of ink and insight podcast

<p>This week, I’m turning 58.</p><p>Recently, I found a letter my mom wrote titled <em>“Blessings of Turning 40.” </em>What stopped me was this: she wrote it when she was 58.</p><p>So here I am, at the same age, reading her reflections across time… and noticing what lands differently now.</p><p>In this short episode, I share her letter in full, along with a few quiet realizations about what this age is actually offering. Not as a milestone. More as a series of small permissions.</p><p>There’s also a simple writing prompt at the end, if you feel like joining me.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Still Life with Cyn at <a href="https://stilllifewithcyn.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">stilllifewithcyn.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>I decided to conduct a week-long artist retreat for myself…starting today. </p><p>I also decided to share what I’m doing (or not doing). So if you’re craving an opportunity to deepen your art practice, here’s one way to do it. Though, my idea of a retreat may not be your idea of a retreat. In any case, you get to see my face for once. And if you’d like to retreat alongside me, send me a message and let’s do it together. xo</p><p>PS I will share more here on Substack NOTES. But there may also be some things happening on <a target="_blank" href="https://instagram.com/ofinkandinsight">my Instagram stories</a>.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">ofinkandinsight.substack.com</a>

<p>I’m really excited to share this interview with St. Paul artist, Mark Granlund.</p><p>A few years ago, when I started cultivating my interest in making art, I looked around my local area for artists I liked, and in particular, I was hoping to find artists who were open to chatting with an artist newbie like me. I came across Mark’s website and blog, signed up for his newsletter, and recently reached out and invited him to have coffee. And I’m so glad I did because Mark is, beyond a talented artist, a really genuine and generous person who is passionate about people and the environment.</p><p>In our chat, we talk about: Early art memories, Art as storytelling, Mark’s transitioning art style, Connection to nature, ecology and conservation, The art-making process, Using earth-friendly art materials, Mark’s career in art education and public art administration, The Impact of public art in culture and community healing, Renovating the cutest studio space in St. Paul, A passion for creating artist communities and collaborations</p><p>Mark Granlund is an oil painter who is well known for his landscape and still-life paintings. His love of lakes and woods is rooted in his early years while living in Northern New Jersey and later experiences with his family on the lakes of Northern Minnesota</p><p>Grounded in respect for nature, Mark chooses to work with eco-friendly materials and make substrates from sustainable lumber sources.</p><p>Mark Granlund received a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting and drawing from The City University of New York at Brooklyn College. He is represented in galleries in Minneapolis and Grand Marais, Minnesota. He has exhibited regularly for 30 years alongside a career in art education and public art administration, currently the Public Art Administrator for Metro Transit in the Twin Cities.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://markgranlund.com"><strong>https://markgranlund.com</strong></a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.markgranlund.com/newsletter-sign-up"><strong>Subscribe to Mark’s Newsletter</strong></a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/mark.granlundartist"><strong>Facebook </strong></a><strong>@mark.granlundartist</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/markgranlundstudio/"><strong>Instagram </strong></a><strong>@markgranlundstudio</strong></p><p>P.S. You might have noticed that the <strong>Of Ink + Insight Podcast </strong>doesn't have sponsored ads. This is intentional! I <em>personally </em>support and serve this creative community. To keep bringing you new episodes and interviews on the podcast, community chats, writing workshops, and more, I would love <em>your</em> support! </p><p><strong>Subscribing is an easy way you can appreciate and support this community and your own creative growth at the same time. </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/subscribe"><strong>https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/subscribe</strong></a></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Still Life with Cyn at <a href="https://stilllifewithcyn.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">stilllifewithcyn.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>Giving you a bit of an update on how I’m doing with a big, hairy, audacious creative goal (h/t <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/bhag.html">Jim Collins</a>) I set for myself last year around this time.</p><p>Fair warning, I’m feeling plenty of trepidation and insecurity about this Open Studios event that’s coming up fast in May. So it’s all I can really think about right now. I’m going to be talking about my story, but consider how this could be your story too.</p><p>If you’ve ever thought about taking your creative practice (your business, your relationships, or anything else that’s important to you) to a new level, this episode might give you a peek at how setting a giant, high-stakes goal could generate insights and opportunities you couldn’t get by playing it safe. </p><p>Am I ready for this BHAG? No. </p><p>Am I going to do it before I’m ready and pretend I know what I’m doing? </p><p>Yes indeedy.</p><p>To learn more about how you can attend Art A Whirl 2023, <a target="_blank" href="https://nemaa.org/art-a-whirl/">visit the Art A Whirl website</a>. <a target="_blank" href="https://nemaa.org/art-a-whirl/">https://nemaa.org/art-a-whirl/</a></p><p>To learn more about my Open Studios event, make sure you <a target="_blank" href="https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/subscribe">subscribe to Of Ink + Insight on Substack</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/subscribe">https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/subscribe</a> or my <a target="_blank" href="https://ofinkandinsight.com/subscribe">Studio Notes newsletter</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://ofinkandinsight.com/subscribe">https://ofinkandinsight.com/subscribe</a> . I’ll send you the details for how to stop by in-person or virtually. </p><p>To talk about how you could be a guest on the Of Ink + Insight podcast, send me an email at <a target="_blank" href="http://emailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>. I’d love to hear from you.</p><p>P.S. You might have noticed that the <strong>Of Ink + Insight Podcast </strong>doesn't have sponsored ads. This is intentional! I <em>personally </em>support and serve this creative community. </p><p>To keep bringing you new episodes and interviews on the podcast, community chats, writing workshops, and more, I would love <em>your</em> support! </p><p><strong>Subscribing is an easy way you can appreciate and support this community and your own creative growth at the same time. </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/subscribe"><strong>https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/subscribe</strong></a></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Still Life with Cyn at <a href="https://stilllifewithcyn.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">stilllifewithcyn.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>In today’s episode, I talk about being stuck.</p><p>Sure, I talk about being stuck in creative work – as in writer’s block or feeling stuck when painting. But you may want to listen for how these situations are analogous to feeling stuck with just about anything in life – a job, a relationship, a health condition.</p><p>Even if you’re not a writer or artist, the problem is universal…..as are the solutions. And the topic of being STUCK came up in a lot of ways for me in February, so I figured the Universe was trying to tell me something.</p><p>Here are all the posts or podcasts I mention:</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://emergingform.substack.com/p/how-might-awe-inspire-our-creativeh">https://emergingform.substack.com/p/how-might-awe-inspire-our-creative</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://emergingform.substack.com/p/how-might-awe-inspire-our-creativeh">h</a><a target="_blank" href="https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/p/insight-writing-march2023h">ttps://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/p/insight-writing-march2023</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/p/insight-writing-march2023h">h</a><a target="_blank" href="https://susannahconway.substack.com/p/thoughts-from-this-morningh">ttps://susannahconway.substack.com/p/thoughts-from-this-morning</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://susannahconway.substack.com/p/thoughts-from-this-morningh">h</a><a target="_blank" href="https://maggiesmith.substack.com/p/pep-talk">ttps://maggiesmith.substack.com/p/pep-talk</a></p><p>P.S. You might have noticed that the <strong>Of Ink + Insight Podcast </strong>doesn't have sponsored ads. This is intentional! I <em>personally </em>support and serve this creative community. </p><p>To keep bringing you new episodes and interviews on the podcast, community chats, writing workshops, and more, I would love <em>your</em> support! </p><p><strong>Subscribing is an easy way you can appreciate and support this community and your own creative growth at the same time. https://ofinkandinsight.substack.com/subscribe</strong></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Still Life with Cyn at <a href="https://stilllifewithcyn.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">stilllifewithcyn.substack.com/subscribe</a>