Faculty Spotlight: Abbie Twyford
Oak Tree Journal is proud to dedicate a spotlight to a faculty member whose work embraces the ideals of our Journal and readership—namely creativity, integrity, and expression of ideas. We believe that through fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and art, we can form connections with one another, inspire, educate, and touch the lives of many. Each issue will spotlight a faculty member from one of the Ohio community colleges who embraces our core mission. We are honored to showcase our exemplary faculty and the richness of their art and purpose.
“For Carmen”
“Legacy”
Abbie grew up in the Steubenville area, but also considers herself a native of Youngstown since coming to the area for college. She is a double graduate of Youngstown State University, with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in education, focusing on Student Affairs Leadership and Practice. Both professionally and personally, she is passionate about building communities, and her role as the Director of Student Activities at Eastern Gateway allows her to do just that with students across the country, as well as other staff and faculty members. One of her favorite things about her position is how much creativity she is allowed to bring to the programming in her department. Abbie is a mom to twin boys who keep her on her toes, a dog mom to Indiana Bones, and shares this small pirate crew with her husband, Brian.
Interview:
1. At what age did you get into or start your work, and what was your inspiration/drive to even start.
I have always been interested in expressing myself creatively. It started with drawing wedding dresses when I was young and designing “floor plans” for my dream house. As kids, when my sister and I would get bored, my mom always kept us supplied with crayons, colored pencils, construction paper, or whatever odds and ends we’d find around the house, and we’d create all kinds of little things. I also took art classes more seriously than others, especially during high school. Although I do a lot of graphic design for work, in my free time, I am more into mixed media. My husband, Brian, has a bachelor’s degree in painting (also from YSU), so our home is a very creative environment.
2. What is some advice for students who “don’t have time” for expressive works?
It’s a process like everything else. The idea of “completing” a work can be daunting, but you can take it in small steps. Try setting a timer and focus on some aspect of your process for that timeframe, whether that’s planning, sketching, drafting, brainstorming, etc. Instead of saying you’re going to write a whole novel, focus on writing a chapter first, or even just a few pages. Remember, it doesn’t have to be done all at once.
3. Do you have any advice for people who are too embarrassed or shy to show their work or even submit to things such as this journal?
Find someone, even if it is just ONE person that is supportive of you, and share your work with them. There are a lot of people who have those creative passions within them, but don’t know how to get started, or could also be anxious about sharing their works, and seeing you put yourself out there could be the bit of encouragement they need to do the same. Social media is also a great place to share your work anonymously. Set up an account under a pseudonym and post, using related hashtags so others will start to find your work, until you are comfortable identifying publicly with your creativity.
4. Which artists do you draw inspiration from?
Currently, I’m inspired by Mark Messersmith, a large-scale mixed media artist from Florida. The Butler Museum of American Art (in Youngstown) had an exhibition featuring several of his pieces this past fall, and I was in awe at their detail and substance.
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