a glimpse inside the eclectic studio practice of Lynna Goldhar Smith.
Leading the Witness. A cautionary tale for my fellow writers and artists. When I ask myself why I never finish anything- my mind will assume that this question is valid and that the statement is true and I will supply all kinds of evidence and end up concluding that I shouldn’t even bother writing or […]
Read More0n the death of Seamus Heaney I am trying to write a poem because I am sad– and because summer is ending- and because a poet I love has died. I am trying to write a poem because– as the days grow short and the nights fall so suddenly- all my summers- of innocence and […]
Read More“There are only three kinds of business in the universe: mine, yours, and God’s.” ~ Byron Katie Today, I had the urge to write about something that I was outraged about. I was annoyed about a particular internet art star. I wanted to be the kid in the crowd who cries out that the emperor has no clothes. But […]
Read MoreThe traveler driving down a lonely country road at night, is encouraged by the distant twinkling lights of her destination. But it’s the headlights of her car that keep her from driving off the road. In life we are drawn toward the bright light of desire and distant dreams. But only the light we carry with […]
Read MoreIf we had to say what writing is, we would have to define it essentially as an act of courage. —Cynthia Ozick I do believe that writing is an act of courage. Courage to keep going when life is in chaos– courage to keep going when your are tired and drained and empty, when you […]
Read More“One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.” Jack Kerouac
Read MoreKnowing and accepting that we will be criticized- that we will be judged, rejected or even worse ignored– and choosing to continue anyway- is an essential skill that we need to acquire- that we can not do without- in life and in art. So is knowing and accepting that sometimes the road is long and […]
Read MoreI reblogged this post from a few years ago I think I have come a long way from this but some of them still apply. Reasons I get stuck. 1. It is hard to keep going when the destination seems so distant and unknown. 2. It is hard to keep believing in yourself– when […]
Read More“The routine is as much a part of the creative process as the lightning bolt of inspiration, maybe more.” Twyla Tharp THE CREATIVE HABIT I agree with Twyla Tharp. I think art for some of us has to be a kind of determined, intentional creative habit that we submit to willingly. I think habit is […]
Read More“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Live in the question.” Rainer Maria Rilke I love these words. I try to call them up when I face uncertainty I am in the middle of developing an idea that is slowly forming in my mind. I don’t know if it is […]
Read MoreGetting ready for making wishes on the full moon, July 3rd. I used to have tea parties with my friend Rachel once a month before she moved to Boston. She taught me the different names of the full moons, as they appear through the wheel of the year. The last one was the strawberry moon […]
Read MoreThis is the beginning of a story that I scribbled down in the coffee shop. It showed up in my notebook today like this. My grandmother was quiet and mysterious and knew mysterious things. She was part gypsy, at least that is what I grew up believing. She could heal wounds, and cure sickness, and […]
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