The sound of leaf and seedpod characters
When the jostling around settles and stills, each character finds its place in the word/sound to say what they can only say together, in combination.
I’ve been learning Lao lately – the script, the reading and writing part rather than communication part – through the Lao Heritage Foundation. It’s been really hard work and I’ve been studying a lot! But it’s also been super satisfying to have this script come to life with its many character forms and combinations and range of new sounds. Many I’ve never really heard before, and others I can’t say correctly, either, but that’s okay.
And the other day I was inspired to write the characters with yellow and orange and fuchsia acrylic paint.
So what does this have to do with the cluster of wrapped leaves and seed pods in the picture above? Well, first it’s what I'll be packaging and putting in the mail tomorrow for you!
Second, I realized this cluster is like learning the Lao script. Stay with me, I know this seems like a stretch. But it’s kinda fun, too.
See, somehow each of the leaves and seed pods have a unique character – a shape, color, and size, and texture – like a glyph in a writing system. When I’ve held a cluster in my hands, arranging the leaves and seed pods this way and that, it always changes. They are grouped together by a common thread (indigo thread that is) and form a range of words and sounds. As unique as each one is, they are working together to say something. They have their own language. Yellow ginkgo fan whispers to sage eucalyptus circle as tawny pine needles resonate with ginkgo seed pod and spice oval leaf orating to maple seed pod and coco long seed pod remains silent.
The jostling around then settles and stills as each character finds its place in the word/sound to say what they can only say together, in combination.
With my sense of imagination, here’s what I hear/see in one of the clusters: “neh-sh-la-t”
And another: “ooh-la-ng”
And another: “go-pu-ta-k-ong”
And this: “see-lah-ma”
Finally this: “be-la-ng-to-bu”
You’ll each get one of the leaf and seed pod clusters, with their word/sound included. Which one will you receive? What words or sounds, images or moods will you sense from your leaf and seed pod cluster?
As always, I have enormous gratitude to each of you for supporting my creative endeavors and sharing in the process with me. I think of you often in the work that I’m doing – what I'm exploring and experimenting with, what I write and share, and especially what I send your way every two months in the mail. It enables and encourages me to continue onward.
I wanted to share that I’ve started working on my artist website! I made great strides at the end of June and early July, then other priorities came up, and now I'm back to working on it. It’s because of the Patreon support that I’m able to have such a wonderful new range of art and writing that I can put out into the world and share with a broader audience. I am hopeful that it can bring in new Patreon supports as well to join in our endless inspiration and creative connections.
With so much gratitude.
“The sound of leaf and seedpod characters” was an exclusive post to my Patreon supporters in August 2021. Now it’s public and available to you, too!
And I’m excited to announce that since December 2022, I’ve switched to Ko-fi!
Ko-fi is also an online creator platform and makes it easy for fans to financially support creatives with either a one-time donation or signing up for a monthly subscription. It is where I share early access and exclusive content of my creative process, original stories, and inspiration. My work explores fiber arts, nature gathering, mark making, photography, and writing.
Want to join me and other supporters on a journey? By joining one of my monthly membership tiers, I get to show my appreciation to you by offering benefits! Depending on the tier, the benefits I offer are behind the scenes, works in progress, personal stories, early access, exclusive content, and mailed packages of my art, experiments, and/or Lao materials.
Want to offer a little support because you like what you see or read? I’m humbly grateful for your one-time donation!
A big shout out to my wonderful supporters! Thank you, each of you, for supporting my ongoing creative work – Julie B, Sharmila K, Sushmita M, Kori J, Marga F, Kara B, Kristina L, Laura C, Louise B, Beck C, Skip M, Chris Z, and Richie M. It means so much and I am grateful. I think of you as create these posts, what I write about and share, and I hope that it offers you insight and inspiration along the way.
