Artist Books by Peter Devonald
I have always been fascinated by artist books – it’s like seeing into the mind of the artist, realising intention, witnessing the process. It’s also broader, seeing the world of the work, the origins and organic feelings.
I have seen some amazing works: one artist used the book to say goodbye to their beloved pet, the pages become epiphanies and eulogies. Another uses it as a graphic novel to explore structure and form, strange installations. Dada and Futurism used them as critiques, manifestos, statements that transcended bland propaganda.
Slightly trickier as a writer. I am aware of famous writers giving all their notebooks to museums and galleries. I like the idea of readers trying to imbibe an artist through their notes, sketches, rewrites – but so much these days is done on computer rather than handwritten. I really look forward to reading what explorations everyone finds.
You Call It Madness, I Call It Poetry
Latest News@
Winner Heart Of Heatons Poetry/Flash Competition 2023
Shortlisted for Saveas Writer's International Writing Competition 2023 - All In the Mind 2023 - https://www.saveaswriters.co.uk/competitions/all-in-the-mind.html
Shortlisted for The Allingham Festival Poetry Competition 2023
Longlisted for Bridport Prize 2023 - but didn't progress:-()
Sonder Series is now live!!!! #sonderseries
Poems: Sonder Becomes You & Sonder / Sorrow / Splendour
https://issuu.com/ladmore.illustration/docs/sonder_october_2023.pptx_1_?fbclid=IwAR2s1UD5TXO8RI8QO7KlIAlJksI_logh7CeVyRZmjCOvPcdhJ5ieImBwkEQ
Poetic Map of Music - Southwark Festival Of Words
Poem: Vinyl Sings A Song For You
Sanctuary & Comfort at Litfest Poetry Mosaic https://litfest.org/refuge-sanctuary/
Poem: She Speaks To Me
Published in Lights Out: The Cosmic Daffodil Journal – November 1st, 2023.
Poem: Party At the End of the World
https://cosmic-daffodil.squarespace.com/lights-out
Coming Soon
Metachrosis Issue 3 online and published – November 2023
Dying I Dream - https://metachrosislitmag.co.uk/
Dear Politicians: Ecopoetry Anthology - Stairwell Books
Is A Jar Literary Magazine Issue 30 Spring 2024
The Lost Poem, Yin and Yang Door
Notes In The Margin
Enclosed are a few photos of my notebooks and scribblings – from the original notebooks to the rewriting pages to the finished products.
My process of poetry varies – sometimes it is all on the computer, far more logical and coherent. But my best writing tends to start with automatic/meditative state writing into these notebooks, barely legible scrawling, as I go to sleep – or in the middle of the night – or on first awakening. Sometimes I can find this state during the day at odd times – consciously connecting during walks, staring at art, or unconsciously in showers or other repetitive tasks.
I see these poetry books as hints and riddles, the joy and frustration, the sneaky peeks into the dark heart of us --- then the black holes, blank pages, the dark days exposed in lines on the page.
I tend not to rewrite on the page, instead type them up as they are. My reasoning is to retain the honesty of the vision, and authenticity, and you never totally know quite what might be useful in the end. Lines that seem dead on writing might become something far more. Equally, lines that zing at first might become clichéd or tired.
Generally, I keep the original and then copy, paste, and rewrite on the computer. I find this process comforting. I’ve always found an irony to writing – the desire to fill the page as quickly as possible, then the desire to dismantle, rearrange, reduce, reduce, reduce. Like putting a bottle of red wine into a meal only to reduce it to its essence.
After several drafts on the computer, I print it out and rewrite on paper. The work changes in different mediums, it’s why it’s so important to speak the lines – so often things that work on the screen don’t work on paper or spoken. Sometimes this involves direct changes, but often it flags up bigger issues in form or context.
Writing is very much a process – and development. A work is never finished till it’s printed, and even then it can nag away at you. I have been fortunate with publications and awards, and am so thankful to so many editors for the validation/ confidence to try and do my best work.
Notes In The Margin
Random musings, notes, and offcuts from all my poems. Strange meanderings, oddities, moments – what chimes or resonates, what is ignored? What is worthy of future interaction, or will remain forever unexplored?
She Speaks To Me
This poem was published by Sanctuary & Comfort at Litfest Poetry Mosaic. The poem is a conversation with a child who is a refugee. It explains in her own words the very simple things she requires and deserves; to live a life without persecution, to have an education, to not dread every day. Is this really too much to ask? As we approach the most shocking wars – can we please do everything to save the innocent.
In the UK there have been so many negative headlines about refugees – they neglect to mention that we are all human beings, one race, one world – so why do we cling to theories of us and them? How do we want our children to be treated?
