Singer/Songwriter Yestyn Griffiths - Glass Pear "Live and die by the heart / it may not have eyes like your head/ But it knows by feeling / which way to go / Every time"

Desire, love and lost feelings - the songs by singer/songwriter Yestyn Griffiths from Glass Pear are a combination of a hearbreaking voice and beautiful lyrics. I have been listening to his songs all week and I really can't stop... (Listen for yourself: http://www.glasspearmusic.com/ ).

"Say it once" and "Where is my home" are my personal favorites. Yestyn was born in Wales and he is the brother of recording artist Jem. His songs have been featured in episodes of 90210, Vampire Diaries and One Tree Hill. We will definitely hear lots more from this artist! With tradeyourtalent he speaks about the recklessness of passionate love and knowing when a song is really done.

What inspires you to your songs?

Inspiration is a mystery isn't it? I said in a recent interview that meditation inspires me. That's true. There's definitely a well of creativity that surges up when I'm deeply relaxed. But I also am inspired by witnessing all the wonderful things about life - the uncontrollable energy of children, the dignity and wisdom of old people, the recklessness of passionate love, the buzzing energy of a city, the quiet of nature...

Has it been difficult getting to where you are now?

Yes, I'd say it has been a creative ordeal! But it hasn't all been difficult. Like life, its been both joyous and challenging.


When do you know, you've just finished a great song?

Well, I don't know if I've ever written a truly great song, maybe its an illusive dream that keeps me passionate about writing. When I write a song that I love I often have a surge of emotion about it. As in the poem below, my heart knows when a song is done.


If you could give advice to young artists with just a couple of lyrics, what would you sing to them? 


Live and die by the heart
It may not have eyes like your head
But it knows by feeling
Which way to go
Every time.

Glass Pear - My Ghost

Illustrator Emily Grandin "Littering their imagination in a multitude of mediums"

Emily Grandin is an illustrator from Sweden. Her projects focus on the adorable characters Zoe and Dante, but she also developed some new characters while participating in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo). With tradeyourtalent she speaks about exploring fantastical spaces, the unforgettable experience of taking part in the Sketch Book Project and why she doesn't really feel like an "artist from Sweden".

Emily Grandin: http://escapeprocess.blogspot.com/

Your work looks really multifaceted. How come?

I don’t know, I guess it’s because I just draw what I love. My illustrations are filled with the things I want. I want to explore fantastical spaces and go on adventures, on the way there will be patterns and details and there will always be room for despicably sweet rabbits. I could bring up my studies in geology and architecture which have definitely played their part but when you get down to it, what I find irresistible is looking at something mundane and thinking how can I add adventure to this?

You are participating in the Sketch book project. What does this project mean to you?

I enjoy seeing how creativity thrives in the confines of limits, if for no other reason than to see how it drives people to stretch those limits. Some told stories, some took their books apart in a metamorphosis of sorts and some just filled them with all the delightful things that were littering their imaginations in a multitude of mediums. And to think it all started with a simple empty sketchbook! Beyond the obvious reasons like exposure, projects like this are great because at best they’re mini workshops, and like with workshops it’s an opportune way to find and connect with fellow creatives.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

When I was little I treasured the cross-sections in Barbapappa and Stephen Biesty's books, I would stare at them for hours. Later frank Miller and Tove Jansson’s art entered my life and I thought I want to draw like that. These days I still eye a lot of books but my resources of inspiration are more than I could justly name not least of all the wonderful wealth of art out there on blogs and digital portfolios.

What's it like being an artist in Sweden?

I like this question, right away it strikes me I don’t really feel like I’m an ‘artist in Sweden’. I assign much of my freelancing to the internet and the extraordinary ways it allows me to feel the pulse and connect with my market on an international level. That I live in Sweden feels like a footnote.

                                          Emily Grandin: http://escapeprocess.blogspot.com/

 Emily Grandin: http://escapeprocess.blogspot.com/

Emily Grandin: http://escapeprocess.blogspot.com/

Emily Grandin: http://escapeprocess.blogspot.com/

For more on Emily visit:

http://escapeprocess.blogspot.com/