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Post by rrw on Jan 1, 2007 16:08:44 GMT -6
Some of you already know I'm trying to put together a book of sorts along with some of the "art work" I do on my Photoshop program. I say "art work" because it's mostly manipulated pictures that I took myself and just a few I got off the Internet. Anyway, I would like to get your ideas on the poetry, art work and layout. I got about 14 pieces on my website and plan to put more as I go along. I figure the book to be about 34 pages long (front and back), the pages 8.5 X 11. It's really more of a fancy Xerox type thing than an actual "book." We got a really good print shop here on campus that can do the work for me fast and inexpensive. Anyway, I would love to hear all comments. The site's address is: www.freewebs.com/robertrwoodsIf you can, would you put comments in the "guest book." AND be honest AND if you see any typos PLEASE let me know! I'm notorious for typos. Thanks, Friends.... rrw P.S. Oh yeah! If you come up with a snappy title for "the book," that would be cool too! I'm way open to suggestions! ;D |
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Post by DavidMc on Jan 2, 2007 8:28:01 GMT -6
Well Robert the first thing I would like to say is great you're getting around to doing this...
Second thing is, ............... get some class to your website. Freewebs are okay for the journeyman, but I saw a statement from you recently that 'My art is My life'
You owe yourself more. Get your own DOMAIN NAME It costs Nickles and if you can't build your own site, get someone to do it for you.
This is where I started. I'm not saying Poetryseasons. net is anything special, but I launched the forum on something that was uniquely mine.
I know you're talking about a 'Book' but ....
Respect, David
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Post by johnyamrus on Jan 2, 2007 12:12:18 GMT -6
ha, for a minute there, i thought you were talking about me!
anyway, i'm writing to you HERE because for some reason my computer kept getting knocked off yr website and i still don't know if my thoughts ever got posted there...so, i've copy/pasted them and here's what i wrote:
you already know what i think about yr poems, so i'm not going to comment on them other than to say what i've read here is a nice choice. on the text, however, i'd do something to separate or highlight the titles from the body of the poems. it could get confusing to some who might not recognise they've moved on to a new poem. also, if what i'm looking at is the actual page layout with the backgrounds included, i'd have to register my vote AGAINST the backgrounds. for my money it's too busy. granted, i'm 55 and grew up not seeing backgrounds on everything, while younger folks might like it and appreciate it much more than me. but if you were asking me, i'd say lose the backgrounds...or reduce them or move them so they're not immediately behind the text.
that's it!
now, make sure you let me know when i can buy a copy!
best...
john
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Post by rrw on Jan 2, 2007 12:13:34 GMT -6
Hey, thanks, David. I kind of fell into freewebs and really never thought of going somewhere else. I got some friends at school who could probably help me set-up a legit site. The only problem i have is paying for it. Not that i don't have the money, I don't have a credit card nor ever want one. but your comments have inspired me to look into it. Thanks for the input.
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Post by rrw on Jan 2, 2007 12:26:55 GMT -6
ha, for a minute there, i thought you were talking about me! anyway, i'm writing to you HERE because for some reason my computer kept getting knocked off yr website and i still don't know if my thoughts ever got posted there...so, i've copy/pasted them and here's what i wrote: you already know what i think about yr poems, so i'm not going to comment on them other than to say what i've read here is a nice choice. on the text, however, i'd do something to separate or highlight the titles from the body of the poems. it could get confusing to some who might not recognise they've moved on to a new poem. also, if what i'm looking at is the actual page layout with the backgrounds included, i'd have to register my vote AGAINST the backgrounds. for my money it's too busy. granted, i'm 55 and grew up not seeing backgrounds on everything, while younger folks might like it and appreciate it much more than me. but if you were asking me, i'd say lose the backgrounds...or reduce them or move them so they're not immediately behind the text. that's it! now, make sure you let me know when i can buy a copy! best... john Thanks, John. What I'm planning right now is to make half the writes with back ground and half with out... but your comments are making me think twice about it. Totally honest I'm torn and maybe need to let it simmer in my head for awhile. I'm taking some of the ideas I have there and showing them to the digie guy at work and maybe create a live show for my pieces. I like doing the Photoshop with the poems but I don't know if it really does work the way I would like it to. The eye is drawn to the picture first and then the poem. AND I love the 55 thing! Yeah, us kids at 58 are really a rowdy bunch! ;D Thanks man for the comments. |
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Post by anirbas on Jan 2, 2007 13:14:28 GMT -6
In all honesty, Robert, I've as yet to visit your individual site to date, though I do appreciate the invite. However, I have seen some of the works you are posting there, I do believe. Like ya'll I grew up reading poetry, for the most part-- without illustrations, above, below or behind as backgrounds. I tend to prefer to read that way, perhaps as a result. In here, I tend to flee past the developing artwork above a piece, straight to the piece...I don't want to see the picture, first... Having said that, when I saw samples of the work you have in mind, Robert...I found... I actually liked it...Perhaps, because the pieces in question, I'd already read here... So, I automatically concentrated on the images... Happenchance, you could do, two books...One of your individual photographic artwork...And one, of your poems...Or do the poem on one page, the photographic image on the opposite page...I don't know...I've always been hardline on not wanting to see other images, when reading poetry...But, I really liked the black and white image of the hand holding a smoldering cigarette behind the poem...So, you've made me re-think my thinking to some extent and see this subject, of poetry accompanied by artwork, another way...I do think, perhaps you have your finger on the pulse of what is fresh and hip these days, as you are surrounded by younger people...Barraged and inspired by their view of this world...LOL... And by all means, let me know when copies of your work are available... Would like to add copies of all of our poets here, whom are published on my little nirlibrary bookshelves... Eureka! There's my new year's resolution... Get at least one copy done by...you...Troy...Shell...Jeffrey... And whomever else that is published in here, I absentmindedly forgot to name... Didn't forget, Yams...He's already there...Between Atwood and St. Vincent Millay... Someday, I'm going to arrange my books by alphabetization, instead of height... Method to my non-alphabetized madness...You can stack more books, lying sideways, on top of books of the same heighth...Yes? Ya'll take care and take it easy! Nir.  |
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Post by johnyamrus on Jan 2, 2007 13:38:10 GMT -6
Didn't forget, Yams...He's already there...Between Atwood and St. Vincent Millay... Someday, I'm going to arrange my books by alphabetization, instead of height... I'm 5'7"...didn't know how tall St. Vincent Millay was! john |
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Post by vixen on Jan 2, 2007 20:15:42 GMT -6
Rob, I like John and Sabrina love to read the poetry sans background, but alos love the pictures. I have been to your website, love everything there, but someof the poetry got lost in the background. I loved the look of the poetry on it so another suggestion would be having the poem sans background and also on background on the opposite page. That would be the both of best worlds for me. I have the 2 you sent me on my desktop cause they look so cool, but the poetry is easier to read without it. I want a copy to. Pleassssssssssssssssse Vixen..and I'm paying for it.
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Post by vixen on Jan 2, 2007 20:25:16 GMT -6
Hey Rob, talk about shamefull, if we ever get this book off the ground I have a plan that is totally shamefull and disgusting. I write grants for work, I have told the local college librarian (a friend)about the posssibility of the book. He is helping me to write a grant to get as many of the people involved with it to come,the college art center for a reading. We will be working on budgeting for hotel, air fair stipends etc.Thats if anyone would want to do it for the Season's book. He's a little worried about getting David tho,that would be alot of air fair.lol, but if the book gets off the ground I will try like hell to make it happen. Talk about shameless.<giggle> Vixen
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Post by rrw on Jan 3, 2007 12:23:41 GMT -6
In all honesty, Robert, I've as yet to visit your individual site to date, though I do appreciate the invite. However, I have seen some of the works you are posting there, I do believe. Like ya'll I grew up reading poetry, for the most part-- without illustrations, above, below or behind as backgrounds. I tend to prefer to read that way, perhaps as a result. In here, I tend to flee past the developing artwork above a piece, straight to the piece...I don't want to see the picture, first... Having said that, when I saw samples of the work you have in mind, Robert...I found... I actually liked it...Perhaps, because the pieces in question, I'd already read here... So, I automatically concentrated on the images... Happenchance, you could do, two books...One of your individual photographic artwork...And one, of your poems...Or do the poem on one page, the photographic image on the opposite page...I don't know...I've always been hardline on not wanting to see other images, when reading poetry...But, I really liked the black and white image of the hand holding a smoldering cigarette behind the poem...So, you've made me re-think my thinking to some extent and see this subject, of poetry accompanied by artwork, another way...I do think, perhaps you have your finger on the pulse of what is fresh and hip these days, as you are surrounded by younger people...Barraged and inspired by their view of this world...LOL... And by all means, let me know when copies of your work are available... Would like to add copies of all of our poets here, whom are published on my little nirlibrary bookshelves... Eureka! There's my new year's resolution... Get at least one copy done by...you...Troy...Shell...Jeffrey... And whomever else that is published in here, I absentmindedly forgot to name... Didn't forget, Yams...He's already there...Between Atwood and St. Vincent Millay... Someday, I'm going to arrange my books by alphabetization, instead of height... Method to my non-alphabetized madness...You can stack more books, lying sideways, on top of books of the same heighth...Yes? Ya'll take care and take it easy! Nir. Ani, I think you hit my problem right on the head! Is the poetry I'm writing strong enough to stand on it's own? Tell you the truth I don't like the pictures separate from the poetry... I don't think it adds anything... But what I want to do with a few of my poems is incorporate them as a part of an art form. Some of the designs I've done for my poems really integrate well... and others do not. I'll send you two which I think really work well... and let me know what you think... Thanks everyone for the input. If you got more to say, I'm all ears. |
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Post by rrw on Jan 3, 2007 12:24:45 GMT -6
Hey Rob, talk about shamefull, if we ever get this book off the ground I have a plan that is totally shamefull and disgusting. I write grants for work, I have told the local college librarian (a friend)about the posssibility of the book. He is helping me to write a grant to get as many of the people involved with it to come,the college art center for a reading. We will be working on budgeting for hotel, air fair stipends etc.Thats if anyone would want to do it for the Season's book. He's a little worried about getting David tho,that would be alot of air fair.lol, but if the book gets off the ground I will try like hell to make it happen. Talk about shameless.<giggle> Vixen Sounds like a plan to me, Vix! |
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Post by anirbas on Jan 3, 2007 20:27:05 GMT -6
Oh, jeepers...I've really got behind in this thread...See what I can do about that... You so funny, Yam...I didn't know I was the same heighth as Edna...silly thing...  You are only 5'7", in Yamland...In Nirland you are only 9" tall...ggglgggl...Trying to craft a funny back atcha... |
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Post by anirbas on Jan 3, 2007 20:45:03 GMT -6
Ani, I think you hit my problem right on the head! Is the poetry I'm writing strong enough to stand on it's own? Tell you the truth I don't like the pictures separate from the poetry... I don't think it adds anything... But what I want to do with a few of my poems is incorporate them as a part of an art form. Some of the designs I've done for my poems really integrate well... and others do not. I'll send you two which I think really work well... and let me know what you think... Thanks everyone for the input. If you got more to say, I'm all ears. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My honest opinion, Robert--do the book the way it feels right to you...Just like you write a poem--the way it feels right to you... Let the book tell you what it wants to do--and I feel like your book, is telling you, it wants to to do both... Like you've said, placing artwork as a background for a poem; or placing artwork above or below or even on the facing page of a poem, is somewhat what the younger crowd is doing, our "modernist"...A new way to eyes such as those of ours whom are luckily older; even it's really an old way reminiscent of dadaism, combining different artforms together.
And like I said, I was sort of a purist or just plain old school--not wishing to see the poetry I'm reading combined with something else...But, that's what struck me about the pieces of your work, I've seen thus far...To me...It all worked well, together...
That surprised me...I expected to tell you, it just doesn't work for me...And yet, it did...
Don't fall into the mind set of the old folk tale, The Boy, the Man and the Donkey...Don't try to make us happy...Do what makes you happy...The book you are working on, happy...Do what you and the book, your heart and spirit direct you to do...
And before we started offering opinions, you had your plans laid out...I say, go with them...Tweak them where you want to...
Maybe part of the book, the background is behind the poem...
Somewhere else, the photographic art is on the facing page...
As you also must take into consideration, what buyers market you're going after...Old fogies, like us...ggglgggl...I said us, folks! I included myself...hehe...Or a younger, hipper market that is open to this type of interpretation...You're working on campus...I'm figuring a lot of your buyers, are going to be the twenty something or there about set...Therefore, they will eat this stuff up...
I think since you do both photographic art and write poetry,
it's a cool idea to combine them...A tour de force of your creative essence...Gee, that sounded corny...But, there it is...So, there it stays...LOL...
Have to get to Vixen's comments next, but first, have to put
mini-me to bed; it's a quarter til nine here...And that screams--
BEDTIME FOR IVY AND MOMMYTIME FOR ME!!!!!!!!!
BRB, ya'll...Nir.
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Post by anirbas on Jan 3, 2007 21:34:44 GMT -6
Vixen...You bright little minx! How very sweet of you to even attempt to do this, when our Season's Compilation of the World's Greatest Poets comes to fruition. [That's not the title...Just me, enjoying the hell out of myself, typing it about us...ggglgggl] I adore the idea and would be happy to take a bus, if need be...I'm not so far away, I couldn't...And would enjoy the land trip seeing the sights as I go...David isn't the only one, for whom this adventure might be a bit sticky to do, though...We have writers from England, Poland, the Phillipines, all over the world, in here... And of course, David and I are always headhunting for more talent to bring into the fold...Our own expression of dadaism... All of us thrown, en masse, up on the wall in here...Or perhaps, our own version of The Algonquin Round Table... However, what could be done, is those of that make it, read works by all of us...Represent, as the kids say...LOL... I havn't hit the book thread in a few...Better hit that one, too, before I give up the ghost and head to bed...Mini-me is off her vacation, so it's back to trying to keep a "normal" circadian schedule...We are seriously thinking of lobbying to advocate night school here...LOL...She and I both are happiest when we can be nocturnal... Again, Vixen, sooooo sweet and cool--your brainstorm for promoting us all through your connections...Thanks...Sabrina |
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Post by rrw on Jan 4, 2007 14:03:46 GMT -6
Ani, I think you hit my problem right on the head! Is the poetry I'm writing strong enough to stand on it's own? Tell you the truth I don't like the pictures separate from the poetry... I don't think it adds anything... But what I want to do with a few of my poems is incorporate them as a part of an art form. Some of the designs I've done for my poems really integrate well... and others do not. I'll send you two which I think really work well... and let me know what you think... Thanks everyone for the input. If you got more to say, I'm all ears. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My honest opinion, Robert--do the book the way it feels right to you...Just like you write a poem--the way it feels right to you... Let the book tell you what it wants to do--and I feel like your book, is telling you, it wants to to do both... Like you've said, placing artwork as a background for a poem; or placing artwork above or below or even on the facing page of a poem, is somewhat what the younger crowd is doing, our "modernist"...A new way to eyes such as those of ours whom are luckily older; even it's really an old way reminiscent of dadaism, combining different artforms together.
And like I said, I was sort of a purist or just plain old school--not wishing to see the poetry I'm reading combined with something else...But, that's what struck me about the pieces of your work, I've seen thus far...To me...It all worked well, together...
That surprised me...I expected to tell you, it just doesn't work for me...And yet, it did...
Don't fall into the mind set of the old folk tale, The Boy, the Man and the Donkey...Don't try to make us happy...Do what makes you happy...The book you are working on, happy...Do what you and the book, your heart and spirit direct you to do...
And before we started offering opinions, you had your plans laid out...I say, go with them...Tweak them where you want to...
Maybe part of the book, the background is behind the poem...
Somewhere else, the photographic art is on the facing page...
As you also must take into consideration, what buyers market you're going after...Old fogies, like us...ggglgggl...I said us, folks! I included myself...hehe...Or a younger, hipper market that is open to this type of interpretation...You're working on campus...I'm figuring a lot of your buyers, are going to be the twenty something or there about set...Therefore, they will eat this stuff up...
I think since you do both photographic art and write poetry,
it's a cool idea to combine them...A tour de force of your creative essence...Gee, that sounded corny...But, there it is...So, there it stays...LOL...
Have to get to Vixen's comments next, but first, have to put
mini-me to bed; it's a quarter til nine here...And that screams--
BEDTIME FOR IVY AND MOMMYTIME FOR ME!!!!!!!!!
BRB, ya'll...Nir.
I'm really moved by your concern for me and my art. It really means a lot. But "trying to please other people" has never been that high on my list of things to do. A lot of it is my main thrust in art is theatre... and that's a real colabertive art form... Asking what people think about this or that is just my way of sorting things out for myself.. And I only ask people who I trust are going to give me a straight answer. So, I really appreciate you and others on this site for sharing ideas with me.  |
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Post by rrw on Mar 27, 2007 21:46:33 GMT -6
just got on MySpace. I student of mine made a film called Torture in which I did a bit role. If you want to see what I look like in motion, check it out at: www.myspace.com/rrwoods No violence or gore in the clip. I'm the convenience store guy. |
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Post by dawness on Mar 28, 2007 13:57:10 GMT -6
i went through your website, rr and the poems are really good... i would like to see a better layout of the whole place as aesthetics and format are very important... the visuals may be interesting but they have no cohesive theme...
poems are better appreciated when they are laid out clean, really clean so that they stand out. visuals ONLy enhance and act as light backgrounds like so in theater. these may be shown on the left, the poem on the right... and maybe, making a theme for a group of poems from the same genre or theme would highlight the book.
visuals too could have ONE significant symbol... like the cigarette and play around with it in different designs, motifs.
after all, your poetic gems are the main stars!
just my two cents worth. i admire your talent !good luck!!!
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You are only 5'7", in Yamland...In Nirland you are only 9" tall...ggglgggl...Trying
