sure to stop by!
Visit Renée LaTulippe at No Water River to find out more about what Poetry Friday is.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Michelle, your poem-drawing is stunning in its portrayal of creativity. It is hard to balance multiple interests, but I keep finding new things I want to learn and explore.
Thanks Kay! We both share that cursed and blessed curiosity bug…
I love your visual art poem. Art with embedded words is always interesting to me. And, since I have read the article, I really like how you claimed the information and made it part of your portrait. Well done!
I love your response to this prompt, Michelle, and the way the reading both inspired you for the project as well as leading you a new understanding of yourself. Thank you for sharing.
Very cool post, Michelle! I like seeing where the articles took you. ♥️ William Blake. Michelangelo wrote sonnets. 🙂
Thanks Tabatha, and for for filling me in on Michelangelo—I’ll have to hunt down some of his sonnets, that’s cool!
Michelle, this is wonderful! I too self-identify as a polymath. 🙂 🙂 🙂 And I have a book of poems coming about Alexander von Humboldt, who was also a polymath. Good stuff! Thank you for sharing. xo
You know how much I love this, Michelle, from my comment on FB which I guess is now lost! I hope you do re-create it into a larger piece, when there’s time : ) I also think you might think about sharing with the authors of that article, imagine they would love it! Have a great weekend!
What an interesting article — love your Creative Brain drawing/poem too! I read a little about the connection between creativity and mental illness not too long ago when I posted about Jackson Pollock. Seems female poets are more prone to depression than their male counterparts.
It’s great to get a glimpse into your mind through your words and images! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
I was fascinated by the brain research. I love how you captured the important points in your art. Especially REST; I loved that idea! How often have you been folding laundry and painting in your head?
I so admire writer illustrators. Your drawing above is stunning and you are so talented. Thanks for the article, I listened to Marilyn Manson recite the Blake work, which is mind blowing in its contradictions. Thank you..
Hooray for the polymaths!
If anyone is a polymath, it is definitely YOU, Michelle! Love your self portrait/poem. 🙂
Michelle, your art poem is a representation of your creative brain mixed with talent as an artist. I thought of you when reading the initial article and looked forward to reading your take on the creative brain.