For Lovers of Words

Sharing a treasure found today

While sorting through one last stubborn box from my move almost two years ago, I came upon this word treasure I’d written in a notebook. It was found in an art book by Ree Morton and written by Belgian printmaker and painter, James Ensor.

I don’t know what it is about words that capture us so. For as long as I can remember I have weaved words into my paintings. For years I would write them and then paint over them so only I knew what was beneath the surface. Years later as my life took a turn, they started to boldly make their way to the outer layers for all to see. My paintings became like journal entries.

I remember the first time I saw a Cy Twombly painting in person. It was at the MoMA in 1994 and I stood there in awe of his paintings woven with words. He felt like a kindred spirit and has forever been my favorite artist.

It’s one of the mysteries of life how words, whether spoken or written, can cause our hearts to leap, make us shiver, and sometimes make tears spring from our eyes.

Here are James Ensor’s magical words about, well, words.

"Ah, but I love to draw beautiful words, like trumpets of light...I adore you, words who are sensitive to our sufferings, words in red and lemon yellow, words in the steel blue colour of certain insects...subtle words of fragrant roses and seaweed, prickly words of sky-blue wasps...words spat out by sands of the sea...discrete words whispered by fishes in the pink ears of shells, bitter words, words of fleurs-de-lis and Flemish cornflowers, sweet words with a pictorial ring, plaintive words of horses being beaten, evil words, festive words, tornado and storm-tossed words,
windy words, reedy words, the wise words of children, rainy, tearful words, words without rhyme or reason, I love you! I love you!" -- James Ensor 

Are you a Lover of Words? A Weaver of Words? Do tell!

Much love,
Barbara