How to “Write” a Poem With Pictures

There’s more than one way to write a poem.

Folks often feel intimidated about how to write poetry—I get it; I’ve been there.  But Art journaling offers a way to venture into expressing oneself with words and pictures both and thus create a poem, a made thing, (the definition of poem from the Greek word poiema). Made things can be creations with pens or paint or paper, offering a reflection of what’s in our heads and on our hearts and showing up on the page.

For a number of years this way of poetry-making has become a welcome outlet for my creativity. Using cut-out words and pictures from old books and magazines, glitter glue, watercolors, stamps and more, I’ve found a way of crafting my thoughts on the blank page called Art Journaling.

I’ve often looked at art journaling as both prayer and poetry. The Apostle Paul encourages us to pray without ceasing, and prayer is a place of listening, being tuned into God at all times. Eugene Peterson in The Message Bible calls it our “walking around life.” Romans 12:1ff.

Playing with paper, pictures and paint is a practice that engenders a different kind of listening to create something with written, visual or artistic materials to respond and  capture what God is speaking.

Sometimes, most times, we don’t know what God is saying until we take time to listen. The act of moving things around with pictures, glue, paint or pen and pencil can often brings things to the surface. Have you ever thought, “I didn’t know what I thought until I saw it written on the page?” Art Journaling provides that kind of discovery.

Because sometimes we don’t know what God is saying until we see it.

Step 1: Gather Your “Flotsam and Jetsam”

Before you start, round up your materials. Don’t worry about them being “high art”; junk mail and old magazines are perfect.

[  ] A base: A blank journal or a sturdy piece of paper (at least 8 x 5 inches).

[  ] Found text: Old magazines, books, maps, menus, calendars, or even church bulletins and junk mail.

[  ] Cutting & sticking tools: Scissors and glue sticks.

[  ] Color & texture: Watercolors, acrylics, or stencils.

[  ] Detail tools: Felt markers or fine-line pens (to write over paint).

[  ] Extra “flair”: Glitter glue, rubber stamps, and an ink pad.

Step 2: Prepare the Environment for God to bring ideas, thoughts & feelings to the surface. This process is as much about listening as it is about making.

[  ] Clear the clock: Set aside at least 15 minutes to simply “make a mess.”

[  ] Set the mood: Turn on your favorite instrumental music.

[  ] Be ready to receive: Approach the page with the intent to listen or pray rather than to “perform.”

Step 3: The Creative Process

Don’t overthink the “poetry” part yet. Let the materials lead the way.

[  ] Hunt and Gather: Flip through your papers. Cut or tear out any pictures or words that catch your eye. What is grabbing your attention?

[  ] Sort and Shuffle: Move your cutouts around the blank page. Don’t glue anything yet! Wait for certain words to “surface” or images to start talking to each other.

[  ] Commit: Once a layout feels right, glue the words and pictures into place.

[  ] Embellish: Use your paints, stamps, or glitter glue to fill in the gaps and add layers.

The Last Step: Discovery

In this method, the meaning usually arrives after the work is done. Remember, you don’t need to know what you think until you see it written on the page. The goal is discovery, not perfection!

[  ] Sit back and observe: Look at the finished poem/prayer.

[  ] Ask the “Big Questions”: * What do I see here?  What is being said to me through these images?

[  ] Title your work: Give your “made thing” a name based on the theme that emerged. 

As evidenced by the illustrations here, I didn’t know what God was speaking to me until after the work was done. When I finished the watercolor, cut paper and glitter collage pictured at the top, God spoke the phrase to me, ‘heart in the weeds.’ I thought of how my heart is hidden in Christ, even in the middle of a weedy world. And that’s how our (sometimes unspoken) prayers show up on paper.

Friends, if this is a practice you want to try, I would love to see your creation—email me? Jodyo (at) jodyleecollins dot com.

For a simplified hand out of steps to use in groups or personal use, click HERE.