Michelle Garren Flye's Blog, page 21

National Poetry Month, Day 24, Verse 24

Less than a week to go. It seems like just yesterday I was struggling to draw ice. lol. I mean, if I tried again, it would still be hard. But I did it once, so…

Once this is done, I’ll be putting together my poetry book. There are still a few illustrations to be done, possibly a few poems yet to be written, but I’m hoping to get that taken care of next month. Maybe I can even have the book out by the beginning of June. Mid June? I wonder how far my hypercreativity can carry me.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 23, Verse 23

I’m better at capturing flora than fauna, so the little critter in this one caught me off guard. I didn’t even notice him until I started drawing. He seemed perfect for this spot in the renga, though. One of those “happy accidents” that happens sometimes.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 22, Verse 22

All I wanna do is write poetry.

And draw pretty pictures.

lol

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 21, Verse 21

I’m really loving my new keyword/motto “Focus”. I’m a mom all the time, a writer and poet constantly, and a business owner when I can lol. So focus can be a challenge but is important in every aspect of my life. I’m also an amateur photographer, so I know what happens when you take pictures that are out of focus. They suck.

Most of my illustrations for this renga come from photos I shot on my iPhone while walking my dog. Very few of them were actually in focus lol. Which makes this new word of mine all the more pertinent. When I turn the pictures into illustrations, it’s like I’m improving the focus. Like this one.

Illustration and poem copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 20, Verse 20

I’m so happy with the way this renga is working out! I have been flipping through the pictures and reading the verses and it’s hard to believe I’ve written it piecemeal and drawn whatever I wanted each day. (I mean, yeah…flowers mostly, but that’s where I find spring, so…)

Before I started this project, I had three very different projects burning on my mind stovetop lol. Now the other two are safely simmering on the backburner (not forgotten!) and I have a focus. It’s a reminder to me not to let my hypercreativity overwhelm me. Focus. Find it. Don’t force it. But when you find it, you can make wonderful things.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 19, Verse 19

Hard to believe there are only eleven days left for National Poetry Month! I’m trying to get ready for a speech I give to the English Speaking Union at the end of the month, too, but I’m determined not to let this renga go. It’ll give me a huge jumpstart on Hypercreativity. Who needs sleep, right?? I know I haven’t gotten much recently…

But life is good. I love what I do. I want to do more of it, which might be why I’m not sleeping much recently. I get up every morning and think I get to go to work today. That’s gotta be a sign that something is right in my life, even if some things aren’t. Right?

National Poetry Month, Day 18, Verse 18

This flower is actually only a third of the way done. I stayed up until 2 a.m. working on it three nights in a row and still only got that far. lol. But I made it work, I think. I knew what I wanted in this verse and this flower is actually perfect for it.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 17, Verse 17

Happy Easter? lol. I could’ve maybe planned a little better but oh well.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 16, Verse 16

I wrote the renga out (thus far, I’m only one or two verses ahead of what I post here). I was surprised it fit together so well. I look forward to sharing it in Hypercreativity. It’s not cheating to use it there, is it? lol. I want to see it all together.

On a different note, my drawing has gotten better since 100 Warm Days of Haiku. Tomorrow’s is actually really beautiful. And I had to work hard on it. Not as hard as I’ll have to work on the one for the day after. But pretty hard.

Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye

National Poetry Month, Day 15, Verse 15

As it is tax day here in the States, I’m betting many of us have done a lot of searching for the insignificant…but that’s not what the poem is about.

Poem and illustration by Michelle Garren-Flye

Halfway point makes me wonder. What will I do when this is done?