February Change of Pace: Art, Science, and Poetry

This month and next month we are going to take a new, different, and fun direction.  The Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies has a poetry division in the editor's contest, and I think the Pikes Peak Pebble Pups should enter the contest and learn some new skills and have fun at the same time.

Here is the idea: on one sheet of white paper, you are to draw a scene, landscape, dinosaur, volcano, a gold mine head frame--anything that has to do with our hobby.  I think one of the best ways to start the art is to go to Hobby Lobby or WalMart and get a good, heavy tablet of white paper and a tin or box of inexpensive colored pencils and a pencil sharpener.  You can do so many artistic things with colored pencils, and they are easy to work with.

On another sheet of paper, write a short poem of maybe four stanzas--you pick the number.  Poems don't always have to rhyme, just remember they are powerful feelings you have about your subject.  Use interesting words, words that fire us up when we read them.  The last lines should have a good punch, something we might not expect is coming.  THINK. Your poem must relate to your drawing.  When you are done, get the artwork to me and the poem.  One way is to mail them as soon as you are done in a large mailer, or bring them to the pebble pups meeting.

I will get them published in the various club newsletters, local newspapers, and maybe the rock gem, and fossil magazine that has published our science writing in the past.  The main thing is to get your work entered in to the editor's contest so you can win ribbons and trophies.  You will also learn at least two skills.

I know you can do the simple drawings and the poetry.  I am not sure this has ever been done by a pebble pup group quite this way, so lets be the first.  Below I short video on how to do a one type of a poem.  You can also "Google" how to write a poem or go to the library and look in a poetry writing book.  I have Poetry Writing for Dummies in my office!

View the video, find a nice table, play some cool music, and draw and write your poem that matches the picture you create.  Email me when you have finished. 

This program is also open to anyone interested in what we are doing no matter where you live.  We have an Internet program for pebble pups that works from this blogsite, and you are free to join us and be a part of all that we learn----at least through the blogsite.  We will send you each month's learning materials and some months we can send specimens.  If you are interested in joining us, please check out this blog and send me an email.

Ok, back to the project, below are some resources and a video to check out; go through each one and then become an artist, a poet, and tear it up!  You may enter multiple times.  You will be a celebrated paleo poet or rock poet.

Cool resources:
Colorado Wildlife Coloring Book

Ice Age Giant Mammal Coloring Book


Instructional videos on how to write a poem: