Beth Brown Preston’s journey as a writer began with a fifth-grade poem—an early spark that would kindle a lifelong passion for language, self-expression, and truth-telling. In this conversation, Preston reflects on her evolution as a poet, novelist, and memoirist, sharing how her art has grown from youthful curiosity into a profound exploration of identity, resilience, and the Black female experience.

For poet Toni Young, writing began as a childhood curiosity—a book of poems, a homework assignment, a first verse about a girl and her dog. Over time, that curiosity deepened into a lifelong dialogue with the self. Through themes of self-love, healing, and women’s empowerment, Young’s work invites readers to find the sacred in everyday moments.

There is a quiet alchemy that happens when an artist steps away from the canvas, sets down the brush, and reaches for a pen. Some painters leave their worlds in pigment alone, but others continue the conversation in words as parallel creations. The poem becomes an extension of the painting, offering another way in. In these moments, the artist does not change mediums so much as translate visions, carrying color into cadence and line into language.

“Baroque was the dominant style in art and architecture of the seventeenth century, characterized by...

Art history is a fascinating realm that offers a window into different time periods and cultures through the eyes of various artists.