The Creative Women series interviews some very talented women to discover what is at the root of creativity and, given that creative thinking is fundamental …
Artist & Surface Pattern Designer Hilary Glynn
In this series on interviews on creativity, I’d like to uncover common traits and what, if anything, is different between each person’s routine. Creative thinking …
Potter Lisa Wilson
In this series on interviews on creativity, I’d like to uncover common traits and what, if anything, is different between each person’s routine. Creative thinking …
Book Artist & Print Maker Patricia Silva
From 2014 to 2016, I worked on a series of collaborative artists’ book projects with the artist and writer, Lyall Harris….By the end, we had produced a series of 12 artists’ books (each in an edition of 2) dealing with topics as diverse as women’s identity, motherhood, loss, organ transplantation and the immigration crisis in Europe. For both of us, I believe, the experience was extremely fulfilling, challenging, revelatory and highly satisfying.
Irish Writers’ Centre Director Valerie Bistany
It requires a kind of resilience bordering on stubbornness, a self-conviction in spite of the knock-backs, hardship and loneliness, and yes, a love for doing the work. This is the kind of courage that I admire in artists. To quote Erica Jong’s famous book, they “feel the fear and do it anyway”.
Author Paula McGrath
I began writing seriously around the time my twin boys were born. I don’t know what that was about, except that the urge to write, which was always there, became urgent and refused to be ignored. I was, as you can imagine, very busy at the time, but this just made the pockets of time I did have all the more valuable; I remember—possibly inadvisedly—dashing out to a writers’ group between breastfeeds!
Author Nuala O’Connor
As for my forte, in terms of writing I’d say it’s fiction. In terms of craft, I’d say it’s stick-with-it-ability and a willingness to always learn and grow.
I admire writers like Salinger and Ferrante who, to whatever extent, managed to extricate themselves from the PR roundabout and just get on with the writing. That’s what important for creatives: doing the work. Not the promo and public appearances – creating.
The Gloss Beauty Editor Sarah Halliwell
I find perfumers particularly interesting and have been lucky enough to meet several, from Jean-Claude Ellena, the genius ex-Hermès perfumer, to Olivier Polge at Chanel. It’s like meeting an artist or composer – I never get tired of hearing them talk about ingredients, stories and different approaches to creating unforgettable scents.