Hello Friends,

Today I want to introduce my next guest on my new feature, FOCUS ON CREATIVE ENERGY. She uses creativity in all she does.  Besides being an artist and writer, she also crochets, loves to cook, does digital art, and writes poetry!  Whew!  I love people who dabble in many areas of creativity!  Teresa and I met online quite a while back here on WordPress.   The name of her blog is called “One Good Thing” and you can find it here:

http://teresarobeson.wordpress.com/

Self-portrait

Now I would like to introduce you to Teresa Robeson.  She chose to answer all three of my questions.  I’m sure you’ll find her as interesting as I do.

1. How long have you been a writer and/or artist?

I guess I’ve been a writer/artist for about a quarter of a century!

I dabbled in writing and art ever since I could hold a pencil, but I didn’t consider myself a writer until I took a course with the Institute of Children’s Literature back in 1990 and sold my first short story from an assignment in the class.

Likewise, I didn’t consider myself an artist until I took a fine arts for non-majors class at the University of Delaware in 1991. As I was leaving my class one day, the instructor told the group of majors who were hanging out with him that they should be glad I wasn’t a fine arts major because I’d blow them away.

When your skills are validated, you start to feel legitimate. There are still days when I feel like an impostor, though.

Watercolor

2. What do you like to write about and/or create?

My favorite art to create is portraiture and wildlife/pet art. I love working in ink, charcoal, chalk pastels, and watercolors the best.

As for writing, I enjoy penning science fiction and children’s lit, with nonfiction (science, biography) close behind. I also write “own voices” because I love to write about my childhood in Hong Kong and my experience as an immigrant.

Digital

3. Who has been the greatest influence in your creativity?  (This could be someone you know or someone you admire but have never met.)         

This is going to be a long list because there have been so many significant influences in my life, starting with my parents who encouraged me to write and do art, unlike many Asian immigrant parents who push their kids into medicine or law.

Then, I have to thank Bill Mammarella, the fine arts instructor of the course I took at UD, and Rick Ortwein, an art instructor who taught me a couple of classes at a local arts center. They were both firm believers in my potential when I had doubts in myself.

And more recently, the major influences on my creativity are Douglas Florian, the clever and witty author-illustrator, who has been so helpful and inspirational to me, and Jane Yolen, who needs no introduction and is my mentor from the We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Program, who made me see how prose can sing.

As well, I owe gratitude to my three critique groups – the Minnows, the Penguins, and the Scribblers. They have been instrumental in kicking me in the creative butt whenever I needed it, or even when I don’t.  😉

Thanks for interviewing me, Patsy!  I had lots of fun answering the questions.

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Thank you, Teresa, for being a guest on my blog!  I appreciate your participation.  You have led an interesting and successful life in your career.

My next guest blog post will be on Monday, July 24th.  Stay tuned, and thanks for reading!

Have a wonderful day, and give someone you love a big hug!  🙂