Gratitude is universally lauded as an essential attribute in successfully weathering the unanticipated storms of the creative career—providing context towards experiences of loss, as well as the associated personal and professional sacrifices required along the way. Ironically, although challenges and hardships can collectively broaden awareness of the true and intangible equities of life, those same experiences can also conversely create a sense of disillusionment for those

There are multiple elements within a work of art that provide evidence of an artist’s mastery and understanding of creative principles, as well as the creative power within their arsenal, beyond discipline, talent and skill—the most primary of those are design, narrative and perspective. Creative design serves as a measure of an artist’s imagination and their ability to plan with intentionality towards the functionality of their work. The narrative of a creative work reveals

No one knows what the future holds. Despite the translucent appeal of the creative path, for the majority of artists and creatives, there are no real guarantees towards the timing or successful realization of individual artistic vision, as they journey ahead—whether navigating the highs and lows of a professional career as a full-time creative or executing on their career aspirations against the demands of a day-job. Given the uncertainty underlying creative careers, how can

True authority is unmistakable to discerning eyes. In parallel to the subtle markers of wealth, the depth and potency of individual authority becomes evident through behavior when it is utilized to engineer progress, or used as an accessory to showcase value and importance. Likewise, for artists and creatives, levels of authority and influence range from the superficial, in the form of social media following, industry connections and affluence to the highest level towards aff

The art of music arranging involves the reconceptualizing of an original work through the use of reharmonization, motifs, restructuring of form and orchestration—adding color, nuance and heightened expository, all while remaining faithful to the heart of the work: the melody. In parallel, the expression of an artist’s creativity undergoes the same level of reconceptualization throughout their creative walk. At the outset of an artist’s career, the melody of purpose is always

Best Wishes for a restful weekend ahead. In lieu of my regular blog post, I am writing to announce the launch of my new webisode series, Culture Therapy with Claudia Alexander. The show will be a continuation of the blog, exploring subjects related to Jazz, Faith, Spirituality, Artist Wellness and Artist Empowerment, in support of artists and creatives. Join me now on YouTube for the CTCA pilot episode and subscribe for future discussions on the topics above, as they relate t

At the outset of an artist’s initial baptism into their calling, there is a honeymoon phase, in which passion comes easily. In order to extend that passion over time beyond self into a ripple effect towards the betterment of the culture, the practice of immersion is necessary through the daily exercise of individual gifts, continual study of craft, active self-awareness and deliberate self-care. Although par for the course towards facilitating artistic growth and development,

The potential of every seed remains dormant until planted. When an artist deploys their creative seed in the form of creative projects and initiatives, some seeds have moderate growth, while others never take root. Others when planted in the right environments and circumstances are able to demonstrate recurring creative, cultural and financial returns. Although it is preferable to have every creative seed flourish, it proves just as desirable and advantageous when seeds fail,

It is only natural for an artist to desire praise of their work, as approval or confirmation of its worth--given that each work derives from an artist’s identity and experience. With every offering of praise, there is an inherent agreement of significance towards that individual experience, but over time, the need for praise can become manipulative when a dependency grows upon it. An expectation of approval, or lack of it, can deform creative instinct, stripping away the auto

There is a tipping point of belief that every artist and creative encounters along the route towards realizing their career aspirations. Some careers may start off quickly, with a high level of synchronicity. Others take longer to realize—and in those instances, when there are no palpable gains or returns, the notion of giving up can almost read as the responsible thing to do, particularly after encountering the inevitable challenges and setbacks that come with life. No-one e

When we begin walking out our commitment to our craft, it usually originates from a photo-capture of our ideal self, performing at the height of our conceived creative capacity—an empowering image that provides context, meaning, and a sense of purpose to our lives and the sacrifices required along the road to success. As time progresses, a certain level of courage becomes mandatory to continue forward—To execute on the belief in the equity of your voice as an artist. To conti

The experiences of an artist converge over time with their talent to shape and inform their creative voice—as seen throughout the work of renowned artist and painter, Frida Kahlo, whose series of self-portraits reflect a distinctive identity steeped in self-awareness, female power, the beauty of Mexican culture—and a life narrative underscored by trauma and pain. At the age of eighteen, Kahlo was gravely injured, when an electric tram rammed into the bus that she was travelin

As artists and creatives, we all want to be thought of as autonomous and in control of our talent and the inherent power in its expression. To that end, every effort is taken to hone our individual talent into its highest form through daily practice and disciplines—however, our best attempts to obey the calling to create can only yield so much, given that we are not the author or originator of the gifts that we work so hard to cultivate. In answering the call to create, what

Relationships are highly valued commodities—particularly within the entertainment and art worlds, where having connections is generally regarded as a necessity for career mobility and success, and a metric of industry equity. A trusted confidant can provide the encouragement and support we need in our darkest hour of perspective—while a betrayal can serve as a mentorship tool towards self-actualization as an artist, providing a window into our greatest strengths and weaknesse

Prayer and meditation are both an effective means of navigating worry and negativity in the face of personal challenges and trials on a spiritual level, however we may afterwards still find our minds immersed in problem-solving, in a constant fight against our fears, and an imagined, inevitable doom. As a result, as artists, we can become creatively lost and stagnant, and new ideas and inspiration are blocked. When combined with the act of creativity, prayer and meditation ca

Whether through music, literature, film, art or dance--when an artist successfully and succinctly communicates their story with originality and distinction, their work transcends the need for entertainment and meets a deeper need within audiences for beauty and enlightenment. Renowned storytellers such as hip-hop artist, Nas, and the late novelist and essayist, James Baldwin, both demonstrate a mastery of cinematic narrative that captures the nuances of their environments and

What is truth? It is a question that belies the pursuit of every artist, beyond the initial infatuation with their instrument and capability and the dismantling of the romantic narrative shrouding the purpose of their gift. Truth is a highly valued commodity—an eternal source of salvation and security that endures, providing hope and immunity against the day-to-day ugliness and deceptive messages of the world. From the very moment an artist comes into alignment with their cal

In the hustle and hurriedness of living, it is easy to forget how short and fragile life is and that you are one of billions of lives—7.7 billion currently—that are passing through the realm of planet earth. When you consider the enormity of life experiences past, present and future, and all of the deceit, violence and injustice that has been committed, and is currently in-progress, it is a wonder that humanity has progressed as far as it has. You would assume that with every

Acknowledgement. Resolution. Pursuance. Psalm. These are the four musical suites of the classic recording “A Love Supreme” written by legendary jazz master and saxophonist, John Coltrane, in Huntington, New York in 1964. Within the album’s liner notes, Coltrane provided the underlying purpose for the composition: “This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say ‘THANK YOU GOD’ through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. May He help and streng

The importance of mindset has become a key talking point within startup and pop culture—the power of which is rarely ever fully explored towards the end goal of effecting change for society-at-large. Mindset—the collective beliefs that inform a person’s thoughts, words, decisions and actions—ultimately pave a path towards successful self-actualization or failed human potential. Generally, most messaging around the importance of mindset centers around the achievement of person