Love the visual arts? Love creative writing? This generative ekphrastic writing class will delight anyone who’s interested in discovering how engaging with the visual arts can ignite their stories, essays, and poems. The mode of “ekphrastic writing” is defined as descriptive writing influenced by the visual arts. We’ll learn methods of art-engagement and conventions of responding to art and we’ll pen our own ekphrastic work. Artwork will be provided, though you’re welcome to bring your own. Come see how your sight can lead to insight!
Janée J. Baugher is the author of the only craft book of its kind, The Ekphrastic Writer: Creating Art-Influenced Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction. She has taught creative writing for 25 years, and is an assistant editor at Boulevard literary journal. Baugher’s third poetry collection, The Andrew Wyeth Chronicles won the 2023 Dorset Prize from Tupelo Press (forthcoming 2026) and she’s currently a 2024 Whiteley Center Fellow.