Hello,
My name is Christian Kyle.
I have never properly introduced myself but I am the voice behind the blogs here at Little River Art.
To celebrate the end of the year, my team and I decided to do a highlight on me, so you all could get to know me a little bit better. After all, we will be spending a lot of time together in the new year.
On a sunny day here in East Tennessee at our office, our Gallery Sales Specialist, Reem Arnouk sat down with me to ask a few questions that will hopefully give readers a better understanding of the person behind the work they read. I’ll be honest it was interesting to be the one being interviewed, but nevertheless, I was excited to have a thorough conversation with Arnouk to shed light on who I am as a writer, and member of Little River Art.
In the following procession, there will be a transcript of the questions and answers that composed our interview.
How did you find your writing voice or niche?
I have always had a strong personality within my writing. I remember in high school, my writing teacher who I had for a couple years said she always could tell when a piece was mine from the voice and tone. I always had a knack for writing in college. My papers were the place I excelled the most. I would say I found it through meticulous writing sessions where I focused on my usage of words. I write a lot of poetry as well, so I think that added to the poetic nature of my writing in general.
What does your writing process typically look like?
Well, regarding our blog here at Little River, I usually start with a list of curated questions garnered towards the specific artist I am profiling. I then get a sense of what I know about them, juxtaposed with what they radiate throughout the interview. I always like to then come up with a title that captures the essence of the artist. Then I begin my writing, which usually takes me an hour or so to get it all down on paper. Then I go into the review process, which consists of personal editing, and then review from the creative director of Little River, Jennifer Cover. I always make sure she enjoys the piece but also feels as though it really speaks on the artists she has enlisted to make up the Little River family.
How do you come up with ideas for new blog posts?
Well, right now, I am focusing my efforts on creating a series of artist profile pieces that will give our readers a closer look into who our artists really are. However, I have been collaborating with my team to make sure we have ideas that will be interesting and thought provoking. I would say I just flow through ideas and then find which ones feel like a success.
What challenges do you face when writing, and how do you overcome them?
Sometimes, I have problems with writer’s block. In regards to our blog, I think my biggest struggle is coming up with a title that encapsulates the artists, or the conceptual notion the piece is dealing with. I usually overcome them by simply jumping into the actual writing and let a title naturally happen through the work.
What is your blog’s main goal or mission?
Our main goal for the blog I am curating is to give readers and art lovers a deeper connection with our art, the artists, and our company in general. I personally also want to write a blog that feels creative and inspired by my love of language and the power of written word.
Which blog post are you most proud of, and why?
Well, I like they are all masterpieces (I said jokingly) but I would say I have two that stand out to me: “She’s As Free As the Birds” and “A Mastery of Artistry.” I love the story-esque nature of the first one. It feels like you are reading a novel or short story. I liked the words I enlisted to create the overall mood of that piece. With the second, I love the fast paced nature of it. I think it flows quickly and it is an exciting read.
How do you measure the success of your blog?
You know, I would say success to me is if I write a piece that inspires me and makes me feel like I did a good job with the execution, but it also helps when my team likes it. I would also add, I love seeing the artist's reaction to the piece. I usually read to them their piece before it goes live and I would say if they have a visceral reaction to it, that is when I know it is a success.
Do you have any hobbies or activities that influence your blog?
I am a creative writer at heart. I have written stories since I was a young child. I love to write lyrics and poetry, so I would say that natural rhythm of writing shows up in my blog a lot. I love taking in life and meeting new people at art shows, or around the community and I think that gives me inspiration when it comes to developing questions that interest people.
What books, people, or experiences have shaped you as a writer?
I would say Hemingway because he always said so much with very little and I think sometimes I can be very descriptive but his writing really influences me to work on using less words to describe something really complex. “Hills Like White Elephants”
really changed me in college and how I view the art of storytelling because it might have seemed simple but it was actually talking about something really serious.
What inspires you the most when it comes to writing?
I would say I am just inspired by the beauty of storytelling, and the power behind putting your experiences or ideas in written form. I am also really inspired by the world around me. I think I immerse myself in environments and learn about people. I think people inspire my writing: the good and the bad. I love writing about reality, as opposed to fiction.
Where do you see your blog in the New Year
I think I want the blog to have all 10 artist highlights done, and to have new ideas and fresh pieces that continue to elevate it.
Arnouk and I concluded the interview with good spirit and I will say I was really happy to have a little bit of my story as a writer here on our blog. This is my most creative professional pursuit to date and I am so happy to continue building our blog and creating content that highlights the amazing work we do here at Little River Art.