Meet Kristin Vanderlip | Artist, Writer, & Founder of the Pen & Mend Collective

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristin Vanderlip and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristin, why did you pursue a creative career?
Did I choose to pursue a creative career, or did it pursue me? I think it’s both. As a child, I was inherently creative and wholeheartedly embraced it. There was no pursuit. It just was. As I grew older, my relationship with my creativity started to lose its organic nature and magic. In high school, I began to dismiss a creative path as a viable career option, but on a whim, I applied to a single art school to see what might happen. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, I received a soul-crushing rejection letter. That was the first of a few creative wounds that led me to bury any creative pursuits. I eventually became an English teacher, which allowed me to stay on the periphery of my creativity.

When my husband and I started our family, we entered into a season of devastating losses, with the greatest being the death of our one-month-old daughter. That same year, I quit my job teaching while my husband began his career in the Army. We continued to create a family together, having two healthy sons, who are my greatest creations and joys, but over the years, I became lost, depressed, angry, and resentful. Creativity pursued me and ended up bringing me back home to myself. At first, I wrote to process my grief and heal, and I recovered joy as I returned to my art. I didn’t set out to start a creative career or business. However, as I prioritized my writing and art, one thing led to another, and here I am, a passionate and professional creative entrepreneur, writer, and artist.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been drawn to the beauty of words and art and the power of story. When I started experiencing how writing and art brought me closer to healing and hope, everything changed. Not only did writing and painting help me process life, express myself, and connect with joy, but I also came to see that my creations could offer hope to others in our hurting world. Amid all the ugly, terrible parts of life, I could offer something good and beautiful. I began to see the meaning and worth in my creative work and take my writing, art, and business seriously. I am passionate about spreading the love of writing and art as sources of healing and hope. I am here to support others through the journals I’ve created, the Pen & Mend Collective I’ve founded, the workshops I lead, the clients I coach, the future books I hope to publish, and the oil pastel art I paint.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in the heart of Silicon Valley allows visitors to enjoy the wide variety of beautiful experiences Northern California offers. First, I’d take my friend to my favorite local coffee shop in Palo Alto, Backyard Brew, and treat them to a Nutella mocha and beignet trio. Since my friend is also a book lover, I’d make sure to take her shopping at Bell’s Books. We’d ride bikes through Stanford’s campus, visit the Cantor Arts Center, and later hike the Stanford Dish. One morning, I’d take my friend on a light hike through the Redwoods and introduce her to the whimsical beauty of a banana slug. We’d spend one of our days in San Francisco and visit Crissy Field to enjoy some iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and maybe even drive up to Muir Woods. The beach is a must, so we’d head out to Half Moon Bay and watch the sunset. Depending on how much time we’d have together, we’d enjoy a scenic drive along Highway 1 and maybe take a day trip to Monterey Bay or Carmel by the Sea. On our final night together, I’d treat her to a delicious dinner at Sekoya in Palo Alto.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give shoutouts to two creative women: Brooke Petermann and Merideth Hite Estevez. Brooke is an artist whose work I first discovered via the Instagram algorithm. Thanks to Brooke hosting a “haiku and sketch” challenge, I found my path as an oil pastel artist. Merideth is an author and musician whom I first connected with in a writing community we were both a part of. We have since become friends, and Merideth’s generosity has connected me with my literary agent and opened doors to other opportunities like this one with Shoutout LA. Without my path crossing Brooke’s and Merideth’s paths, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Website: https://kristinvanderlip.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinvanderlip

Other: https://kristinvanderlip.substack.com/

Image Credits
Kristin Vanderlip