We need a piece of art to inspire ekphrastic poetry, which is when a poem is written in response to a piece of artwork, a painting, a photograph, sculpture, or other form of visual art. If you are writing ekphrastic poetry for yourself and you don’t care to publish it on a blog, in a magazine, or book then you can write in response to artwork that you find anywhere online or in books.
If on the other hand you want to publish the image with your poetry or writing, then you need to consider copyright and publishing permissions.
It is great if you have a friend who paints fabulous art and is happy for you to write ekphrastic poetry about their work. Sometimes a well-know artist will give you permission to publish photographs of their art along with your writing.
Check with a lawyer for more details on copyright law if you feel so inclined.
There are several ways to find artwork that is copyright free or in the public domain. If the work is not copyrighted or has been released into the public domain, then you are free to write your poetry and publish your work alongside an image of the artwork.
Using A Word Document Search for Art
Say I want to write a poem about dogs, and I am writing on my computer in a WORD document, I can hit the “insert” tab, click on the “picture” tab, and then on “online pictures.” A search bar comes up and I put in “dog art.” A hundred or so pictures come up. This one was my favorite.
The artist captured Randy perfectly
his white and brown ears
set off by his black collar
his name tag jangling when he ran
eyes, nose, and mouth jet black
contrasting with white
a touch of blue around the eyes and lips
a study in black and white
in life surrounded by colors
blues, purples, and yellows
flowers he dug up
raspberries he loved
human food he snapped at
but most of all I remember him
with the sunsets he watched by my side
This picture and so many others could be used to create an ekphrastic children’s book of poetry and art.
Google Image Search
Another way to find images that can be published is to open up Google and search for your topic (ie) “Chinese Art.” Google will return 14 million websites with Chinese art. Click on “Images” and then to the upper right on “Tools.” A bar with “Usage Rights” will pop up. Click on “Creative Commons licenses.” Many of the pictures that show up under “Creative Commons licenses” are from Wikipedia, and other free image sites.
Wikipedia often has a lot of information about pictures that are copyright free. Use Google or go directly to Wikipedia and search for the images that you want.
This one at Wikimedia.org can be found through Google or Wikipedia.
,_Hanging_scroll;_mineral_pigments_on_silk,_Kimbell_Art_Museum.jpg)
Sun Lit Lotuses
Facing the sunlight
sun lit lotuses in a sea of gold
golden light contrasting white
white and pink flowers
floral green rooted in mud
muddy soil nourishing roots
roots grounded in white and pink
pink lotuses turn upward facing
The poet or writer can also go directly to Flickr https://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/. Flickr has a list of different kinds of licenses including Public Domain Dedication, which means anyone can publish it with or without attribution. There is another category, Attribution, which means it can be published but only with attribution. Here is one image that shows up under “Chinese Art” on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/5549004773. Note the Public Domain symbol on this page 
Dragon Fire
She smelled the smoke before
the dragon red and gold lit up
as if from the yellow sky sun setting
over the wall of solid stone
immune to fire
birds flying up and away from the red earth
Pixabay and Pxhere are two other sources of free images that can be found through Google or directly on Pixabay or Pxhere sites.
Here are two images that come up when searching for “water artwork.”
 |
 |
Creative Commons (CC0 Public Domain) is another way to find artwork that is “Free for personal and commercial use. No attribution required.”
To find more images that you can publish later with no worries of copyright infringement go to Creative Commons and check the box for commercial use. Search for your topic. Seventeen images come up for “black lives matter artwork.” This is one of them.
A poem on this wall
with a thick black marker
about Black Lives Matter
in contrasting white or blue space
say what
would you write
of your personal experience
about a friend or lover
what words would flow
over the wall
into a new reality
Find a picture and write an ekphrastic poem today. What will you write as you merge poetry and art. Will it be about nature, color, politics or …?
If you like this post, please share with your writerly friends and/or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can see all the FREE resources my site offers poets/writers on my Start Here page.
