Between 2019-2021, I blogged about the creative process and the business of being an artist. I did my best to cram-jam my posts filled with useful tools, tips and hacks and straight-up honesty from my own point of view.
My focus was figuring out how we can overcome our creative blocks, actually finish our projects and earn money from our art. I also shared the work of Black and Global Majority artists.
Take a look around or see the posts by categories: creative process, self-producing, artist life hacks, artist series. I hope you find something useful here.
The saving grace for me right now is the good weather in London.
Daffodils and crocuses have pushed through the earth. We've got daylight beyond until almost 8pm. And the temperature is above 10 degrees.
Sorry to open with a paragraph on the weather, but really it's having a HUGE impact on my mood.
My Mum, Donna Penrose, is a scientist. Between her early twenties through her fifties, she worked in all sorts of labs, and earned a PhD in Molecular Biology.
Not long ago she was talking about scientific work and what makes a scientist. It struck me that the key ingredient to a successful career in science, is applicable to those of us in the arts.
Read MoreA little real-talk from behind the scenes over here at Haley McGee Industries. I am addicted to piling my plate too full.
It felt like I should begin today with the “back to school” energy January brings – for me it’s always a time of beginning again.
Read MoreBefore I moved to the UK I was seriously burnt out. I’d been gigging as a theatre actor almost non-stop for a couple years. Truly, living the dream I’d held for myself while I was in acting school. But I was exhausted.
And (perhaps more disturbingly) it struck me that I didn’t have much juice to bring to my work when the bulk of my time was spent in theatres, rehearsing and performing. I was lacking new outside experiences to draw inspiration from.
Read MoreI hope you’re doing alright, adjusting to our “new normal”. I’ve been dreaming scenes of wartime efforts – I think it’s my psyche trying to tell my conscious mind why I’ve found it all so destabilising.
Today I wanted to write about a new principle I’m trying to embrace.
Read MoreLet’s get right to it. Talking to your family, and strangers, about your work. Woof.
To help you through those crunchy encounters, I've got some tips and a handy mad-lib for you to download. My goal is to help you say something, feel good and move the conversation forward swiftly.
Read MoreIf you’re an artist who creates your own projects and takes on the lion’s share of the tasks when it comes to raising the funds, writing the funding applications, promoting and sharing your projects with audiences…
… you’re like me. And admin is bane of your existence.
You know the sinking feeling that comes with putting it off. You’re familiar with the rage at losing days to its boring details. Oof.
To help you complete your necessary admin efficiently, so you can get on with your art, here are 8 tools I use regularly.
