3 Valuable Lessons for Professional Creatives from an “Unusual Place”

Summary

The article discusses valuable lessons for professional creatives from an "unusual place," focusing on the passion and work ethic of a stay-at-home mom who creates furniture from cardboard.

Abstract

The article begins by introducing Aline Bloch, a Parisian ex-pat living in Seattle who makes furniture out of cardboard. The author shares a short narrative promotional film about Aline and highlights the importance of creative briefs and mood boards using her project as a case study. The author then shares an interview with Aline about her creative process and extracts three key lessons for professional artists from her words. The first lesson is to meet the client's needs, emphasizing that the end product should achieve specific objectives or needs for the client. The second lesson is to always be creating, as consistently creating will improve one's craft and increase the fees one can command. The third lesson is to keep loving what you're doing, as art is personal, physical, and can be taxing emotionally and spiritually.

Opinions

The author believes that artists should always keep in mind the needs of their clients and create work that achieves specific objectives or needs for them.
The author emphasizes the importance of consistently creating to improve one's craft and increase the fees one can command.
The author suggests that artists should do personal work to keep their love of the craft alive and their skills sharp if they find themselves loathing client work.
The author highlights the common themes that arise when interviewing artists about their craft, such as the need to incessantly create and the importance of meeting clients' needs.
The author suggests that artists should hang up their camera, put away their word processor, or pack up their guitar and go do something else if they don't love what they're doing.
The author believes that art is personal, physical, and can be taxing emotionally and spiritually, and that artists need to love what they're doing to do it well and not burn out.
The author recommends trying out an AI service that provides the same performance and functions as ChatGPT Plus (GPT-4) but is more cost-effective.

The passion and work ethic of this stay-at-home mom is inspiring

Image from “From the Heart of an Artist” by Ron Dawson

You can learn about art and creativity from the most “unusual places.”

Back in March, I told the story of Aline Bloch. Aline is a Parisian Ex-pat in the Seattle area who makes furniture out of cardboard. A few years ago, I made a short narrative promotional film for her and I used that project as a case study for the importance of creative briefs and mood boards.

When I went to show her the film, I brought along my audio recorder to grab some thoughts from her about her creative process. I’m always amazed at the common themes that rise to the surface whenever I interview any kind of artist about their craft.

I took some choice soundbites from my interview with Aline and put them to some additional footage from the original shoot. I am confident that if you’re any kind of artist, you will find her words moving. Take a couple of minutes to watch the film, then continue reading to see three key lessons we professional artists can take away from her interview.

Meet Your Client’s Need

Even though Aline isn’t necessarily making furniture for clients, the very first words in the film speak to what we as professional artists should always keep in mind.

It starts with…a need. ~ Aline Bloch, “Heart of an Artist”

Meet your client’s needs. It’s great you want to make a beautiful film or iconic photograph. It might even win you your next award. But if the end-product isn’t achieving any specific objective or need for your clients, the only person really being served is you.

Always Be Creating

Chances are you’ve heard about the ABC’s of selling, i.e “Always Be Closing.” Well, a similar precept exists for artists — “Always Be Creating.” This is perhaps the most common theme I’ve come across in all my years interviewing a wide variety of artists. From the various podcasts I’ve produced to the many films about artists I’ve shot, this need to incessantly create never abates. Consistently creating will not only perpetuate the improvement of your craft, but it will also lead to an increase in the fees you can command.

“From the Heart of an Artist” by Ron Dawson

Keep Loving What You’re Doing

Art is personal. Art is physical. It not only takes a lot of physical stamina at times, but it can be taxing emotionally and, dare I say, even spiritually. You have to love what you’re doing to do it well and not burn out. If you find yourself loathing the client work you’re doing (and be honest, we all get there at times), then do personal work to keep your love of the craft alive, and your skills sharp. If not, hang up your camera, put away your word processor, or pack up your guitar and go do something else.