Interview with Cynthia Louden (Part 1)

Before we get started with the interview, some important information and links:

Save 20% on the entire Butterfly Wings Collection at Brush Dance

Cynthia Louden's Blog:   A Shimmy in My Spirit

On a personal note:  It was difficult to limit myself to just a few questions for Cynthia - and when I read the answers to the few that I asked (we did this in email), I found myself wanting to sit with her and chat for hours.  I've known for years that Cynthia is diverse, multi-faceted, oh-so-talented, and really - she has done, seen, and experienced so much.  Mmm..yeah, and she's a little bit geeky, too - that always gets bonus points in my book.

On to the interview . . . 

Tell us about a day in your life.  Do you schedule time for creating or is your schedule more free-flowing?

My most creative time is in the morning. I usually wake up with ideas and am eager to get to my computer, cameras and other creative tools. I would love to create every day, but some days are just filled with "to do" lists...the kinds of things you have to do as a free-lance artist - invoicing, shipping, answering emails etc. I try several days a month to set aside time to go out photographing and I photograph a lot when I travel. I'm also a gatherer of inspiration. I carry a camera and notebook just about everywhere I go so I can collect ideas, words, colors, music, texture...whatever inspires me. 

I know you love to travel.  What was your most exciting trip? Where have you not been that you want to see?  Where could you go over and over and never get enough?

I don't know how to take a vacation from my work. Traveling gives me a break from my daily routines and all those to do lists. Yet I always travel as an artist/photographer. I would feel naked not having a camera along on the trip. Gathering inspiration while traveling is a huge part of the fun for me. When traveling I'll get caught up with how light is hitting something or I'll stop to photograph color or texture on a wall, or a reflection in a window or will take a picture of my breakfast. My family and friends are used to it and just keep on doing what they're doing, knowing I'll soon catch up with them.

I would have to say that my most exciting trip was going on a small boat up the Amazon River in Brazil. It was so hot, and the jungle was so dense and there were snakes and scorpions, and caiman and piranha in the river. It was such a different geography and life from what I was used to. My senses were on overload. Everything I smelled, heard, touched, ate and saw was new to me. I was traveling by myself and I was literally trusting strangers who owned the boat with my safety and life. I am glad I had the experience. I have been fascinated with the tropics ever since. But I don't think I would want to do it again...not alone anyway. It may have been the most exciting trip, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I'm really more of a latte or glass of wine at an outdoor cafe kind of person. I think a lot of my favorite traveling moments have been in small towns, villages or neighborhoods watching the local life go by.

I have a long list of places I would still like to visit and photograph. Although I have visited England's small towns and country gardens, the only thing I have seen of London is Heathrow. I would love to spend time exploring London's neighborhoods. Also on my very long list is Venice, Holland, Costa Rica, & Montreal as well as return visits to France, Cuba, Panama and Switzerland. I would love to take tango lessons in Buenos Aires.

I think my favorite places to photograph, no matter what country or city are farmer's markets. I like to get there early so I can enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the vendors arrange their products. And then the action begins. . .neighbors greet neighbors, buyers bargain with sellers, women stroll stall to stall filling up their market baskets. No matter where I’ve witnessed this scene - it feels like abundance. And there's so much to photograph and get inspired by.

How long have you been keeping a Journal? Do you have any advice for someone just getting started with journaling?

I've kept various types of journals for many years. What works best for me is to carry around a small moleskine all the time to collect snippets of ideas, conversations, compositions, quotes and thoughts. I like gluing pictures into my journals and writing on them, especially my iPhone polaroids.  I also write down ideas for my blog and web site. I am journaling less since I began my blog and miss it a lot. I am determined to get back to spending more time with my journals.

For someone just starting to keep a journal, I would suggest making the journal just for yourself - at least at first. If I know all of my notes and snippets are only for my eyes, I am much freer. If I think there is any chance I might be sharing it on my blog or with someone I begin to censor myself and my journaling becomes more controlled. It stops doing the work I need it to do and that's to be a safe place where I can dump good and bad ideas that I can sort through later.

That's it for today.  Stop back next week for more of our interview with Cynthia.

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Everything in our Butterfly Wings Collection featuring the artwork of Cynthia Louden is on sale.

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Remember, Brush Dance shipping is just $8 - no matter how large your order.

Return tomorrow for the first part of my interview with Cynthia. She is such a creative, fun spirit.

Tuesday Special!

This week's Tuesday Special is our Thich Nhat Hanh illustrated journal. Today only, this journal is 50% off!

Click here to see it, and use coupon code BLOG050 at checkout!

Courage Doesn't Always Roar Interview

Earlier this year, Mary Anne Radmacher appeared on KATU's AM Northwest to discuss her book "Courage Doesn't Always Roar"

Click here to see the fabulous Mary Anne

Tuesday Special!

It's time for another Tuesday Extra-Special! Today only, take 25% off your entire order at www.brushdance.com with coupon code BLOG049!!!

Winner!

Our latest winner of autographed copies of Mary Anne Radmacher's Journal and Book is Laura Aiken!  Laura, I'll drop you an email with details and information!

Have a great weekend, everyone.   To see what I'm up to this weekend, see my personal blog:  Witt + Wisdom.

We regularly have product giveaways on the Brush Dance Facebook Page, too - become a Fan to enter.

Interview with Mary Anne Radmacher (part 2)

This is the conclusion of my interview with Mary Anne Radmacher.    All of her items are on sale right now - save 30%.

Your calligraphy style is unlike any others - are you self-taught? How long does it take you to complete a piece?

i did take a quarter of calligraphy in 8th grade. beyond that, I’m self taught. i created this lettering style over a period of five weeks in which i sequestered myself in a property overlooking the pacific ocean and lettered each letter of the alphabet thousands of times until I created a lettering approach that I felt uniquely represented my writing.

writing original material is a pleasure to me.  it often can come quickly.  lettering, depending on the quality of my “hand” can be good in a first take or it can take dozens of versions to get it right. art work – is like hatching an egg.  (okay: confession. i’ve never hatched an egg..but i imagine it would be difficult.) there are some pieces i work on for weeks, some for months.

Give us a peek into your daily schedule - do you get an early start? Stay up late? How do you split your time between writing and art?

I occasionally get up early. that means I get up early and then stay up late.  I’m a late night person.  my most alert, best thinking times are early morning.  my most creative time after after 4 in the afternoon until after midnight. 


split my time?   split.  defined,- “break or cause to break forcibly into parts, esp. into halves or along the grain.”


in the afternoon, my time isn’t so much split as it is, spilled.   one thing moves to another often naturally and then rolls back to the place it started. in the morning, I easily work to identify tasks and cleanly and purposely complete one thing before moving on to another.  I attempt to lay out my day to best utilize the natural tendencies of my personal clock.




What new projects are you working on?


i’m completing the lettering and art for my third gift book called, THE MOST IMPORTANT PROMISES.  and the research and interviews are moving forward for my next non-fiction work, THE SERVICE HABIT. both of these pieces are for RedWheel*Weiser*Conari Press.  I’m looking forward to the release of my second gift book, MAY YOUR WALLS KNOW JOY and my co-authored with Jonathan Huie book, SIMPLY AN INSPIRED LIFE in september. (also with Conari Press).    (Note:  SIMPLY AN INSPIRED LIFE has been released.)




Mary Anne included this as a P.S. to her letter to me:


i love meaningful mail.  i love sending mail and  receiving mail.  in fifth grade i did a research project on the u.s. forestry service just as prompt so i could write letters to rangers in those look out towers.


when i was a youngster i would spend my allowance on greeting cards and cover up the words on the inside and write my own. 


 
i’ve designed greeting cards with brushdance for almost twenty years.  it thrills to me to think that my words and art, translated through the language of the brilliant designers at brushdance, partner with people all over the world in their effort to communicate and connect. someone asked me just the other day what i do when i need cheering up.  as a practice, i write a friend a REAL note in a card at least once  a week.  when busy lifting another person’s spirits, my own are drawn up as well.  

Gift Cards

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Tuesday Special!

This week's Tuesday Special is our Bible Inspirations flex journal. Our Bible Inspirations collection features spiritual art paired with words from the Bible. Today only, this flex journal is on sale for 50% off!

Click here to see it, and use coupon code BLOG048 at checkout!

Enter to Win!

Enter to win signed copies of Mary Anne Radmacher's latest book "Simply an Inspired Life" and Brush Dance's "Live Boldly!" Flex Journal.

Simply leave an inspired response to this post in the comments by Thursday at 11:59 pm (Eastern time).  A winner will be randomly chosen from all of the entries.   One entry per person. Must be in the US or CAN to win.

It doesn't get much better than this!

Interview with Mary Anne Radmacher (part 1)

Mary Anne Radmacher is powerful. In her art, her words, and especially in her presence.   She is someone who shares herself with you and in doing so invites you to do the same.

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to ask Mary Anne loads of questions about herself and her art. This is part one of that discussion.



Which came first for you - calligraphy, other art, writing?

as a tot, I experienced repeated hospitalizations.  in an effort to curb my sense of isolation, hospital staff spent time with me by shifts. interns read their work out loud, nurses – their reports.  doctors asked me to repeat for them the most recent announcement on the floor loud speaker.  I was  wrapped in the magnificence of words in this way.


declared well and sent home – my fascinating with words continued. I fancied that I had much to say and even more taken with the form and shape of the words themselves. discovery of my father’s stash of permanent markers in his home desk prompted my first foray into performance art and exploration of calligraphic form.  the yellow “pages” of the family breakfast nook were the perfect format, I thought.  standing on the bench I started at the top of the wall and worked my way down to the molding.  very pleased with my work I thoughtfully returned my fathers markers, and went searching for my mother.


i recognize this event as a significant lesson in my life as a writer. i quickly came to realize that not all reviewers are going to share my opinion of my work.  this lesson has served  me well.


Have you had other careers in the past?  If you weren't an artist, what career would you choose for yourself?

I picked berries and beans each summer from 4th grade through my freshman year.  i was an office assistant for my grade school secretaries.  i’m pretty sure I  passed sophomore science with a B by earning extra credit grading my teacher’s quizzes.  the summer after my mom died I worked in the kitchen of an “old folk’s home,” providing table service, cleaning dishes and reading to the elders if I had extra time.  


my junior and senior year in high school when I wasn’t in  a play, performing with one of my music groups, competing in speech or meeting a deadline for my journalism school paper role…I worked as a clerk in a local drugstore.  


a school pal’s dad hired me into my first formal office job. his assistant, Lynne, taught me almost everything I would ever need to know about running anything.  ever.  


i cleaned hotel rooms, worked at a hospitality desk, shucked crabs and was a fish monger; I was a store clerk in a variety store; I ran an eight chord 1930’s switchboard for a college, I worked my way up to director of public relations in a private school, I consulted non-profit organizations as an independent consultant.  


and then I turned twenty four.

before I started my own company I worked in the personnel department at Freightliner parts manufacturing plant.  and then I worked in various capacities for people who were like family while I took care of my dad who had  alzheimer's disease.  one of my dearest friends fired me from the last job I ever had working for someone else. i’m so grateful to her for that…it took my art/writing career from a haphazard activity I did when I wasn’t working for someone else to what I did FOR work.  full time.  at that time I wrote, “the jump is so frightening between where i am and where I want to be. because of all i may become I will close my eyes and leap.”

i’d be an artist no matter what career i would choose for myself.

Thich Nhat Hanh in New York City

I've posted about the Thich Nhat Hanh speaking engagement last weekend on my personal blog.

Click here to read about it.  It truly was a once in a lifetime experience.