Way back in January I had a properly wonderful experience. I went to the studios of two very talented women: the painter, Miranda Boulton, and the poet, Kaddy Benyon, and spoke with them about their creativity.
The results were fascinating. Two amazing artists with two perspectives on creativity that could hardly be more different. We spoke about fear and anxiety, about process and productivity, about inspiration past and present, and about the roads their careers had taken them down.
The interviews are now up at Numéro Cinq and I think they’re both reassuring and encouraging for anyone who wants to live a creative life or simply explore their own relationship to art.
Tales from the Reading Room 
I’ve had a quick skim, but I really want to read these interviews in more depth later. Love the story of Kaddy’s accidental slip into poetry!
Honestly the two of them were just amazing in their honesty and generosity. I felt I learned a lot! And yes, Kaddy’s route into poetry is totally unguessable, isn’t it! 🙂
Also, motherhood helping you to focus, because you don’t have time to shilly-shally around… So true!
Both of them have two children under 11, and both said that motherhood had actually been a very creative and focused time. This was such a refreshing thing to hear! I had to chop out some parts of our chats for reasons of space, so Kaddy’s motherhood comments didn’t make it in, but they were very close to Miranda’s.
Ooh, well done Litlove!
Thank you! Though really, Kaddy and Miranda did all the heavy lifting! I just took my voice recorder with me….. 🙂
Sounds fascinating – off to check this out! 🙂
Do hope you enjoy it, Karen!
Love the way your introduction to the piece ‘paints’ a picture of the studio for us so we can imagine you sitting there having the conversation.
Oh thank you, Karen! That is so nice of you! They both have wonderful spaces to work in.