How can business owners stay creative while balancing the day-to-day? Three artists offer ideas.
Jalen Law, Jalen Law Collection LLC
BRANDON WATSON/BRANDON WATSON STUDIO
Jalen Law sees his business as a creative pursuit, and not just because he’s a full-time artist. From branding the businesses to uniquely communicating services and products, business requires a degree of creativity. “It’s really about having a clear plan in place so I can have time and space to handle the different day-to-day creative projects that come to me,” he said.
That's something any business owner could benefit from having. Business First asked three local full-time artists about their creative process and how they run their businesses while staying creative.
How do you balance creativity and the daily task of running a business?
Stay as organized as possible. Colleen Toledano, a Buffalo artist for the last 20 years, does her busy work such as paperwork in the mornings to get that out of the way. “Then my mind is free to be in my studio and work,” she said. “You’ve got to recognize you have to turn things in on time. You can’t get behind just because you’re in the studio.” Toledano, who specializes in ceramics, sculpture and mixed media, also has taught full-time for about 17 years.
Law and his business, Jalen Law Collection LLC, strives to be as “comfortably creative” as possible by having systems in place so that space and capacity can be artistic. Those structures include employing people, generally on a contractual basis, to help with bookkeeping and technology so that records of receipts and tax payments are kept on track. Law creates artwork and educates students on social and emotional skills through music, creative writing and visual arts. He’s been a full-time artist since 2018.
How do you avoid creative ruts?
The first step is usually just to start something, give it some time and go from there, according to Kyle Butler, a Buffalo artist for 11 years. Try coming up with a new version of an idea you’ve already established and entertain notions that perhaps have been jotted down or dismissed in the past. “One of them will likely develop into something more robust,” said Butler, who also teaches art at Villa Maria College.
Research what others in your industry are doing, not to copy but to be inspired and remain relevant in your field, Toledano said. She likes to take photos on her phone and look through them when she’s feeling uninspired. Sometimes an image that seemed irrelevant will pique her interest later on. When looking at industry data and research, Law tries to focus on how to answer a question or solve a problem as opposed to focusing on what he can’t do. “Answering from that framework speaks of possibility and confidence in myself to find the right answer and tools to get what I have to get done,” he said.
