31/05/2016
7 STEP KOMPASS FOR A CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL TO KEEP ON TRACK
Last week Studio Fuego creative director was asked to speak at Pecha Kucha Eindhoven held the TU/e.
Stephan as a creative professional assembeld a kompass over the years to remind him every now and then that he's still on track.
7 steps he learned through education, experience and from listening to others that might give some order in the sometimes chaotic days artists can experience.
STEP 1 - Stay inspired!
This might sound obvious but staying inspired means keep investing time as well. Be a sponge and experience life in as many ways suitable for you as a person as possible. Stay open and sensitive to input. During daily stress, deadlines and onbligations, many excuses can be found for it not to be possible, while actually staying inspired is a choice, just like making money for example.
STEP 2 - Stay critical!
You have to keep analysing your work and letting others reflect on it. This is vulnerable because if you want to make something good you have to put something from yourself into it. Hence all criticism will always feel like a personal attack. Feedback is essential though for growth and instead of looking at finished work as a final stop try to think of them as building blocks in a life's work
STEP 3 - Keep playing!
Never lose your inner child. After you destroyed yourself and killed your darlings in a brutal evaluation one must be careful not to overcome with a situation of 'analysis-paralysis.' Meaning being totally blocked! Never be afraid to start playing again, experimenting with all background knowledge and skills you have assembled over the years. Picasso said; "We are all born as artists, the hard thing is to stay an artist while growing up.”
STEP 4 - Stay social!
Surround yourself with likeminded people. Artists can become introvert and even isolated from time to time. Surrounding yourself with kindred spirits from different artistic backgrounds can be an important and uplifting factor in creative succes. They help you with the first three steps and you'll feel stronger knowing it's a shared fate. There are many famous creative groups and movements to take as an example.
STEP 5 - Show your work publicly!
There is no virtue in an unseen painting, an unpublished poëm or an unprojected movie. Some mistake making work for yourself is the same as making work only viewed by yourself. Shure it's scary as hell to have others look and form an opinion on something you might consider not even remotely finished. But like growing up, an artist needs to get comfortable with the fact the work is earning it's existence by just being out there. Furthermore a lot of good opportunities can come from just letting people know what you are doing.
STEP 6 - Get resources!
Money is sometimes considered as a dirty word for an artist to think about. While actually if you are participating in sociëty it’s just a means to an end. Commercial gigs for example may feel like selling out but actually can provide indirectly for funding own independent work. Don't be to hard on yourself by judging work less pleasant. Also hiring people for commercial gigs means you may ask them for free after on your own projects.
These favors can go both ways. Work for free for someone that can work for you as well so the currency becomes a service.
At the same time making your own work can mean saying 'NO' to well-payed commisioned work. It takes balls to get out of the comfort zone and taking the risk of losing a cliënt but a little struggle has never hurt an artists work. Don't expect a life of luxury.
Means can be found in many ways so get into the landscape of funds. It's boring and bureaucratic but can actually mean your next project comming to life for free. Investment in resources also means your health. Eating well, having a good rhythm of sleep and waking up can make the difference between courage and despair in times of struggle.
STEP 7 - Never quit!
Don't give up, ever..EVER! Longevity is key for all great artist to make an ouvre that will be remembered. Some don't get to live until the moment their work reaches a big audience and that's sad fact to be taken in consideration. If you are in it for the fame this is not the right kompass. Think of your favourate movie director and the first film you saw of this person - there is a great chance if you look up there filmography list this for example is there 20th film. That means they had to make 20 films before reaching you.. Only if you keep going where others will quit you can reach a spot nobody has reached before. Expect the road to be tough, full of down's but equally intense up's. Stay a student and allow your path to develope organically. All your experiences can become luggage to form character, work and eventually your own signature style. Like wine an artist needs many years to get the flavour it holds in it's potential.
