Poetic Mapping. It’s about walking, but not just physically. It’s about mapping, but not in the Ordnance Survey sense. It’s about mapping through feeling expressed through art. It’s about finding what and how to map. It’s about talking to myself out loud. Writing to myself out loud. Making art out loud. Reading to myself out loud. Singing to myself out loud.
I’ve been out loud on this blog since 2010. Writing blog posts has improved my creativity in its various forms. writing, art, mapping and even singing. I have a stash of flash fiction stories waiting to be developed.
Arguably the best aspect of blogging – the best aspect of the Internet – is meeting and exchanging ideas and opinions with other arty folks. Some of my bests walks are those I take into (and poach from!) other artists’ territories. They are too numerous to name. They are in every corner of the world. That in itself is inspiring.
Bio: born and bred in Northumberland (the English side of the Scottish border, on the east coast). First class honours BA, Fine Art (1987) – three prizes along the way (John Christie Prize – twice – Hatton Prize); TEFL Certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language); various proofreading/editing courses; fluent in French; several years classical vocal training (ABRSM and Vaccai Method) in France and UK.
I’ve lived and/or taught, exhibited, in and around the UK, Dubai, Grand Cayman, France and the US.
I write articles, short stories, blogs; manuscript of first novel gathering dust in a cupboard.
Mixed media artist (acrylics, eco printing, encaustics, collage, et cetera ad infinitum). In my spare time (ha!) doing up a boat (Albin Vega) with my husband; renovating a garden and growing organic veggies, and plants for dyeing.
I live in Norfolk, walk and wander. And wonder. Sung soprano in a number of choral societies in France and England, and solo (probably never again) for charity on two occasions. I’ve sung in the rain in Trafalgar Square and (not in the rain but the Charles Clore Studio) in the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Poetic Mapping: Walking Into Art 
Lovely to connect with you. Thanks for commenting on my blog. Your About page resonates with me for its clarity and love of nature. I have been blogging for a while too but not as much as I would like, especially this last two years as I was trying to get my book out. Now that its out I am suffering from that infamous post-book-partum syndrome. Hoping that bloganuary will get me out of it. 🙂
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My experience of ‘wandering minstrels’ is in the form of the French ‘trouveres’ (Northern France) and ‘troubadours’ (Southern France) of the early middle ages. I love the music of that time. I’ve briefly mentioned them in one blog: https://annisikarts.com/2013/11/13/nablopomo-xiii-what-ive-been-singing-this-week-la-pastourelle/
I do like it when I find parallels. I must try and delve more deeply into the ‘bhajan’. And I had it in mind a while back to do some artworks on a theme of ‘Katha and Kantha’. Story and cloth. I don’t know if there’s a connection other than the two words being similar. Maybe it’s time to follow the road from that particular crossroads and find out. I’ll try and read your book. It will have to go on a long list! 🙂
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Hi Ann,
I’m pleased to connect with you; recently you posted on my FB page, Garden of Bright Images. Thanks for your engagement! 🙂
I’d like permission to use some of your art, probably combined with longer excerpts or complete poems which I’ve never really found a way to use effectively. Please let me know if that suits you. Thanks. ~Jenny
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Hi Jenny. I’d love for you to use some of my artworks. I’m sure I needn’t ask, but when you do would you a) add my name and a link back and b) let me know whenever you do so I can take a look and share it around. Good luck! Love your FB page. All power to you! 🙂
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am much enjoying your lovely site 🙂
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Glad you like it. Thanks. 🙂
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I very much appreciate the time you have taken to visit my blog and to follow me. Thank you.
I have a pithy interest in the marvels our tiny planets offers us as well as the often glorious antics its inhabitants get up to so you can be sure I shall catch up with what you’re doing as often as I can.
I look forward to our next encounter.
RR
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I will try and keep up-to-date with your posts, too. 🙂
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Hello Ann, and how nice to have you visit my blog… I remember you from Friday Fictioneers but was pleased to see your site a little more… If you are interested in poetry I do run a site call dverse http://dversepoets.com We run prompts 3 times per week. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday… come over and meet us some time.
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I’ll definitely visit dverse. I didn’t know you ran it. Yes, Friday Fictioneers is great, but I found it difficult to keep up, especially visiting all the other blogs. And I guess it served its purpose for me as I improved my writing ability and I have a lot of 100-word stories to develop – I’m doing one right now. 🙂
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Hello Ann, Thank you for visiting my blog and I’m pleased to find yours. I have been blogging for three years and am finding it’s really improving my writing and storytelling abilities an d helped me to find and develop my voice…which is actually quite different to what I thought. I’m quite sensitive and yet there’s humour in that voice. Take care and best wishes Rowena
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I’m happy to have found ‘you’ too Rowena. I can’t find a ‘follow’ button on your blog though. Where is it? My writing’s much improved since starting a blog, too. And I’ve ‘met’ a lot of really talented and inspiring people. 🙂
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Hi Ann. Thanks so much for the note on my blog today asking about me teaching in the UK. Ironically I am in Harrogate today and this weekend teaching workshops. So sorry you didn’t know. I hope to be back here next year too!
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Oh, no! And I have friends in Harrogate! I had a computer crash a while back when trying to upgrade to Windows 10 and lost a lot of stuff. Oh well. Do alert me when you’re coming next year. And where. 🙂
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Hi Ann and thanks for following my blog. I really eenjoy reading about your rambles and excellent Art. Regards
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Thank you. 🙂
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Hello, Ann. I’ve just read your lovely comment on my FF post page. It’s good to connect with someone who recalls some of the same things as me. The information on your About page is really interesting too – not to mention impressive! You’ve ceratinly lived in a lot of places and are talented in so many areas. Thank you for following my blog and I’ll look forward to reading more of your work. 🙂
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NIce to meet you Millie. Thanks for the kind words. 🙂
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Hi – Thanks for following my blog, am enjoying reading yours, many wonderful people out there in bloggerland.
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I found you via Don Charisma’s blog. I was interested in your pre-cognitive dream stories. I have this sort of dream too. Recently, also, I have had dreams about a new friend which turned out to be past events in her life and environment. The dreams were very specific and so it wasn’t about ‘reading into’ them to find links. It raises interesting questions about the nature of the mind and space and time. I’m somewhat skeptical about tarot, crystals, astrology, but have an open mind. 🙂
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It is a beautiful blog making lot of sense.
I like your blog very much.
Thanks for the follow.
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Wow! I’m honoured, because I’ve read some of your work and appreciate its quality. 🙂
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Not my best but your nonetheless for that lovely sad comment :
http://definitivelapseofreason.com/2013/11/26/poetry-④-acrostic/
Tay.
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I just wanted to send you a quick note of thanks for signing up to follow my blog! Have a great day! – B
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As a follower of “A Way With Words”, you are invited to a domain warming party as I move to a new blog address. Click on this link –
http://awaywithwordsblog.com
You’ll think you are in a parallel universe.
While you are there, be sure to click the “Follow” button. Within the next week, I plan to publish exclusively from this site. Don’t miss out on any of the fun!
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Hello Tony, thanks for your invitation, which I rescued from my spam folder! I’m happy to follow you. I won’t agree with everything you write. And I hope you will also make fun from time to time of your own ‘sacred cows’. 🙂
Ann
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If I don’t make fun of my own “sacred cows,” you have my permission to make fun of the fact that I don’t. 🙂
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When all my own pegs are gone I’ll consider taking yours down. You’re safe! 🙂
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Merci de suivre mon blog. d–0.o–b
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Merci a vous aussi. Votre blog me stimule. a-I.i-A.
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AnElephantCant deny it
He visits your blog and never gets bored
He likes what you show him
Just loves the above poem
Especially that everyone can create their own Lord
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Thank you for the poem!
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We all create our own Lord, I think!
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http://lovelyseasonscomeandgo.wordpress.com
Hi thank you so much for visiting my blog and liking the post “Deepak Chopra Quote” and the follow. I am enjoying your blog as well. Have a wonderful day. Betty
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Welcome! Ann
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Wonderful site! – and thank you so much for popping by on my blog. Lokking forward to your Deepak book review, I must admitt it is one of his books I have not read 🙂
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I think it’s funny that a book in which the vocabulary embraces words such as ‘neuropeptides’ can bring tears of wonder to my eyes and my jaw to drop! Ann
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lol, but you are right, Deepak Chopra has a way of writing which resonates
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And more than that for me. As a visual artist I’ve always had a problem with the representation of ‘space’ and now I know that the reason was that I didn’t understand what space really is, which Deepak’s explains, in Quantum Healing. I have a bunch of paintings sitting unfinished which I can now resolve. It will be interesting to see how I can represent space as ‘intelligence’! Ann
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I would love to see your work – do you ever put it up on your blog?
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There’s artwork at various points on my blog – try searching for Books of the Dead, for instance. And also my web site: http://www.annisikarts.com and also on You Tube. Thanks for asking!
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happy to discover your blog and looking forward to more time here – we appreciate reading and viewing your work!
http://ekphrastixarts.com/2012/06/19/reader-appreciation-award-thank-you/
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Thanks for your appreciation! My late reply is due to a painful attack of Writer’s Block! I like your blog too and will be following you about in future. Ann
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Pingback: Reader Appreciation Award – Thank you! | COMBINATORY ART IN MOTION
Hello and thank you for your comment. If you check out my latest blog you’ll see I’ve mentioned you. I look forward to the time when I can visit with your blog in greater depth. Ann
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What a fascinating site
Regards
John Bainbridge
stravaigerjohn.wordpress.com
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Hello John
Thanks for your comment! I’ve been following your blog for a little while. I should post a comment, instead of lurking.
The quality of your writing is humbling. And I WILL join the Ramblers soon I promise. Just come back to the UK after many years living abroad.
Kind regards
Ann
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