The world of reality has its bounds, the world of imagination is boundless.
-Rousseau
There are books that transport us to places to which we have never been – or have never seen depicted anywhere. The new worlds that unfold as we read, together with our interactive imaginations, create visual and auditory images and sounds that linger on long after we have finished the books. By reading interactively, we have become emotionally connected to characters and places that feel alive to us.
From reading with understanding and without prejudgment or frozen fixed ways of viewing life, we can embrace many valuable ideas from the cultures of the past and the present. We can enter also, the fantastical worlds of creative writers and artists and feel at home in their rich imaginations….
By…
Penetrating a glimpse –
without intention,
you’ll…
Step
into a world
from a new dimension.
If you …
shut
your eyes,
you’ll hear some cosmic verse…
Songs and sounds of the Universe.
I recently interviewed artist, writer and public speaker Jill D. Glenn who, as a result of her vast and penetrating reading and rich imagination, does hear cosmic verse…songs and sounds of the Universe…
Ellen: What stands out particularly for me in your paintings Jill, is not only your active imagination but also the connections in your paintings to historical periods about which you have read. The history of years long gone seem quite familiar to you. You feel at home in the places you have visited through your reading,
Jill: And visited through my travels as well. First of all, Ellen, I want to thank you for this opportunity to share my reflections on my own journey into the realm of my imagination.
Ellen: I like the fact you say my imagination. We all imagine differently according to our individual life-experiences and how these might resonate with us or affect us in some way. What are your thoughts on this when you relate it to your own imaginative journeys?
Jill: I see in my ongoing imaginative journeys, the continuum and interconnections of events throughout my life – some seemingly unrelated. All this has culminated in what I now do. I never set out with any concrete notions of producing art or writing books.
Ellen: You never initially saw yourself as becoming an artist or a writer?
Jill: Not at all. I think I have always had a strong desire to share with others the beauty I perceive in the world around me and in the stories of the past. I love moving back in time. So I would say that the mediums I use for my art and my writing, provide me with the opportunity to transmit in some way, what I constantly discover in life.
Ellen: I guess also, that what you discover is a result of what you seek? What are the main things you discover in life?
Jill: Joy and new insights! I hope my work encourages others to see and experience their own sense of beauty and joy.
Ellen: And many sources of your joy have come from immersing yourself in books. To what kind of books have you consistently gravitated?
Jill: I have been fortunate enough – in fact I would say – privileged, to be exposed to the world of great teachings, wisdom, ancient texts, poetry and the arts.
Ellen: And you don’t balk at penetrating them?
Jill: I actually love it! I become removed from the here and now and feel as if I am entering new dimensions when I delve deeply into the books I enjoy reading. Books have been my companions throughout my life. (READ THE FULL INTERVIEW)
What a terrific interview. Jill, you are so eloquent and focused on what gives you joy, and your passion to share this gift is perceptible.
Bravo Jill, bravo Ellen!!
I know I have written something about every one of the conversations you publish. I am left without words to describe Jill Glen’s conversation. Her introspection about art and life is thoughtful and brilliant. Her artwork fits perfectly with her musings. I am overwhelmed. Thank you so much for sharing her with your followers. She is truly a soul residing in both the material world and the spiritual world. Her creativity flows from that exact position. She is unique!
Jill’s mind is so special. Her imagination is beyond ordinary life, which always inspires me to see beauty and love of this world. Ellen did an amazing job describing Jill, her work, and also her fascinating mind!
Thank you Phylis, Dede and Yiting for your insightful comments about Jill who has indeed all the qualities you have collectively highlighted: eloquence, brilliance, an extraordinary imagination and a fascinating mind. Jill Glenn is unique!
Amazing! Love your interview, Jill, and Ellen is superb with her writing and interpretation of your creativity in art. I love your colors, your drawing within and the names of the creations.
Thanks to each of you: Phylis, Dede, Yiting, and Joan for your thoughtful and generous comments. I very much appreciate what each of you expressed. Having this opportunity to answer Ellen’s inspiring and indepth questions gave me an amazing opportunity to actually think about and share the love I have for pursuing knowledge, and creating.
What an interesting and inspiring read. Jill is so passionate and I so enjoyed learning about her art as well as what inspires her. Ellen’s questions drew Jill out even more. I especially liked hearing about who Jill would enjoy conversing with.
Great interview, Ellen and Jill!
Thank you so much, Ellen, for providing this in depth interview. I have known Jill since our youth and have never had the opportunity to hear her speak in such detail about her inspiration and creativity. As such a huge talent her responses are in themselves stimulating to one’s imagination, and her positive approach to all aspects of life is contagious. My most favorite of Jill’s very revealing descriptions of her creative process was the music she clearly heard while painting The Jade Symphony. After all these years I’m just now beginning to appreciate the depth and spirituality of my dear friend.
Thank you for your comments, Jan, and ditto on Jill Glenn – such a multi-talented, imaginative and joyful person – a true original! And thank you for your comments, Andrea, and sharing your insightful comments about Jill’s interview.
I am humbled by and deeply appreciative of the comments by Andrea and Jan…and impressed that they actually read the entire interview….Your thoughtful and perceptive questions Ellen, provided me with this unique opportunity to reflect on creating.
“Nice and relaxing that rowboat amble through the unfamiliar territory of another mind—authentically individual, fleeting moments, boundless dreams! Rowboating—with EllenP as coxswain–through the mind of JillG, whose been reading avidly since she was 4 (or even 3); quarrying her way through comparative religion, seeking eternity in the night sky, dreaming of life without boundaries, being surrounded by real books, chatting to Confucius and Buddha (the latter sitting upon a jade-green mountain-top) and with those exploring–via string theory and other means–the distant recesses of the universe!
A good many thanks for the exotic boundless journey Ellen P and JillG!”
John, thank you for embarking with me on a journey through the “authentically individual” mind of Jill Glenn as she seeks with curiosity and joy, “eternity in the night sky, dreaming of a life without boundaries.” Thank you for entering and embracing our conversation and participating in it as well with such deep understanding and generosity.
John….I am deeply touched by your comments and profound insights regarding my conversation with Ellen. I read YOUR amazing interview with Ellen and felt as if I was with you on your incredible journey into our amazing planet and all its hidden wonders. Thank you for joining Ellen and me on our trip into infinity. You are also always welcome to go boating with us…we never capsize!
with much appreciation,
Jill
Hello Jill
Thank you so much for the invite to go boating through infinity with you and Ellen–and for the assurance that you never capsize! I’d delight in taking you up on that sometime!
John
This interview is a treasure. It’s a fabulous illustration of Jill and I enjoyed catching a glimpse of her childhood and learning more about what inspires her. I hope to see much more of this to come!
These are some pieces of the interview that resonate with me:
“…her vast and penetrating reading and rich imagination, does hear cosmic verse…songs and sounds of the Universe…”
That is so spot on. Great capture of Jill’s personality and insight.
“I hope my work encourages others to see and experience their own sense of beauty and joy.”
Yes! This is one of the characteristics that makes Jill so inspirational! She not only shares her own excitement and vision, but encourages others to pay attention to and light fire under their own.
“My heroes and my sense of belonging came from the Bible.”
What a gift, to see the Bible not just as dry text but to feel what we are and what we can become. To strive towards something above what is.
“First comes Confucius. I wish to meet with him in China…in his writings, he has referred to himself as a transmitter, not an originator.”
That word transmit again. I’m touched by this idea that we don’t have to come up with everything ourselves or push so hard. We merely need to be vessels and allow things to be transmitted through us.To do our part but not feel all the burden. Powerful stuff.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the interview. The story about the “Jade Symphony” piece is beautiful. And the photo of Jill with her paintings is spectacular. So bright and colorful and full of life and depth! Looking forward to more…
Ellen, thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts regarding Jill Glenn & her outstanding work. It is a privilege.
Jill, …’how can I count the ways’…you have generously shared your encouraging thoughts and words that have blessed all who have come in contact with you through your writings and your art.
In her writings, Jill presents thoughts and messages in ways that represent the deep true meaning–not with a lot of words, but with select words that define their true reality. In her paintings she shows a journey that needs to be taken in order to understand the message of the journey. The meaning of the journey evolves as the journey proceeds.
Thanks to Jill for sharing her wisdom, talent, and generosity with so many hungry and eager listeners..
Ellen, what a wonderful interview of my dear friend Jill. She is a jewel of many facets. Spiritual, wise, creative, loving, generous…I could go on…Her art, which you’ve showcased here is something to behold. I have seen many of her pieces in person and have one adorning a wall in my studio. I often get lost in the shapes, colors and intricate lines she creates. They are almost dream-like. Keep up the great work…both of you!
Wow and thank you is what I can say about the comments made by Rochelle, Carol, and Annie…all 3 are exceptionally talented, inquisitive and passionate about their own unique pursuits…and I am once again humbled. Their thoughtful, purposeful,and individually thought-out and expressed comments have given me confidence and reinforcement. The questions Ellen prepared for me challenged me to articulate what I most often only say to myself. Thank you Ellen .