Most artists and creatives carry a natural desire and ambition for the spotlight--and in turn to have their work appreciated at scale. However, as powerful and satisfactory as that spotlight may be in conquering the hustle and flow of the marketplace or moving the needle of industry trends, there is another point of light that allows an artist to transcend the temporal aesthetics of status and wealth towards impactful creativity—resulting in a transfiguration of an artist’s c

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

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

Art in and of itself is a form of communication--an extrapolation of the thought-life of an artist that metabolizes into different forms of energy. It can live kinetically in liquid form as music or film—or as a solid compound through art forms such as photography, literature or the fine arts. Whether birthed through inspiration or facilitated by means of commercial commission, art in all its forms carries the core goal of influence. As an artist seeks to rise and evolve beyo

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

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