Richard Stephenson Clarke is one of my Dodnash Books clients, who writes the most beautiful poetry; then works to find a shape that reflects the essence of the poetry. It’s such an unusual art form, and such a pleasure to explore! I knew I wanted to help produce Richard’s work as soon as I set eyes on it, and it’s great to hold the book in your hands. Contact me – or Richard – if you’d like a copy.
When I wrote the first few pieces, I had no idea at all that I would be shaping any of them. Then one poem – which I was rearranging on the page, just to see how the lines could be best presented – began to form a very clear shape. This was the poem called Carvings, which happens to be about the mind working on things over time, quite unconsciously: forming, fashioning, sculpting, putting them away, hiding them from sight – and later rediscovering them. It seemed very appropriate that there was such a carved shape coming to light in the piece itself.
Having watched the first section fall into place, I wondered whether it would be possible to do this throughout the whole piece – and so began the climbing of Everest… I tried it on another piece, and another, and before long I just knew I wanted to…
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Eclectic pleasures 