Mary Emma’s Writing Tip – Incorporating Art Projects into Your Writing

Writing doesn’t have to consist entirely of putting words on paper.  You can incorporate art projects along with it, like drawing, collage, and fabric art. 

As I browsed through a book my quilter daughter received for Christmas, The Uncommon Quilter by Jeanne Williamson, I thought, “What fun to include some of these into one’s writing.”

You might write about a topic, then find an idea from Jeanne’s book to use as an illustration.

*The one titled Forsythia (p. 92-93), using fabric paint, pencil eraser and small paintbrush among the materials, would be easy for youngsters.  Then write a poem about forsythia or spring flowers, or compose a memory piece about forsythia in childhood.

*Red Leaves (p.102-103) is easy with fabric  paint, too, and can remind you of autumn, raking leaves, jumping into piles of leaves, collecting leaves.

*Cemetery Visit (p. 104-105) involves making gravestone rubbings on fabric.  This could involve researching and writing about one’s family history…an interesting project in itself.  I also wrote about this project idea at Quilting and Patchwork in Gravestone Rubbings for Fabric Art.

You don’t even have to get ideas from this book.  You can make collages of any size on paper or fabric, from postcards to larger pieces, then write about them.  Perhaps you’ll eventually organize them into a collage or fabric book.

I’ll have to let you know how my project is coming along.  What about you?

(Amazon image)