Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Clare Guintu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Clare, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
My creativity stays alive by doing it on my own, and other times with the inspiration of others.
When I am alone, I get inspired by being outside in nature, reading books, artwork I come across online or in museums, lyrics from songs I listen to, or even by instrumentals from music. Everything that surrounds me inspires me, for I see the beauty in everything that the universe has to offer. Words, music, and art sparks letters and images in my mind that form into poetry and artwork. My mind comes up with the vision and my hands create.
My creativity is also inspired by the people I surround myself with. Social media is a great way for me to connect with talented artists and writers who continue to inspire me every single day. The time I spend with my close friends and family inspires me to create through my experiences and emotions that I feel when I am with them. It is important to be around those who endlessly inspire growth, bring you peace, and show up through support and love.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am the author of the poetry book, “Stain of Hues,” which I self-published in 2023. It is a compilation of love, heartbreak, and growth poems. These pieces were birthed from my journals that are over a decade old, words I put together in my Notes app, and pieces of papers I had lying around whenever I had an influx of words coming to me at a random time. I am very proud of this collection, and I am forever thankful for all the love and support I have received and continue to receive from this book. My work is also featured in two poetry anthologies of Cozy Ink Press along with so many more amazing writers. These books are titled “Poets: Straight from the Notes App” and “Midnight Musings” which were both released in 2024.
For some time, I have been trying to overcome my fear of public speaking. I was very grateful to have met Sam, aka Miss Silk @silkbysamantha, through my dear friend Zoe, @cozyinkpress. Sam reached out to me and informed me about an upcoming event that she and her business partner, Celly (@cellys_sweets), were having. I was completely elated with the thought of reading my words at an event but also nervous at the same time because even though this was something I have always wanted to do, I was too afraid to do it. Nevertheless, I faced my fears and attended their third event at Pauhaus on October 2024. It was a wonderful first experience, and it helped having my close friends and family there to listen to me read my poetry. I enjoyed this very intimate event and was able to meet very kind, talented artists and writers.
On March 22, 2025, Sam and Celly (@silkandsugarco_) celebrated their one year anniversary of curating events. They set up the most magnificent event at Pauhaus called “The Art of Connection.” The energy and vibes from that night were immensely immaculate. Their event presented vendors, singers, and poets, along with an art exhibition. I felt honored to be a part of this event and share my paintings and poetry with this phenomenal community. It was truly an unforgettable night. I was filled with excitement as I read my poetry to a room filled with beautiful people while being surrounded by inspirational creatives and enjoyed every moment by watching them express themselves so beautifully through music, words, and art.
I am so thankful to Sam and Celly for creating a safe space for creatives to share pieces of their hearts and souls to others. I am grateful for the constant support, love, and light that they spread to me and everyone around them. Thanks to them, my confidence for public speaking is building up. I look forward to attending their future events and also branching out to other open mic events to face my fears and venture out of my comfort zone. Check out their Instagrams to learn more about their stories, follow their journeys, and keep an eye out for their upcoming events!
Right now, I am currently in the process of completing my second poetry book. I am working on the finishing touches and triple-checking my poetry while making sure everything flows. This book is almost three years in the making, so I am very proud of myself for not giving up on it, and I am loving the way it is turning out. It holds a collection of poetry, prose, original art, and photography that I have created over the years. I plan to release this collection in May 2025. The book cover and release date will be revealed on my Instagram sometime in April.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities that were most impactful in my journey are kindness, engagement, and genuine authenticity.
Kindness is a quality that everyone should possess. Being kind is free, not only to yourself but to others. It all begins with you. Sometimes there are unfortunate situations that happen that may make you harden and be angry at the world but there is power in softness and allowing yourself to find the light and love within yourself and around you. It is hard to treat others with kindness if you are not kind to yourself. Affirmations have helped me be kinder to myself and that positivity has radiated into my outer world. I truly enjoy spreading love and kindness to other people and making sure that they know they matter.
Engagement is vital in order to keep the flow of your audience. I always try to take some time out of my day to check out the work of my fellow artists and writers and show my support by liking, commenting, and sharing their work. I truly appreciate the support of my readers as well. I love dedicating time to engage with every single one of their sweet comments and messages that make my day. I am filled with so much love and appreciation from the kind words they give me when I share poetry from my book “Stain of Hues.”
Genuine authenticity is everything. Throughout my life, I have grown so much and let go of a lot of old habits and versions of myself to be who I am today. I am still a work in progress and allowing room for myself to learn and grow everyday. As days go by, I am constantly changing, trying my best to better myself for me, and discovering new ways that resonate with my heart and soul. Ever since I was a child, I have been known to always remain my true self. My energy, actions, values, and words speak for my morals and beliefs. I am a mixture of kindness, passion, love, light, and everything that I used to be — minus certain qualities that no longer resonate with me. Everyone is unique in their own beautiful way, and that is what makes you, you.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I am overwhelmed, I allow myself to bask in my solitude and have a couple of self-care tactics that have helped me along the way.
The first is working out. I usually go to the gym and go on the stair master, attend spin classes, or do full body workouts. When the weather permits, I love going on a hike. It is such a relieving feeling being out in nature and immersing myself within the trees and hearing nothing else but the birds singing and the leaves rustling when a breeze comes by.
The second is allowing myself to retreat and recharge. Rest also plays a part in keeping creativity alive. At times, I sit in my chair and read poetry books or my pile of unfinished novels that I rotate. Other times, I will doodle in my sketchbook or paint. Sometimes I will allow myself to be a couch potato and watch my comfort shows or movies to lighten my mood. My favorite comfort shows to watch are The Great British Baking Show, The Nanny, and New Girl. My comfort movies are Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn, Pride and Prejudice, and anything by Studio Ghibli (top three: Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Kiki’s Delivery Service).
The third is music. I have an array of genres I listen to, so I play what I desire depending on my mood. I will play music during a cleaning spree, while I have my cup of green tea, or when I am driving up the mountains. My favorite artists to listen to when I’m feeling overwhelmed are Sade, Khruangbin, Fred again.. and Thee Sinseers. Music helps ground me. I do not know where I would be without it. I wrote a piece titled “Ode to Music” in my new book that is coming out in May, and it truly signifies my loving relationship with music and the way it makes me feel. Here are two lines from said piece: “… Basking in the collection of emotions / as I consume every tune / through and through / … / The way that music gives life so much more meaning / Melodies devotedly making my soul take flight.”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clareguintu/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/clareguintu
Image Credits
“The Art of Connection” Digital Photo Booth service by @pixgiggles at @silkandsugarco_ event
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