Wanting to be an artist or creative is step one. Following through means investing in learning your craft, but we’ve heard from so many aspiring artists and creatives who feel unsure about where to start and so we’re incredibly grateful to the artists and creatives who’ve agreed to share their stories of how they learned their craft.
St. Thrillah
I learned to produce mostly through youtube, but I had a background in music from taking guitar classes in school. I had been playing guitar for about two or three years when I started making beats so I had a tiny bit of knowledge of basic music theory and rhythm. Read more>>
Tomisin Oluwole
I don’t have much of a story about learning the craft because for me everything stems from my incessant need to create coupled with being a very curious and reflective person. So, I’m constantly learning and honing my craft by soaking up the world around me, asking questions, and having conversations. Read more>>
Melanie Valero
As an actor one is questioned what technique or method they use for acting. Whether it’s Stanislavski’s Technique, Chekhov Technique, Meisner, or Method Acting and so forth, I believe they have a lot to offer and one can always take something away from them and continue to build their own tool box as an artist. I take what works for me from different acting techniques/methods, that helps me getting into character and understand the characters feelings and beliefs. I think it’s important to just give yourself a free space to learn and remember your goal at the end of the day. I think letting go is something I am getting a better understanding of in my learning process, just do the work, work hard and it’ll come. Just keep moving and make a step every day in the direction you want and you’ll get there! Read more>>
Juan Felipe Restrepo
I actually started learning it back at home in Colombia. I always leaned on the artistic side since I was a kid, and acting kind of just presented itself to me. A Theatre director came into my school to help with events and presentations. However he also wanted to nurture the art on younger minds, so he pulled a few people interested in the craft to build up a theatre company. I felt a calling, went and auditioned to join and ended up becoming a member. From there I learnt most of my theater knowledge until I made the decision to pursue a higher education on Acting. Before I was old enough to move outside the country on my own, I came to LA for a summer program at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, which only solidified my love and commitment for Acting. Read more>>
Khris Clymer
I am self-taught, but I don’t fully like that term. I think it’s often used to give the perception that someone did it all themselves, with little or no teaching from others. I am self-taught in the way that I studied and pursued and education in music outside of academia. I think going to school for music may have been a more efficient method of learning, but who knows. The fact that I really hate school may have offset any efficiency there. I am much better at learning when it’s something I pursue myself instead of following a curriculum filled with content I don’t care about. For me, proficiency with computer software (and hardware) has been my most essential skill. Even when my compositions or recordings may not have been great in the past, music software has really made the craft approachable. Read more>>
Paola De La Concha Zindel
I learned about sound healing with different spiritual teachers each showing me the power of frequency to align our body mind and soul. Through my own traumatic lilfe experiences I came to a moment in my life of the deepest LOW and heightenerd state of the nervous system. Through meditative practice and tuning into myself, a lot of reading and studying and practiving with friends i discovered sound as a principle for restoration and healing. Read more>>
Jon Foulk
I have a boat and I’m probably the last person who should own one. I struggle mechanically. My dad taught me so many wonderful things… but he also struggled to use a flat head screwdriver. Or do the simple math to keep fluids at the right levels for optimum operation. Technology is no different. One time my buddy and producing friend left me alone in his studio for the night to finish a project. The next day he had to completely reboot the studio and it was down for days. Read more>>
Neena Buxani
Being a self-taught artist, it’s really up to me to challenge myself to learn new skills. In the past, I took some informal classes, but now I let the paintings guide me in the direction of what I want to learn. If there’s a particular thing I want to illustrate in my painting and I’m not sure how to do this technique or medium-wise, I get on google and YouTube and attempt to figure it out. If that doesn’t work, I teach myself through trial and error. It’s exciting to push the limits and learn new ways to create what you want to see. Read more>>
Sophia Olsen
I think one of the most significant learning moments for me was during my junior year of high school when my teacher moved on to larger-scale projects. The project required us to create a project for ourselves and we had the whole semester to develop our idea and create work for it. The project forced us to think critically about our work and moved us into a more artistic headspace. It pushed me significantly as an artist because it was the first time I had considered a long-term project and what type of story I wanted to share. Up until that point, my work was simplistic, fitting into the parameters of projects designed to introduce me to the basics of a camera and the darkroom, so this task was a daunting one. I had the guidance of my teachers who created an environment where we could without judgment create and explore our artistic visions. When I look back at that moment I see it as the first time I thought like an artist and created a body of work that spoke for itself. Read more>>
Piper Bridwell
Being a self taught artist comes with many trashed canvases. It’s a long process, but one that is worth the time. It probably took me 3 years of painting and selling to finally call myself an artist. In the beginning, the imposter syndrome was heavy, but as I began to sell more work and have galleries interested in representing me, it began to go away. I took several workshops from artists that I respected and began to find my style. Once I realized that this was Gods plan for my life, my confidence grew and the work began to have more of a purpose and meaning behind it. Now, I strive to share Gods love through my work and have made so many sweet relationships in the process. Read more>>
Chase Korzep
I started really young on movies. My favorite memories are going to Hollywood Video and picking something out. I was excited by the characters and the action sequences, so I started writing. Read more>>
Tanya Little-Palmer
I learned to paint from a book. I have been interested in art my entire life. I studied art history in high school and have always been obsessed with museums. I made quite a bit of art as a child but lacked the confidence to continue as a young adult. In college, I chose to get a degree in Theatre Arts. I took an art course in college and quit, then I took an art class at a community college in my 30s and quit, I also attempted to take an online course and quit that too! Honestly, I couldn’t take the criticism. That may seem silly considering I am an actress and deal with rejection constantly. But painting felt different, what I created as a visual artist seemed closer to my core, my heart and I needed to protect that. So, in my forties I saw an instructional art book at Michael’s craft store, bought it and got to work. I started small, painting 2”x3” mini canvases. Now the sky is the limit. My smallest paintings are typically 30” x 40”. Read more>>
Art Parnitudom
My name is Art Parnitudom, and I was born 1995 in Bangkok, Thailand on a Saturday, I’m a cinematographer, turned writer/director and an Associate Member of the Society of Camera Operators. Before earning my BFA in Cinematography from Emerson College, I began working as a Director of Photography in Boston, primarily on narrative films. There, I shot LOUDER THAN WORDS (2017), debuting in the International Competition at Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia in Tokyo, Japan and Nominated at the IFFBoston for Special Jury Award. Read more>>
Rayna Verdine
When it came to learning my variety of crafts, I was for some of them trained at an early of four years old through my church’s children’s arts academy until I aged out of the program and others I self-taught myself observing watching people how they do and practice it on my own. I wished I did have the more proper training and resources growing up but I was raised by a single mother who did her BEST and UPMOST everyday to take care of myself and her which inspired and led me to teach myself these different crafts. Even without those resources and tools, I still managed to learn everyday how to MASTER the craft to get to the level I am now that I consider myself a professional without society and world giving them title as professional. With all this knowledge and skills, the most essential one is CONFIDENCE, DETERMINATION, OPEN-MINDED, DRIVE AND SELF-MOTIVATION. The biggest obstacles I faced was going through trauma from my abusive father who was in and out of mine and my mom’s life and abusive towards us mentally, verbally and at time, physically and being sexually assaulted by someone who I thought was a friend to me. With all those obstacles, it did put me in a very dark, scary situation but it gave me the drive to keep going because I decided to quit after that, then I wasted a lot of time and wasted the time of the people who trained, motivated, groomed and saw so much in me. Read more>>
Rhianne Evans
I have been crocheting for many years but crochet portraits are so very different to what I was used to. Once I fell in love with crochet portraits and the idea of doing them myself, I found other crochet artists online and tried to copy what they were doing. There is another great artist that inspired me to do this type of artwork and thankfully she had a patreon and tutorials that helped me understand the process of creating freeform crochet art. Read more>>
Barbara Haviland
I took classes in oil painting many years ago. I studied with what I think was the best. I painted every day so I could perfect my skill. I found taking classes and learning skills was the way to go. I still take classes, so I won’t get stale. I think oil painting is so relaxing and does a body good. Through the years I have learned patience and how to sketch and what colors and how to make them work for your pieces. Time was an obstacle as I was raising my 3 children and husband. My husband was my rock and he encouraged me to keep going. Read more>>
Kayla Covert
For both screenwriting and social media management, I didn’t realize either of these were career opportunities until it very suddenly popped up on my radar! I went to school for English and for Ministry, so while both of these have added some valuable skills to enable me to do what I currently do, I was never properly trained for either of these aspects of my life. For screenwriting, I learned through reading profusely. I think I devoured every blog and “must-read” piece of literature I could get my hands on in that first year to get the ropes of what screenwriting is. After that, I had to spend a great deal of time parsing through all of that information to figure out what was ACTUALLY worth learning and what was outdated or otherwise unimportant. From there, there was a lot of trial and error. I wrote some very fun garbage drafts (like a 27-page drama pilot that, at the time, I didn’t realize was far too short) and then drafts that slowly got better and better thanks to coverage and mentorship. For social media, I was fortunate to be in a position where I was able to learn and grow with supportive leaders who let me explore training opportunities and expand my knowledge so that I could be the best SMM I could be for our clients. Read more>>
Lauren Duvall
I learned to do what I do by observing the things and people around me and experimenting. I see the beauty in every part of nature that I come across. The way the clouds in the sky look at the time of golden hours, the water glistening in the sunlight as the current goes, how peaceful the quietness of the forest can be when you’re alone, and how the soft wind and warm sun feel like a loving embrace. Growing up, my dad always told me to be a jack of all trades and a master of none. The older I get, the more I am inspired to be and see myself as being now with all the experimentation I’ve done with my art in all different types of mediums of the visual and performing arts. Something that I would’ve done to speed up my process is to find artists and media that strike a chord with me and to be more in tune with myself than what the people around me are. I would also experiment a lot more with my art and be more open to the concept of it, not having to be perfect every time. Read more>>
Jeremy Steckel
Like a lot of engineers and producers, I came into the profession from the musician side of things. I played in, and toured, with a band for several years and honestly for me, the most fun part was creating the records in a studio. I felt that was the most creative and fulfilling time for me personally. I learned so much from the producers we worked with….that was definitely a huge leg up for me, just being able to watch them work and ask them questions about their decision making process. When I stepped down from the band I was in, it was specifically in order to create bandwidth in my life to start engineering and producing records with other bands. I slaved over the craft for years until I ever had a “legit” band trust me with their work. Those early years of working in complete obscurity really allowed me to make TONS of mistakes and try things without having enormous pressure to succeed right away. It also allowed me time to explore and find out what kind of music I actually wanted to be working on, and what my particular “voice” would be with my own style of production. There are so many things I was terrible at, and still am! But one thing I can point to that helped me, was just having confidence that I DID, in fact, have something to offer the creative community, and that the interpersonal side of making music with other people would eventually be a huge part of my work. That skill of working with people has really helped me throughout my career so far, just as much (if not more) than my technical and musical abilities. Read more>>
Trine Churchill
“Learning the craft” is a constant. Growing up I learned from observing my father who was a cartoonist and later on as I entered Otis College of Art and Design, I was naturally exposed to a more academic learning. But once out of school, on my own, I found that what had been installed in me had to be un-learned, to a degree . Read more>>
John Dixon
I learned the crafts of acting and music by studying the great actors and musicians of my time like Denzel Washington, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Nas, and Helen Mirren. Not only did I learn the craft by studying them and their techniques, but I also looked for any materials that showed me how they conducted themselves on set or in the studio. Then, I would try and emulate what they did. Also, I read any script or acting book I can get my hands on. Read, read, and read! Knowing what I know now, I know there is nothing I could have done to speed up that process. I had to let the craft sink in and let my confidence build over time and the only way to do that is to act or perform as much as you can. Also, in an industry where following directions is essential, it helps to read all the directions! Again, read, read, read! One of the biggest obstacles is laziness. Now-a-days, we have all the tools at our disposal on our phone to learn the craft of acting and music! Read more>>
David Anderson
Both me and Ray are self taught. We learned everything either from google, Youtube, watching behind the scenes featurettes and just practicing what we’ve learned. When it comes to art, and being creative, I believe it is something that you are born with. Although schooling can help with learning some insider secrets, it seems more like a way to get more connections with other people. Besides, while working on set, you begin to learn better ways to film. I wouldn’t say anything stood in the way of learning, other than having the opportunities to actually put the work in and learn while on set. Read more>>
Matt Monaco
Learning the craft of woodturning for 20 years, and as a trade has been extremely beneficial; As being someone who values the importance of knowing that the level of rigor, training, and focus needed to develop an advanced enough level of skillset to survive as a retail & wholesale maker, and is also directly tied to experiencing and appreciating the level of vulnerability & honesty in learning from the many mistakes made along the way, gaining understanding & vision as a maker, aiming for improvement in order to master a trade, and being able to pass it on to anyone who wishes to know that learning something from a professional has honest merit due to the years of many hours, time, and retail experience spent; and that to a student, what can then be experienced is a quality of training & learning that can be a catalyst for their, or others genuine improvement as maker/hobbyists, and those looking to develop professionally, or perhaps simply gain a new skill to enjoy with others. I’ve had the fortunate to learn early on that my inspiration as a maker has been at the forefront of my being naturally & continually motivated by a true love of nature, it’s diversity, and being able to share a craft with those who appreciate the same, or who perhaps are on a path to discovering this. Read more>>
Maurice Hargrave
Photography has been the happiest accident of my life thus far; I never intended on being a photographer, I didn’t grow up taking pictures on my [insert aging relative]’s old camera or dreaming about the perfect shot. Once upon a time I was a film student at a small liberal arts college in Western Maryland; in a proactive measured I aquired a camera to begin practicing my short films, however, it was the power of still imagery that caught my imagination, and it hasn’t let go since. The learning process for photography has never really felt like learning, which is to say I never saught out my knowledge for the sake of knowing, I simply had no desire to put the camera down. Every step of this process has happened in perfect time, I don’t believe the journey of learning is one to be sped up or slowed down, but that you find the information you need when you need it, no sooner nor later. That understanding, that patience of knowing there is no fast track to being exceptional is by far the most important skill I’ve learned. The biggest obstacle I’ve faced on this path is my ego; the need to be recognized or noticed, for someone else to tell me that my work deserved admiration, or that it was worthy of respect. The craft is the craft, and the work, the art, is just that. Throw yourself into it and enjoy the ride. Read more>>
Mary Ahern
I’m a big believer in life-long learning and have been steadily taking classes, and workshops, both in and out of formal pathways for over 40 years. I’ve acquired the skills I needed as my career zig and zagged in a variety of directions over the course of my life. I have formal degrees in fine art and in ornamental horticulture plus a certificate in botanical illustration. Inside the classroom, I also studied computer programming and logic. Over time I continue to take workshops in marketing, and writing as well as workshops in various artistic mediums and genres. Read more>>
Alea Hurst
My journey as an artist began early. Like many creatives, I was always drawing and painting from a young age and just never stopped. I really began to focus in on studio art in high school when I took my first real art class freshman year. I was lucky to have an amazing teacher who really taught me the fundamentals when it comes to drawing and painting and I was able to build on that. I really pushed myself to improve my skills and learn new techniques outside of class and assignments and that is where I think the most growth came from. Experimenting with new materials and techniques without the fear of failure or anyone judging the outcome is really one of the best ways to learn your craft. Of course, I then went on to study art in college and received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in fine art. Read more>>
Ben Clifton
I started playing piano at a pretty early age, however it wasn’t until high school that I became interested in jazz. When I was about 14 or 15 one of my adult mentors at the time took me to a music venue in Pittsburgh called Little E’s Jazz Club. This was the first jazz club I had ever been to and I remember being mesmerized by the musicians. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that the musicians on the stage were improvising everything they were playing with no physical sheet music. At that point in time I was hooked and I knew that playing jazz was what I wanted to do. Fortunately, later on in life I had the opportunity to play with these musicians and that was a very rewarding experience! Read more>>
Trejon Khalil
Reading plenty of books, watching 1000’s hours worth of educational videos and relatable seminars, and last but not least, engaging with like-minded creatives with vast experiences. From what I know now, one thing for sure I could’ve done better is not take all information or services without doing my own research first. Taking 20 minutes to do the extra work will potentially saving you HOURS or DAYS in the long run. Communication, organization, and charisma are the name of the game. As an artist manager, you have to know: how to speak to people, keep your files, personal self, and strategies organized, and have the drive and flair to not only represent yourself, but your clients as well. I couldn’t really say anything has stood in my way of learning more. We live in the modern era where information is limitless and within the palm of your hand. I see no obstacle strong enough to prevent myself to pursue more knowledge of the craft I love. Read more>>
David Belitz
Learning the craft of cinematography is the most complex and in depth art form that I’ve learned so far. From an early age, I’ve taken it upon myself to learn many different types of visual arts, from traditional painting and drawing to digital art and photography. When you apply yourself to so many different kinds of art you learn to notice similarities in execution, but learning to interpret and manipulate an image recorded in the real world as apposed to one created from scratch turned out to be a huge learning curve. In many art forms, shading is done in either an additive (as in traditional drawing and painting) or subtractive application (as in print making). Cinematography is essentially an art form that utilizes both systems. At it’s core cinematography (and photography for that matter) uses a careful balance between light and shadow, composition and movement in it’s application of stylistic elements. Composition, color theory and other aspects of 2d design came pretty easily to me with my experience in traditional art, but learning the tools of lighting and camera took years of practice and study. As many cinematographers will tell you, this process is never-ending and ever-evolving! New equipment and advances in technique are constantly developing and creating possibilities, so learning the craft of cinematography is a life-long endeavor even for the masters! Read more>>
Lily Sanders
The groundwork for what I do now in regards to cinematography and filmmaking stems from a fascination with photography that I had in high school. Taking photos as a teenager really helped me understand the basics of composition, ISO settings, white balance, and what aperture to shoot at depending on the scenario. I was able to expand on this knowledge by majoring in Film at the Savannah College of Art and Design, beginning college in 2018. From there, I was blessed to have incredible professors and peers (both alumni and current students) who were patient and incredibly insightful in an otherwise daunting world of filmmaking. Professors Amanda Kulkoski, Goran Pavicevic, and Alan Caso are all industry professionals who made me excited to learn and ask questions about lighting, cinematography, and camera movement while also giving insightful feedback. In regards to speeding up my learning process, I think I should have (and honestly, still should) watched more movies- there’s always something to learn from a film in regards to camerawork. One of the most essential skills I learned is to really study the mood of the script or treatment you’re shooting- it’s one thing to light a beautiful scene with nice lenses but if it doesn’t match the feel of the script or message being conveyed, you’ve made a mistake. Paying attention to lensing, aspect ratio, frame rate, and filtration choices can all enhance your film exponentially. Communicating with your different departments (not just camera) is also crucial- as is getting on the same page as your Production Designer, Gaffer, Key Grip, Stunt Coordinators, etc. I think my own fear of failure has been a big obstacle that’s stood in my way of learning more, but it’s important to think of everything as a learning experience if nothing else. I also used to be incredibly shy, which is proved difficult in an industry that relies on communication and trust. Read more>>
Morgan Adler
Learning and understanding how to paint are, from my experience, two very different things. I don’t remember the first time I picked up a paintbrush, but I can guess it was probably before I could tie my own shoes. I have always enjoyed creating, but it wasn’t until my time at university that I learned the techniques and theories behind building a unique visual language. Learning the basics of design, color, light, and form were the building blocks I needed to start understanding how to make an image. I spent hours studying materials, techniques, and art history, but after all that research, the best teacher was experience. There were times I’d get very frustrated with myself because the image that I made didn’t match the version I had envisioned. It took hours of practice, mistakes, and “happy accidents” to finally connect what my eyes were seeing, to what my brain knew, and finally, to what my hand recorded. Read more>>
Ashley Ruff
For as long as I can remember, I have always been attracted to global textiles. I’ve dreamed of visiting those countries immersing myself and walking through miles and miles of artisans textiles. After visiting a few island countries and Mexico, I was sold – all I could think about was the color explosions and joy that the combinations of prints and patterns gave me. I decided after years of exploring surface pattern design, I would take a full experience course in pattern design, called Immersion. I finished that up a few months ago and am currently working to build my collection portfolio. Read more>>
Deborah Lynn Irmas
Learning my craft has a been a long process. I graduated art school from UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts. I also took classes in Fashion Illustration from Otis/Parsons School of Design. I worked as a Graphic Designer for close to twenty years as a Production Designer and Jr. Art Director. Then I went back to school and earned a two-year degree in Surface Pattern Design from UCLA. For the last 10 years I have studied with the esteemed artist Tom Wudl, focusing on technique, creativity…how to stay in the “zone” and how to fight the blocks, in addition to endless amounts of art history. I have been continuously learning most of my life. Read more>>
John Johnson
Process…..art is a verb! Read more>>
Kashyap Bhadani
When I first considered pursuing a career as a writer/director, my first thought was to enroll in film school. Eventually, I moved to Los Angeles to attend the New York Film Academy, where I learned everything there is to know about making movies, including how to take a tiny idea for a plot or even a situation and turn it into a story with massive characters, emotions, etc. shooting the screenplay, editing it to bring it to life, and finally presenting it to the public. Learning the entire trade is incredibly daunting and frustrating, but it’s worth it when you see the finished product. Because this is the technique you will use every time you wish to tell a narrative, it is crucial to go through it. And the process, as they say, is a big part of the journey. Read more>>
Crystyl Jewyl Box
I started my journey in drag the summer before the pandemic. I had been wanting to bring more joy into my life and become more of my full authentic self. Drag had always brought me joy so, after being invited to an adult drag bingo and seeing the drag queens who performed there I asked the host if they would paint my face. They said yes. When that day came and they were nearly done they asked me to go look at myself in mirror before putting on a wig and accessories, and it was like seeing a part of myself that I hadn’t seen in 20 plus years. Like, “Oh hello! There you are!” I knew then that it was something I needed to do. That Fall me and partner decided to get divorced after 11 years of marriage. I moved out into my own place that December and started to practice using makeup more and developing my craft of drag. I knew absolutely nothing and didn’t have anyone to ask so it was an uphill battle. Then the pandemic shut everything down so I continued weekly practice sessions, watched other queens paint on live videos on social media, asked them questions. Progress felt so arduous and slow coming, but it was a practice of self-love, discovery, but it was also isolating. Joining social media platforms helped me to document my journey and help find more aspects of myself through drag. A year into the pandemic I was invited to perform in my first show as things started to open back up. I will never forget the feeling of performing live for the first time. The energy coursing through my body, the nerves, the feeling of expression felt like magic, like I could finally let this light inside of me shine for the first time. That I could express different sides of my gender identity that I hadn’t been able to before. I met some dear drag family that day that have continued to support me and help me hone my skills further. The learning never stops, the expression is vital to being my whole self in the world and continues to change. I have been fortunate to do drag full time or near full time this last year, and just wish to continue to grow my craft, be all of who I am in the process, and help share that joy and love in every space that I perform in. Read more>>
Nick Williams
Honestly, I learned my craft from a pencil and two eggs. To elaborate, when I was kid, my dream was to be a cartoonist for Nickelodeon and create fun new shows just like many of my favorites: Rugrats, Doug, Hey Arnold, you name it. I found that art and drawing came naturally. In particular, I grew a strong affinity for drawing my favorite cartoons. I always had drawing pencils and blank printer paper in a folder. In my free time, if I wasn’t playing video games or outside, I was drawing. I even drew comic strips for my 5th grade school newspaper. My friend Bri and I would use cartoon characters from Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney to tell fun new stories for our peers. Because my parents saw how much my drawing skills were naturally growing, they put me in private art tutoring classes, took me to art stores and really set me up with the tools I needed. Unfortunately, however, as I got further into 5th grade, for some reason I had what I call drawer’s block; my natural knack for drawing no longer carried the enthusiastic inspiration. I was not sure what happened nor why, but I definitely know that I could not draw as seamlessly as I once did. Read more>>
Yauseaffe Hunt
Passion, Practice, and patience. It’s about how bad you want it. It took me eight years to get to my skills here. I treat every jam session like its a live moment even when it’s just me in the room. My biggest obstacle was not holding myself accountable sooner. If I understood DJ’ing was a lifestyle earlier and cared less about what others think from the beginning of my process, I possibly could have sped the process up a bit. This also helped me realize that everyone will not always like or support your craft. That’s fine because the most essential skill to have is communication, networking, and people skills. You can always find the ones that truly show love! Read more>>
Bailey Rigby
The arts always interested me growing up. I practiced more as a hobby and didn’t have a passion for one specific medium – It wasn’t until my junior year of high school I found photography. Read more>>
Laurel Sorenson
Every time I create as an individual is an opportunity to learn something new. I don’t put that much pressure on it because if I thought about it every time I tried to write, I’d never be able to finish anything or write with the freedom necessary to create anything new. That being said, making an entire record, especially in a collaborative process with a band and a producer, made me feel like every second I was learning something new. This is a beautiful process, but not one without discomfort. If I could give advice to anyone about learning any craft, I would advise them to revel in the discomfort. It means they are learning something or creating something fresh. It means they are on the precipice of growing stronger, wiser, more open. Read more>>