The Writers Muse Poem by Henry Benin

I wanted to share this beautiful prose written by Henry Benin. It is something that artists of all genres can relate to. Bravo Henry!

The Writers Muse Poem by Henry Benin

A muse has shadowed my whole life. She exists just outside my peripheral vision Dancing in the sunlight and moonbeams amongst the dustballs and pollen. Usually out of reach. I hear her laughing at my futile attempts at creativity.

I sense her. Smell her. Feel her tickle in my mind. She giggles playfully, maddeningly, within my exhale. Then gone as the next breath takes shape within my being.

Glimpses of countless worlds of words tango around the frills of her gown. Ever close. Ever out of focus.

But occasionally she slips and dances into my arms. I grab her and hold her tight. Breathing her breath. Feeling her warmth. She invigorates me. When caught, she gives in and caresses my thoughts. Grants me visions of the universe of words to wield at my pleasure. She shows me wonders vivid and breathtaking. Limitless knowledge, god-like intuitive insight, connecting, making sense of the senseless. She rips away the barrier of Eden to expose the bonds between atoms, between clouds, between heart smiles.

Without fail, I know these moments of clarity are fleeting. I hold onto as much as I can. Writing. Imagining. Laughing. Living. Embracing all I bury deep inside. Too deep to reach without her help.

But the more I embrace, the quicker she senses my vulnerability and begins to wiggle in my grasp. Distracted by my own imagination, she slips quickly and silently away.

Leaving me gasping.

And for a moment, frantic. Trying to find her again. Trying to hold onto her so I can finish my writing.

Finish my thought.

Finish my sentence.

Finish something.

Just finish.

But it’s too late. She is gone. And with her, my creativity and wonder. I know she will not return till she is ready. Till in her fickle awareness decides to grace me with clarity.

Book Reading/Signing

“There’s the kind of support you ask for and a kind of support you don’t ask for. And then there’s the kind that just shows up.”

Thanks so much for all of those who were able to make the book launch celebration. It’s surreal, and I am slowly coming down from the high I have been on today. It was just wonderful. I had been thinking about this quote from a Sex and the City episode as the launch approached, “There’s the kind of support you ask for and a kind of support you don’t ask for. And then there’s the kind that just shows up.”

So thanks to all of those who have supported, offered to support, or who have just shown up. It means so very much to me!

First of all, thanks to the writers who shared their works.

Ursula (The Outpouring and Illuminations), LaShandra (The Outpouring), Makaila (The Outpouring), Angela (Illuminations), Me (The Outpouring and Illuminations). Not pictured: Zarriah (Illuminations) and Cheryl (published posthumously The Outpouring and Illuminations)

 

 

So these two ladies right here (Desiree and Crystal) are my sisters and friends. They encourage my writing, edit my writing, and give me that extra push to hit publish on pieces that make me feel exposed. Thanks to both for walk with me!

Thanks to my pastor and his wife. AKA nana and poppy. They are amazing and have loved and supported me for 20+ years. I love them much. Thanks to Angela and her mom Rosanne for coming. Angela was my dream coach, and she has been helping me push through my fears and insecurities and go after what I want!

With my brother Tali, my sister Deidre and sister friend Denise, and my sister friend Kenna.

 

Random photos from the day!

Ladies Night…Paint Night…Oh What a Night

My quest to fill my home with my own artwork continued with another paint night. I feel like I have done a lot of these this year. I counted my paintings, and I am up to eight. I also have six photos I enlarged over the years. So, I am getting there. LTB the artist :).

Tonight’s Paint Night started with dinner and great conversation. Followed by coffee/tea and dessert and great conversation. Paint night. And then more great conversation. I am blessed to have wonderful people in my life. Thanks, Crystal for always being a non-judgmental ear I can be honest and true to my emotions no matter how crazy and out there they are. Love you dearly.

Coffee/tea, dessert, and conversation are great for the soul!

“Sheets of empty canvas…untouched sheets of clay…were laid spread out before me…”

Ready to work.

Chunny C and Ayrion were also in the house. As was Kimberly W.

The rain!

Crystal in artist mode. My sister is hella gifted. Writer. Singer. Painter/Artist. And a beautiful soul inside and out. Go forth and conquer!

Still not sure how mine ended up so “busty” but I’ll take it. LOL!

Finished works.

Paint Night

My homie, Dreeny Paine, had a paint night for her birthday party. It was fun. I am so going to have a home filled with my own art and photos soon :).

The class was taught by Kay Moynihan of Simply Kay’s – Ladies Paint Night.Look her up if you want to have an event. She also does paint nights in Renton and Tacoma.

http://www.ladiespaintnight.com

With Dreeny Paine!

“Oh yes it’s ladies night
And the feeling’s right
Oh yes it’s ladies night
Oh what a night (oh what a night)”

“Sheets of empty canvas. Untouched sheets of clay…”

LTB the Artist

Drying

Proud

May Activity One – Paint Night

Tonight, I did my sixth sip and paint type class. It turned out great! I really enjoy these classes. I am going to need more wall space soon!

“Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay…”

In progress

LTB the Painter

Putting on the finished touches

Done!

Painting Class

My March excursion was a painting class. Mine didn’t quite look like the original painting, but it is starting to grow on me.

I need to search Groupon for April.

Empty canvas

In progress

Phase One

Final product

Proud artist

LTB the Artist

I am trying to expand my artistry beyond writing.

I enjoy painting, though it is not my “gifting.” I have done four classes where you are taken step by step to reproduce a painting. So I have four paintings.

I have finally gotten around to blowing up some pictures. I am very excited to display my own work! My goal is take a photograph class. I want to learn how to use light and shadow to really bring the pictures out. When I was in Hungary, there were such large buildings, and I couldn’t quite get the right angle to shoot them to give them justice. I would love to learn some tips.

This picture remains one of my favorites. It was taken during my first trip to Europe. Venezia!

Rovinj, Croatia.

This is my first drawing. I recognize that I have hated them all as I was painting them, but I loved them in the end.

>My other three paintings. Notice the big “LTB” in the picture on the far right.

Picture collage. The wording is a quote from Bilbo Baggins. “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

The three photos on my wall.

Arts N Carafes – Fourth Class

Last night I had another fun night at Arts N Carafes. I enjoyed hanging out, painting, and chatting with Anitra! The owner, Bev, does a great job instructing the class on recreating the painting of the night. It’s something different and fun to do, and you take home something you created and can place on your wall. And it’s very relaxing!

There are four other paintings I want to do. I’m going to run out of wall space soon! I never like my painting as I am doing it. At the end, I like it. The next day I love it.

“Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay…”

LTB’s Masterpiece in progress

Anitra’s Masterpiece in progress

Anitra: The Artist

LTB: The Artist

Anitra: The Artist x 2

LTB: The Final Product

LTB & Anitra: The Finished Projects LTB: The Artist

Arts and Carafes #3

Had a great time creating more art at Arts N Carafes. So awesome to walk away with art I can hang on my wall!

LTB in progress:

Crys in progress:

Finished Project:

Arts N Carafes – Night Two

This is from my second class, and I have another class tomorrow.

This is a cherry blossom, but it also looks like a plum tree blossom. We could pick from three background colors. The great thing about the class is that each person’s painting looks different.

Tomorrow’s class is another cherry blossom, but it’s in a more Japanese cherry blossom style. So looking forward to it. And it’s so awesome to look around my home and see paintings I created.

I am creative when it comes to writing and painting is something new to me, but I found it very relaxing.

My friend Crys and I

Hanging on my bedroom wall