Musings on art: passing time with Waldo
When I have been reading Emerson, I see a deeper beauty in many things. The voices of the past offer refreshing insight that is seldom celebrated in modern life, and…
Category: Crescendo (Growth Mindset)
Immeasurable imaginations: learning through play
I often read children’s books so that I never lose my childlike imagination, that fertile ground from which robust flora blooms. Witnessing a child’s cognitive development is, personally, one of…
Taming the tormented artist
The choice to pursue a creative career is noble, yet daunting, and talent alone is no guarantee of success. Driven by passion, resilience, and creative effort one traverses a non-linear…
Who am I: a quest for artistic identity
When considering how to express oneself in any creative domain, it is natural to seek the opinion of others. Artists need mentors, and external validation may provide encouragement in competitive…
Creative Authenticity: finding poetry and beauty in the everyday
I’ve recently revisited a book that I read last year while in lockdown, it was as uplifting then as it is now. Creative Authenticity was written by painter Ian Roberts…
Priceless time: how do you spend it?
Time. You never seem to have enough of it yet there’s so much you’d like to be doing with it. We each get the same number of hours in a…
Is there a bright side to adversity?
In the midst of calamity, it can be difficult to make sense of one’s feelings and the situation they face. As negative situations take their natural course a human being…
2021: self-ideals and your personal theme
The eve of a new year tends to invite introspection. Many people set goals for the next 365 days with a hopeful outlook for the possibilities that lie ahead. Then…
What Forrest Gump taught me about success
Forrest Gump was truly a masterpiece by Robert Zemeckis (director) and Eric Roth (screenwriter), based on the novel by Winston Groom. It happens to be one my favourite films and…
Perfectionism is not a virtue
I often grieve the many ideas I’ve had that have never come to fruition. I recall the blissful moments when inspiration has tapped me on the shoulder and I’ve responded…
Creative courage and criticism
Creativity requires courage. It’s not always easy to express a point of view, particularly when it’s not a popular one. Sometimes we may choose to bite our tongue to avoid…
Creating with clarity and simplicity
In the ever changing realm of creativity, the desire to be considered avante-garde may motivate artists to push boundaries and challenge the status quo. Much to do with art is…
Self-discipline: realise your future self
It’s good to have goals, yet despite your dreams and best intentions, you may lack the motivation to be productive. As your list of things to do grows before you,…
We are all creative: Sir Ken Robinson’s legacy
Throughout my career, as both a teacher and creative practitioner, there have been countless references to the work of Sir Ken Robinson, and rightly so. His research in, and commitment…
Am I eligible for JobKeeper extension after September?
On 21 July, the Australian Government announced that it will extend JobKeeper by six months to 28 March 2021. Entities and business participants, including self-employed individuals and not-for-profits, may continue…
Which expenses can I claim while working from home in 2020?
Lodging a tax return can seem like one of those tedious tasks in life that you may want to delay, but in the 2019 – 2020 financial year it may…
AMEB is offering free online Theory of Music courses
The Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) are providing free online Theory of Music courses in an effort to support music education through the COVID-19 outbreak. The three courses available are…
All your eggs in one basket: is a portfolio career recession-proof?
The lead up to Easter feels very different this year. In such uncertain economic times one tends to reflect on their career choice in order to keep up with the…
What’s your creative type?
Creativity, like talent, may seem like a trait reserved for a select few. Simply put, creativity is inventiveness as a function of one’s imagination. Everyone has ideas and everyone has…
I am my business: a day to celebrate entrepreneurs
If you’re a business owner you can likely pinpoint that moment in time when you were inspired to realise your business idea. There was a niche in the market that…
Rejection, reviews, and resilience: realities of #performerlife
Performing is a tough business. Not only must one have the skills to tell a convincing story but they must compete for the right to tell it in the first…
Freedom from FOMO
You may or may not be familiar with this acronym. Not only has the ‘fear of missing out’ infiltrated popular culture in recent years, but it has interfered with people’s…
15 things performers can claim as tax deductions
A knowledgeable accountant is a worthwhile investment when it comes to preparing your tax returns as a freelance creative. However, it is worth being informed about what you are entitled…
11 tips to fund your art through grants
Among the variety of ways that we can fund our work, grants are amongst the most prominent in Australia. Devising and writing a grant is an art form in itself,…
21 sites for paid arts opportunities
A working artist rarely relies on a single job. Most creative people have a portfolio career and juggle multiple clients and income streams. There are glamorous moments but most days…
3 Simple Steps to a Successful Performance
You’ve got a gig! You’ve set the ground work by practising for hours on end. You know your material and you know that this performance is extremely important, but while…
Prompt! I can’t remember my lines
Revising your parts for a show can be daunting. Be it music, choreography, or script lines, you are capable of more than you give yourself credit for. When I think…
My Creative, Messy Mind
One thing I know about myself is that I like order. I’m a bit of a neat-freak externally, however, the mental noise and ideas that manifest in my mind are…