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Creative pursuits
Artists in Residence share their perspective
Creative work is an asset to any organization, but breaking into the creative fields comes with its own set of challenges. What’s the best way to start freelancing? How do you continue to foster your creative energy? We asked some of Anythink’s Artists in Residence to share their advice.
Hannah Henry
Fields: Industrial Design, Interior Design & Event Design
AIR program: Industrial Design
Q: What’s the most challenging thing about working in a creative field, and how do you combat it?
HH: The most challenging thing about working in a creative field is the constant pressure to come up with new ideas within a limited amount of time. My advice to combat that challenge is to develop a strong design process. This can help you generate inspiration, refine ideas and solve a problem.
Christopher VanDijk
Fields: Theater and Film
AIR program: Theater Arts
Q: How do you land freelance gigs?
CV: The trick to landing gigs is to go out and see shows, be involved and, most importantly, create your own work. I started as an actor and quickly learned two lessons: 1) It's never about you in a casting situation. It's about the needs of the production. You can only control your performance, but you can't control the production’s needs and if you fit those needs. 2) If you are not getting work, make it. Write, direct, grab actors and put up a reading of a play.
Erinn Cash Smidt
Field: Music
AIR program: Vocal Perfection
Q: What advice do you have for individuals who are trying to pursue a creative career?
ECS: Usually, creative people aren't limited to one path. Incredibly talented people often get stuck trying to decide which of their many strengths to pursue. I see that as a much greater obstacle than trying to pursue a career in a narrow or unusual field. While you're never limited to one subject, it can be helpful to lean towards a “top priority.” Once your focus is set, the challenges that come with the pursuit of a creative career are much less daunting, and a strong career allows for many more side-projects and experiences in your other fields of work.
Daisy Patton
Field: Visual Arts
AIR program: Photo and Digital Media
Q: What's the most challenging thing about working in a creative field, and how do you combat it?
DP: I feel that having lack of structure, not knowing for sure what your income/work will be like in the future, and just the general uncertainty and instability are all difficult things to grapple with, regardless of what point in your career you're in. I think this is where planning alleviates some of that anxiety of not knowing, and establishing a network of people you can rely on for support/advice/help really make a difference. None of these things happen overnight, so patience and a strong belief in yourself and what you do are a few things to cultivate.
Beverly Ball
Fields: Art, Welding & Craft-technology
AIR program: E-origami & E-textiles
Q: What advice do you have for people who are trying to pursue a creative career?
BB: Feed your curiosity. Study a wide variety of subjects, from botany to auto mechanics, stilt-walking to Russian literature. There are connections to be made between things that don’t seem connectable – and therein lie great creative possibilities.
Holly Green
Field: Design
AIR program: Graphic Design
Q: What’s the most rewarding thing about working in a creative field?
HG: Knowing you created something. You spent the hours, did the research, went through all of the changes (whether you liked the changes or not) and produced a final product that others are seeing. It makes you feel awesome when someone comments that they love your work.
Learn more about The Studio and how to become an Artist in Residence at anythinklibraries.org/thestudio.