We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ciara Belle. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ciara below.

Ciara, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

There are a lot of crafts I’ve learned that has assisted me in creating the life I have now. I first started learning software engineering when I attended McKinley Technology High School in Washington, DC. They taught us using game development tools such as (at the time) Macromedia Flash, Maya, Alice, and Game Maker. Eventually, some staff from the school started an after school and weekend program called “Be the Game” for community children where I helped teach math and science to children using game development. Organizations such as the National Science Foundation and George Mason University partnered with the program in various ways where I also participated in teaching for them. George Mason’s version of the program received the Champions for Change award from the White House under the Obama administration. I received my BS from the University of Maryland’s (UMD) computer science program, and my MS from Philadelphia University’s Interactive Design and Media program where I learned how to create experiences in the digital space. This spanned from websites to wearable technology. While in college and after, it was all about getting my foot in any door career-wise and learning from peers and experience.

My musicianship started at age 8 when my aunt enrolled me into the DC Youth orchestra playing the viola. I switched to piano lessons at age 12 or 13, then stopped a few years after that. I began teaching myself the bass guitar in 2011 while in undergrad at UMD. At first, I would just play simple songs I liked. It was only about having fun. This helped me get comfortable with strumming and learning songs by ear although I was unaware of where the notes were on the bass neck for some time. I did not get serious about learning the notes on the bass and how to play scales until around 2018. I did this by watching youtube videos and starting simple. I would learn one scale I really liked and practice playing that scale and playing melodies with that scale.

I also do drone videography and photography. This requires taking a test from the Federal Aviation Administration. I studied using the Pilot Institute’s program which is a bit pricey (about $200), but it has an over 90% success rate for passing the exam. The rest of developing the skill is to just have fun flying with the drone.

I do other things as well! The pattern essentially is, when possible, go to school or take courses to learn what you want to learn – emphasize WANT to learn. Sometimes it will cost money, but if money is used as an investment in your passions, the money will come back in some way.

If you are teaching yourself, start small and continue to build little by little as you progress. Taking a break and coming back an hour, days, even years later is ok if that is where the ebb and flow of your passion leads you. Sometimes, when coming back to a skill / passion after a long time, I realize I have a much deeper understanding of it because of the break and I am able to progress quicker that time around. But if you do take a long break from one thing, make sure you find the next skill you are excited about and build little by little with that. Be creative as often as possible and make sure it is fun for you. This is the best way to develop your craft, I think.

It is difficult to think of how I would speed up my learning. My interests are very spread out and so I am sure I could be father along in any of my crafts with more focus in one direction, however, I would have developed less skills and missed out on fulfilling desires. I think the balance I have struck works for me, though it may not for others.

The only obstacle that stands in the way of learning more is time.

Ciara, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am 36 and a Software Engineering consultant contracted with Major League Baseball. I work on their Android streaming platforms, inclduing mobile, TV, and cars.

As a bassist, I play for my friend’s band called “Courtland Johnson and His Amazing Friends.” I also make my own music under the artist name Jack The Beaut and have a solo project called “Belle” meaning “beautiful” in french as well as my last name. It is a short 3-song EP with some lyrics in french as a study tool for me. I am most proud of this project because it showed me a lot of what I am capable of musically and linguistically. It was produced entirely by me and I was able to get a message of self-reflection and inspiration out into the world, which is the message of all of the music I make.

I am often studying the nature of reality which has taken me into many fascinating topics including psychology, physics, religion and spirituality, consciousness and other sciences and philosophies. I try to incorporate what I learn into everything I do and create.

Some other endeavors include drone videography and photography as mentioned previously, video game development, cyberdeck and decentralized internet projects, and most recently started bootcamp with a roller derby team.

Brand-wise, I refer to myself as a “Renaissance Woman” because I am truly obsessed with learning and creating which has led me to develop many skills and realms of knowledge.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to free my self from fear, embody love, and help create heaven on earth. Through creation, I learn about and examine myself. It is also a way for me to connect with others.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The best thing society can do to support a thriving creative ecosystem is to truly cherish the act of creating. It should be seen as a fundamental need for all people. So many times I see that people treat creating – specifically indulging in arts or crafts that they love – as optional or even worse, a waste of time. People prioritize making decisions based on fear, putting one’s passions and loves on the back-burner, and tiring one’s self out by doing many things they hate. I believe everyone is “a creative” and there are no “non-creatives.” We are all creating all of the time, and life is a work of art. The question is what are we creating and is it what we want? We should all focus on creating what we want.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.linktr.ee/jackthebeaut

Image Credits

A.Jae Jackson, Armand Jackson, Ciara Belle, Travis Pearsall, and Rich Rocket