Author Archives: helenwalth

Kaitlin’s life is a fascinating tale of innovative solutions, applied as she worked with creative individuals, and a life rich in relationships and positivity. She was 69 years old when I interviewed her in 2015 at Kaitlin’s Creative Cottage, a safe haven for women and young girls, victims of abuse.  H: WHAT IS YOUR TRAININGContinue reading “Kaitlin Meadows: Hospice Nurse/Creative Healer”

Whether to specialize and focus on mastery, or to seek breadth and explore multiple directions, is a recurring issue in a creative practice. Valid arguments are made for both approaches. Mastery is valued for the obvious growth of skills that come with ongoing attention over a sustained period of time. Creative practices improve in qualityContinue reading “On Mastery and Breadth in a Creative Practice”

Stephanie is the Co-founder of “Mission” which provides executive and team coaching for nonprofits and mission-driven companies. She was previously an executive and/or director for organizations such as Philanthropic Communications and Development for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; The Drawing Studio in Tucson; and VOICES Community Stories. Educated as a writer and poet, StephanieContinue reading “Creativity Interview: Stephanie Balzer, Non-Profit Coach, and Writer/Poet”

The events of the past three years have shaped many of us into different versions of ourselves. Over this time I rediscovered the joy of being a novice in a new discipline. During the cautious re-opening of life after Covid shutdowns in mid-2021 I was seeking creative exploration. Painting was, and continues to be, aContinue reading “Being a Novice”

I teach Creative Expression sessions at a destination health and wellness resort in Tucson. These are individual sessions, focused on the unique needs of each guest. We discuss their creative life, and hopes and goals for the same. We consider their personal life demands, creative interests, and past creative activities as we explore options forContinue reading “Finding Time for a Creative Practice”

Synergy: the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. (Oxford Languages, online dictionary) I first interviewed this married couple in 2016. It is the only time I have interviewed two people at the same time, and IContinue reading “Creativity Interview: The Value of Creative Synergy, Lea and Jim McComas”

It has been several months since I posted here. Fortunately much of my creative time has been spent working in new directions, both in my painting and on a new creative interest: ceramics. As the vaccines were becoming available in January, and we ushered in a new Administration, spring was approaching in this warm desertContinue reading “A Creative Burst”

I recently realized several of my earliest posts have disappeared. This article originally posted in late September 2020. It discusses some of my favorite creative practices: Drawing, and Blind Contour Drawing. It was written well into the pandemic, with no vaccines offering glimmers of hope, but the quick, fun exercises apply anytime you want toContinue reading “Repost: Drawing and a Creative Practice”

Jim Scherbarth is a visual artist living and working in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We first met in 2018. He works in a variety of media including oil and cold wax paintings, mixed media on paper, and weaving.  HW:  What was your background and education with regard to your art and creativity in general? JS:  Early in life myContinue reading “Creativity Interview: James E. Scherbarth, artist”