Using Art as a Writing Prompt Prof. Myrna Monllor Jiménez Prof. Helen Domenech

My Cat by Barbara Esbensen

My cat is asleep-white paws Stay in your holes mice! folded under his chin My cat sees you He is a soft grey in his dreams smudge on the round rug and has left his motor running. Dozing in the sun He is a warm round stone with a fur collar My cat is taking a nap Not a whisker Trembles Not a hair Moves His breath goes softly in and out

Definition A description is your vivid observation in words of someone or something that you have seen and want to convey to your reader. When you write descriptions your objective should be to create a lively picture in your reader's mind. Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring

“The painting was like none of his others “The painting was like none of his others. It was just of me, of my head and shoulders, with no tables or curtains, no windows or powder-brushes to soften and distract. He had painted me with my eyes wide, the light falling across my face but the left side of me left in shadow. I was wearing blue and yellow and brown. The cloth wound round my head made me look not like myself, but like Griet from another town, even from another country altogether. The background was black, making me appear very much alone, although I was clearly looking at someone. I seemed to be waiting for something I did not think would ever happen.” Griet, main character Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier.

Procedure Choose one of the following pictures Look carefully at the painting you selected Think of the following: Where are we? What is happening? What do you see? What attracts your attention? What words would you use to describe what you have seen?

Roots, Frida Kahlo

The Tragedy, Pablo Picasso

The Procuress Johannes Vermeer

Café au nuit, Van Gogh

Don Miguel Antonio de Ustariz, José Campeche

La Consulta, Mike Hernández

Exploration of the Source of the Orinoco River, Remedios Varo

Visit to the Plastic Surgeon Remedios Varo

Borges o El Aleph Francisco Rodón

Autorretrato No.1 María de Mater O’Neill

El estudiante Francisco Oller Louvre Museum

Paintings Roots, Frida Kahlo The Tragedy, Pablo Picasso Café au nuit, Van Gogh The Procuress, Johannes Vermeer Don Miguel Antonio de Ustariz, José Campeche La Consulta, Mike Hernández Exploration of the Source of the Orinoco River, Remedios Varo Visit to the Plastic Surgeon, Remedios Varo Borges o El Aleph, Francisco Rodón Autorretrato No. 1, María de Mater O’Neill El Estudiante, Francisco Oller