Lindsay Schroeder | Poetry, Painting + Process
Poetry + Art
Lindsay’s broad variety of work is inspired by relationships; relationships with nature, and relationships with people. Her current work exhibits local mountain landscapes in acrylic paint, mixed media, and poetry. With thoughtful process, and story woven in every piece, Lindsay stretches out the invitation to slow down and live your passion. Lindsay resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
GM: Tell us about your present creative expression(s).
LS: I’ve been working on poetry and painting lately! I just finished my second poetry book and am working on the marketing and promotion side of things! It consists of poems I’ve written in the last year and a half. I taught myself the ins and outs of book design and self publishing which has been a lot of fun! It’s a super rewarding feeling and surreal because it was a dream of mine! The new book is called As The Sun Touches Everything. I did a creative photoshoot with my friend Carolyn Tanaka and included some of the photographs inside!
I’ve also been doing mountain landscape paintings and completed my first large scale mural a few months ago! I love hiking and painting the photographs I’ve taken, and I have also been busy fulfilling some commissioned pieces of places that are meaningful to others.
The mural was unexpected: I had it on my list of future goals but as a pipe dream really, not actually sure that I wanted to do it or if I could be capable. It seemed daunting! But after watching more artist friends I know try it out for themselves, I knew I just had to trust the process and say yes when the opportunity came! The mural was for Mountainview Brewing Co. run by friends of mine in my hometown of Hope. I walked in and they said that if I had any ideas to let them know- so I immediately got to work. I was very grateful for connections I had made through Thrive Art Studio while I was in Vancouver, and I reached out for tips and advice.
GM: What is something you want others to know about the creative process?
LS: When you find something you are good at and something that sells, don’t stop there. Dive in deep, perfect your skills and keep learning through workshops, podcasts, books, and just daily practice. Whenever I think I don’t need to practice painting anymore and then I do another week long or month long challenge for myself, my work keeps getting better. Like the 10,000 hours theory of how much time to put in- If you’re passionate, choose to be a professional: sit down and do the work! There are some months where even poetry will flow out of nowhere, but most days I have to be intentional to sit down and try to write. Even if you throw out what you worked on that day, that's all part of the process.
Also, experiment! I used to paint abstract stuff and portraits until I fell in love with hiking. My first mountain painting was for myself, and it was non-stop after that for quite a few years. Then I took a break and found I loved collages: they had text on them that eventually sparked longer poems, and then a book that contains both. You never know what you may discover with new materials, and what may take shape years later.
GM: Who or what inspires you?
LS: I’m inspired by a lot of songwriters lately, I think because songs so easily get right to the heart. Songs bring out my feelings. I also like listening to their creative process, how they collaborate and how they form their thoughts. I listen to the Working Songwriter Podcast while I paint. It’s a nice break from the art world to listen to people from a different industry try to make a living in what they’re passionate about. It’s fascinating to hear about where they started and what has changed.
GM: From ‘The Art of Letting Go’ to ‘As The Sun Touches Everything’, how have you grown as a writer?
LS: I am trying to read more poetry now. I used to write more than I read, and poetry is something that just happened naturally. But I think reading more helps me be more imaginative with the words that I choose, and reading someone else’s story help’s my brain unwind.
I also try to dedicate more time to write, rather than wait to be inspired. I think it can be a myth that that would just create something ‘forced’, but rather I always find that there’s a poem inside already, and I just didn’t take the time to realize it. But either way I think it goes back to the idea of trusting the process, and putting the time in.
GM: What does your creative workspace look like? What is your ideal atmosphere for creating?
LS: I surround my desk with lots of plants, and although I move a lot I usually try to have an ‘inspiration board’ up of meaningful and empowering quotes, images, ideas. And a large stack of books! I also have a yoga mat right behind me- pilates always energizes me. My ideal atmosphere is definitely greenery, or a view of nature. Better yet, a place to sit outside and think.
GM: What are you currently working on?
LS: I’m currently working on some marketing strategies for my new book, and trying to keep content going on social media and my newsletter/blog! I also have been doing more mural submissions/proposals.
GM: Can you share one of your favourite poems with us?
LS:
Learning:
Not what I wanted
but what I needed.
If only I could accept
that what I want
will change.
Walking home
with soaked feet
I couldn’t enjoy
what I didn’t take care of.
But new years
and buckets of tears
now take it all in,
with deep breaths
and dry cheeks,
the rain falls
like a kiss.
The awareness
of what is being watered,
and the soil
that invites it in.
The Midnight Sun:
I wish to see you
every hour of every day,
watch the sun come up with you
and watch it as it goes down.
Making coffee, holding mugs
interlacing our fingers one by one.
Each hour goes by and I miss you more,
our desire like the midnight sun,
never sleeps but glows brighter.
The seasons have a way of connecting
our souls in the silence of its balance
of long days and sleepless nights
learning to rest, learning to wait.
How valuable it is to grow in
the delay of gratification,
finding that we took the right risk
in letting each other in.
GM: Challenge us/ Give a creative charge.
LS: Do what you need to do to make your passions a reality. Wake up earlier. Stay up later. Make it work. Don’t let your creative soul die! But treat yourself like a professional. Have boundaries/office hours. Sabbath. It’ll look different in every season, but it’s always good to evaluate yourself and not burn out. Imagination grows in a work/life balance.
Also, why are you making what you’re making? Likes and affirmation doesn’t always mean it’s good, and silence or criticism doesn’t mean it’s bad. Is it for fame, or for a legacy? Why? Is it generous art? Knowing your ‘why’ will keep you going or help you to pivot, no matter what the outcome.
GM: How can we follow what you’re doing?
LS: My main website is lindsayschroeder.com. There you can find my books, paintings, and my blog. My main art instagram is @lindschroeder, and for poetry it’s @poemsby.lindsay
