Robin Kalinich's Blog, page 30
November 19, 2013
Let that go.
You may recall that I was recently inspired by the artwork of Niki Hare. These three pieces are the result. The words are based on a poem I wrote called Egg Salad. You can read it below.
Egg Salad
It’s not normal to cry over an egg salad sandwich.You don’t need to tell me this.
I remember watching his tattoo as he cracked five eggs,each shell shattering itselfagain and againon the tips of his fingers.He wasn’t wearing a shirt.I had red lipstick and cleavage,both a little too much in the brightlight of the kitchen.We were still drunkwith the power of youth,and didn’t even suspectthe devastation to come.
There was no way to seethe son,the daughter,waiting quietly beneath his skin.
There was only my awarenessof his stark beauty and the factthat I’d never before eatenegg salad,which astonished him beyond measure.This astonishment explains whywe two left the party,boiled water in a stranger’s kitchen,then spent the next seven yearsloving each other almost to pieces.
In case you’re wondering – no, it wouldn’t work out.
But every time I have egg saladI see him there,and cry over those five dead chickens.
Egg Salad
It’s not normal to cry over an egg salad sandwich.You don’t need to tell me this.
I remember watching his tattoo as he cracked five eggs,each shell shattering itselfagain and againon the tips of his fingers.He wasn’t wearing a shirt.I had red lipstick and cleavage,both a little too much in the brightlight of the kitchen.We were still drunkwith the power of youth,and didn’t even suspectthe devastation to come.
There was no way to seethe son,the daughter,waiting quietly beneath his skin.
There was only my awarenessof his stark beauty and the factthat I’d never before eatenegg salad,which astonished him beyond measure.This astonishment explains whywe two left the party,boiled water in a stranger’s kitchen,then spent the next seven yearsloving each other almost to pieces.
In case you’re wondering – no, it wouldn’t work out.
But every time I have egg saladI see him there,and cry over those five dead chickens.
November 17, 2013
Eli Tynan: her story & help with charitable donations
Eli Tynan is an artist. She was kind enough to share her journey with me and today, I would like to share her story with you.
Eli focused on music during her younger years, although she has a rich background in art as well; her parents collected art and her grandmother was an artist. She was involved in musical endeavors throughout high school and graduated from university with a major in Music Education. During summers, she worked as a camp counselor for the Art Institute of Chicago. Something was stirring deep inside.
Eli founded and ran a private music school for children and then something life-changing happened. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. From this moment on, her focus was to minimize stress in her life. She took a 14 month break from her life, went to California, and began to focus on her art. She had a realization: the music in her life brought stress and consumed her precious energy while practicing her art was a source of relaxation and peace.
Art become healing and transformative in Eli's life. It was clear that her passions had led her to this place in her life. While Eli had been creative in a musical sense and was comfortable with that, she needed to learn to embrace a vision of herself as an artist. This was a whole new kind of creativity!
She hung pieces of her art in her own home and began hearing positive feedback from friends and visitors. Slowly but surely, Eli morphed into an artist. She began interacting in artistic communities online, and talking with people about her art. Suddenly, she realized that she saw herself as an artist.
When I asked her about the biggest artistic challenge she faces, she mentioned rejection. It's a fact that artists must live with: not all art is for everyone. She learned that the best way for her to create art was to focus on process and growth. She makes art for herself. It's crucial for her to have the freedom to express her true self in each of her pieces. She has learned to let go of perfectionism and often looks to this quote for inspiration:
“...what does exist, however, is a continuous series of imperfect moments, filled with infinite possibilities and opportunities for you interpret them, and do with them, as you please.” ~ Marc Chernoff
Dealing with the business of being an artist is a challenge for Eli. Pricing, cataloging, and labeling are part and parcel of being an artist, but this isn't her favorite part of the job. She tends to overanalyze at times which can make an unpleasant task even more difficult.
Recently, Eli was approached about donating art to a silent auction for charity. She wanted to participate, but was worried about how to assign a value to the art. She didn't want to devalue the worth of her art or art within the community so she did her homework. This research helped her arrive at a solution which was fair for all.
She recommends this article to learn about how to participate in art fundraisers and this website to find donation guidelines. Using these resources, Eli was able to draft her guidelines for charitable donations. You can find her version featured here, with other resources at my website, and are welcome to copy it and use as you see fit.
The art in this post was created by Eli Tynan. Click any piece to visit her FB page to see what other terrific things she is working on.
As always, you are invited to visit my website. I'd love to have you!
Eli focused on music during her younger years, although she has a rich background in art as well; her parents collected art and her grandmother was an artist. She was involved in musical endeavors throughout high school and graduated from university with a major in Music Education. During summers, she worked as a camp counselor for the Art Institute of Chicago. Something was stirring deep inside.
Eli founded and ran a private music school for children and then something life-changing happened. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. From this moment on, her focus was to minimize stress in her life. She took a 14 month break from her life, went to California, and began to focus on her art. She had a realization: the music in her life brought stress and consumed her precious energy while practicing her art was a source of relaxation and peace.
Art become healing and transformative in Eli's life. It was clear that her passions had led her to this place in her life. While Eli had been creative in a musical sense and was comfortable with that, she needed to learn to embrace a vision of herself as an artist. This was a whole new kind of creativity!
She hung pieces of her art in her own home and began hearing positive feedback from friends and visitors. Slowly but surely, Eli morphed into an artist. She began interacting in artistic communities online, and talking with people about her art. Suddenly, she realized that she saw herself as an artist.
When I asked her about the biggest artistic challenge she faces, she mentioned rejection. It's a fact that artists must live with: not all art is for everyone. She learned that the best way for her to create art was to focus on process and growth. She makes art for herself. It's crucial for her to have the freedom to express her true self in each of her pieces. She has learned to let go of perfectionism and often looks to this quote for inspiration:“...what does exist, however, is a continuous series of imperfect moments, filled with infinite possibilities and opportunities for you interpret them, and do with them, as you please.” ~ Marc Chernoff
Dealing with the business of being an artist is a challenge for Eli. Pricing, cataloging, and labeling are part and parcel of being an artist, but this isn't her favorite part of the job. She tends to overanalyze at times which can make an unpleasant task even more difficult. Recently, Eli was approached about donating art to a silent auction for charity. She wanted to participate, but was worried about how to assign a value to the art. She didn't want to devalue the worth of her art or art within the community so she did her homework. This research helped her arrive at a solution which was fair for all.
She recommends this article to learn about how to participate in art fundraisers and this website to find donation guidelines. Using these resources, Eli was able to draft her guidelines for charitable donations. You can find her version featured here, with other resources at my website, and are welcome to copy it and use as you see fit.
The art in this post was created by Eli Tynan. Click any piece to visit her FB page to see what other terrific things she is working on.
As always, you are invited to visit my website. I'd love to have you!
November 13, 2013
November 10, 2013
Let's do each other a solid.
I work really hard to promote the work of writers and artists. I also try to help them learn how to do these things for themselves. Why? I suppose it's my way of giving back to the creative community. It makes me feel good and I don't expect anything in return. However, I have had a few people ask how they could repay me. Answer: you can help me promote my platform. In fact, now that I think about it, that would be really terrific!
If you'd like to link to my website on your blog or site, use the logo below and link to this address.
Drop me a line and let me know so I can check it out. If your stuff fits in with my site, I'll reciprocate by adding you to my list of recommended sites.
If you'd like to link to my website on your blog or site, use the logo below and link to this address.
Drop me a line and let me know so I can check it out. If your stuff fits in with my site, I'll reciprocate by adding you to my list of recommended sites.
November 9, 2013
Alter ego, you so crazy.
I recently had a creative writing revelation. I realized that my notion of being a writer was strongly linked with accurately expressing myself. I've been writing fiction, but at the same time I've been wrestling with a burdensome responsibility to somehow use that fiction to put my truth on paper. What audacity and hubris! My truth isn't necessarily important or enlightening, except maybe to me. And what a terrible way to approach creative writing. Memoir, sure. But, creative writing?
I'm not even sure where this idea came from and I wasn't aware of being a slave to it until this past week. It is betrayer to my creative life.
As you may know, we're currently in the throes of annual NaNoWriMo craziness, which requires truckloads of creativity. I sat at my computer laboring over my novel, honestly intending and trying to be creative, when the lightning bolt hit. I'm my own worst enemy. I travel the same well-worn ruts over and over again, trapped by my own experiences and perspective.
An insidious voice, quieter than a whisper, is constantly censoring and evaluating my thoughts. I'm changing that today. There is freedom is releasing myself from these constraints, but for me the execution is difficult. I am me, after all, and it's hard to get away from that.
So I've come up with a strategy.
Today, instead of trying to express myself, I'm going to do the exact opposite. I'm going to imagine myself as someone else - an alter ego, of sorts - and write that way. Unencumbered. The concept seems simple, but for me it's ground breaking. This other broad can be as wild and weird as she wants to be.
Wish me luck!
The gorgeous art in this post is courtesy of, Stephanie Corfee, Featured Artist at Ink & Alchemy. It's teeming with life and riotous color and it makes me very happy. The perfect art to spur creativity!
Visit my website to learn about my efforts to smear art & lit all over the planet. You can also find resources to use in your creative life and business.
I'm not even sure where this idea came from and I wasn't aware of being a slave to it until this past week. It is betrayer to my creative life.
As you may know, we're currently in the throes of annual NaNoWriMo craziness, which requires truckloads of creativity. I sat at my computer laboring over my novel, honestly intending and trying to be creative, when the lightning bolt hit. I'm my own worst enemy. I travel the same well-worn ruts over and over again, trapped by my own experiences and perspective.
An insidious voice, quieter than a whisper, is constantly censoring and evaluating my thoughts. I'm changing that today. There is freedom is releasing myself from these constraints, but for me the execution is difficult. I am me, after all, and it's hard to get away from that.
So I've come up with a strategy.
Today, instead of trying to express myself, I'm going to do the exact opposite. I'm going to imagine myself as someone else - an alter ego, of sorts - and write that way. Unencumbered. The concept seems simple, but for me it's ground breaking. This other broad can be as wild and weird as she wants to be.
Wish me luck!
The gorgeous art in this post is courtesy of, Stephanie Corfee, Featured Artist at Ink & Alchemy. It's teeming with life and riotous color and it makes me very happy. The perfect art to spur creativity!
Visit my website to learn about my efforts to smear art & lit all over the planet. You can also find resources to use in your creative life and business.
November 4, 2013
October 31, 2013
October 27, 2013
October 26, 2013
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