Some artists aspire to a creative career with ambitions towards achieving a level of affluence that will afford them a luxury lifestyle of ease and creature comforts, as they embark on their creative journeys. Unfortunately, the road chosen can sometimes lead to the development of a self-serving creativity based in ego that centers on the fulfillment of superficial appetites and the dead-heading of talents and creative calling. Renaissance artist, rock musician, producer and

There are various motivations that propel artists in their career pursuits. Some artists embark on their careers in response to an authentic calling towards their craft or instrument. Other careers evolve by happenstance through the hustle of making ends meet. Some artists take up their craft as a means of salvation and centering in the eye of chaos—while others are motivated by a need for validation. Regardless of the reasons or circumstances that initiate an artist’s first

The creative journey requires courage—the courage to believe and remain consistent and committed in the face of personal, professional and marketplace losses and disruptions that sometimes leave a lasting influence against an artist’s faith. In a bid for self-preservation, sometimes artists and creatives can find themselves living out a lower-case courage that runs counterintuitive to their calling and creative purpose—a courage that ultimately limits their potential. In the

When navigating the current of the creative career, strategic planning is intrinsic to the successful realization of artistic and commercial goals. Although time is a necessary component in the execution and actualization of each career goal point, there will inevitably be personal or professional challenges that confront even the most fortified strategy, requiring decisive action in the form of patient perseverance, acknowledgment and acceptance of unexpected detours, or a w

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

It is easy for an artist to become enamored with the fruits of their career, conflating critical praise and financial comfort with creative merit and ability in a marketplace where merit is largely predicated on sales and the size of an artist’s platform. Over time, this results-driven outlook can upstage an artist’s intuitive voice, resulting in an artist’s mimicry of past creative—or in the case of artists looking to breakout from a lukewarm career of anonymity, an artist’s

There is a popular saying currently trending within mainstream with roots in church culture: Rejection is a form of redirection. It is a difficult concept to bear in mind during the creative process, in the sharing and unfolding of artistic expression with audiences, peers or industry gatekeepers. Once an artist releases their work from a place of identity and shelter, only for it to be rejected on receipt, the experience can easily be conflated with personal rejection versus

The creative path can present a dichotomy of experiences—the thrill of artistic exploration and synchronicity, and the mind-breaking moments of defeat and bad breaks. In the case of the latter, bad breaks, or ‘the breaks’ (as termed by hip-hop pioneer, Kurtis Blow) can prove advantageous for those who encounter them, as they provide an opportunity for insight in the way they are handled, or in other cases mishandled, in hindsight. In walking out the creative path and process,

The life of an artist is naturally shaped and defined by periods of transition, given the metamorphic nature of creativity. During those transitionary periods of change or upheaval, artists can find themselves frozen in the in-between, deferring to past successes or failures--while deliberating the necessity to walk forward into new creative and professional doors that lie ahead, in order to avoid the risk of the unknown. In the face of transition, how can an artist empower t

Artists and creatives often view their work as an extension of their value—practicing their craft in hopes of one day winning the prestige and glory commensurate with their talent. When that expectation of glory goes unmet, it is helpful, as it can expose privately held attachments to external valuation and can be useful as a guide towards redirecting individual expectation towards achieving the innate glory yielded through the practice of purposeful creativity. Universally,

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

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,

Jazz master and saxophonist, Wayne Shorter once stated: “Your humanity is your instrument.” In parallel, an artist’s body could be considered the instrument case. Creatives spend hours towards the development of their instrument case and the expression of their craft, undergoing strength training in the form of physical and mental exercises and rehearsals, perfecting their posture under pressure. Inevitably, within the arc of artist development, life lands unexpected weights

The path and process towards realizing personal success has often been taught and illustrated through the adoption of the life perspective: looking at the glass half-full versus half-empty. At the outset of a creative career, there is an assumption that there is always another refill on the way—and that the current roadbumps and shortfall of resources are temporary. In the case of recurring professional mishaps, blocked opportunities and personal trials over time, a rationing

Life imitates Art, and Art imitates Life. It is a familiar saying derived from the original quote within Oscar Wilde’s essay, “The Decay of Lying”, and reflects the symbiotic relationship between life and art—and the potential power of art towards change, influence and reinvention. Given the parallel dynamic between artists and culture, it is ironic that we find ourselves living in a time of chaotic uncertainty, as art initiatives and programs are experiencing drastic cuts o

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

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