Significant Career Lesson From A Visiting Assistant Professor As An Artist
Patrick, a Visiting Assistant Professor, identifies "fostering an internal space for creative development" as a significant career lesson, emphasizing daily creation "for no other reason other than for yourself." This practice, while challenging to maintain amidst external pressures, has consistently yielded "the best things" and fostered originality, ultimately proving essential to their artistic voice and career success.
Creative Development, Artistic Practice, Daily Creative Habits, Originality, Self-Motivation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Patrick Michael Ballard
Visiting Assistant Professor
Artist
CSU Long Beach (2011)
California Institute of the Arts: MFA in Fine Arts
Fine Arts, Music
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Education
Education
Video Highlights
1. Foster an internal space for daily creative development, even if it's not for any external reason or deadline. This helps cultivate originality and artistic voice.
2. Prioritize personal creative work to fuel professional success. The most significant work often comes from a space of self-expression and exploration.
3. Maintaining daily creative practice can be challenging amidst external pressures, but it's essential for long-term career growth and fulfillment in artistic fields.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
One lesson I'd say is fostering an internal space for creative development every day. Literally, just make something for one hour a day. It's not for anyone else, not because of a deadline, not for a class, but something that is only for you for no other reason than for yourself.
That to me has been the source of the best things I've ever done. It's not a catch-22; you have to pretend it's for no reason, do it, explore, and open up. You then realize that all the things that will really help you in your career are coming out of that space later on.
These are usually where more original ideas come from, where your voice as an artist is cultivated. Holding space for that every day can be really hard when you feel the pressure to jump through hoops. But it's really the most important and essential thing I've learned. I've struggled to maintain it at times, but have continued to do so, even though it was hard.
Advizer Personal Links
https://www.patrickmichaelballard.com/, IG: @patrickmichaelballard, Bandcamp: LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-ballard-6742221bb