Often we don’t have to reinvent the wheel to learn something new – we can just ask experts in the field who can draw on their experience to enlighten us. Below, we’ve shared insights insiders from various industries have shared with us.

Caroline (Xueyang) Que | Visual Artist, Designer & Art Educator

People not entirely familiar with the arts and creativity industry might feel mystified and enchanted by the creation process. I have constantly been asked about how my inspirations and thoughts were acquired and how I transformed them into concrete artworks or designs. It sounds like a relatively subtle and sophisticated conversion. However, I believe there are methodologies for working for all creators. From my perspective, I usually start with observations—some minor things can be tremendously provocative. Then, I would do lots of research and reading to refine my thoughts about the visuals and forms of the artwork sketch in my mind. There’s no straight path from the first thought to the final outcome. Thinking deliberatively and comprehensively might be more significant than outsiders expected. Read more>>

Melissa Murciano | Architectural & Interior Photographer

One thing that outsiders are probably unaware of is how much time is needed for Interior Photography. When I first started shooting spaces I started with Real Estate Photography. With Real Estate it is a fast genre. You move throughout the house very quickly. I am able to shoot an entire house in 45 mins-1 hour (depending on the size). With Interior Photography one space can take 1.5 to 2 hours to shoot depending on its complexities. (a lot of times longer). Making sure the vertical/horizontal lines in the image are straight are very necessary for this type of photography. Interior Photographers are selling their images to designers and architects and if we are not representing their work accurately we are not doing our job. However making sure the lines are straight is also very time consuming. It’s not snap, snap, snap. Yes, with Photoshop most things are possible but getting it correct “in camera” is the goal. As a photographer I love shooting, I don’t want to spend all of my time correcting something that could have been fixed on site. It is so much more than just getting a “good angle” it is a lot of troubleshooting. (being aware of reflections, controlling and filtering the color spillage from outdoors, controlling the light etc) Since not every space is exactly like another it can make the job challenging but when it all comes together it is an amazing feeling. Read more>>

Alicia Patel | Creative Director

A lot of people think that when you work in a creative field, ideas just come to you like visions, that you have to “feel” it. But like any job, you have to work really hard to push ideas out most of the time. You have to do your homework and revise over and over. The seed of an idea can come intuitively, but there are many steps to turning that into something good that solves the design problem. I sometime liken it to giving birth mentally! It can really drain you but when you create something that’s just right for the client, it’s an amazing, satisfying feeling. Read more>>

 Jason Vitelli | Composer & Musician

People do not readily admit they often do not know what they are doing in the act of creating until after the creation is made. The ego has a hard time accepting that many decisions we make are intuitive, not borne out of some logical means. I have a lyric in one of my songs, “I’ve got to stay on the right path, the path that follows me,” which explains this particular cause and effect relationship. A path will open up to people who are open to its possibilities. Read more>>