3 Templates for Inhabiting Your Artistry: Working with Your Inner Explorer, Performer, and Natural
April 5th, 2024 — Written for the The Artist’s Lens Collection by Casey Balon
Allowing ourselves the space to truly practice our craft—whether that be writing or another form—is often a revolutionary idea. It is somewhat vulnerable to let ourselves be the apprentice again…or perhaps for the very first time.
In today’s article, we are redefining what it means to be an artist in today’s creative economy. Get comfy as we study 3 unique Templates for Expression (3 archetypical hats) we can wear as we embody the fullness of our artistry: the Explorer, the Performer, and the Natural.
I have found the most liberating and inspiring environments for our creative energy, for our voice, and for our heart posture, often come by way of embracing these elements:
1. adventure, curiosity, and experimentation (within our template for exploration)
2. true practice and presence (coming to reimagine, re-know, and re-home our sense of performance)
3. full inhabitation (in our most natural form: when our art exudes from us without posturing or struggle)
Article 01 of The Artist’s Lens collection.
What we are covering in this article:
*click below to navigate directly to the section you wish to read, or continue with the story as you were
1. Meeting our inner artist’s adversary and our signature self (moving through contrast to our most vital, open place)
2. Fluid, honey-like sequencing (this is not a step-by-step process)
3. The body’s articulation evolves over time (seeing our relationship with movement as an expression of exploration, performance, and natural inhabitation)
4. Template for Artistry No. 1: The Lens of The Explorer: (welcoming the deeply essential nature of exploration: when our sense of curiosity and wild, adventurous heart serves to amplify our creative imagination)
5. Substack Newsletter Subscription (access an additional hub of essays and resources through our newsletter on Substack)
6. Template for Artistry No. 2: The Lens of The Performer (embracing true practice and destigmatizing the art of performance)
7. Template for Artistry No. 3: The Lens of The Natural (our expression in its most relaxed and engaged form: when our radiance and artistry exudes from us without thought or struggle)
8. The Creative’s Heart Posture: (genuine listening, genuine love)
9. The Flush Out and Active Recovery (the in-between, rest, rebalancing, and integration): (movements intended to clear space, flush out the system, and empty us for the next phase of our creative impact)
10. There is an exhilaration to daring to fulfill our potential:(being who you were fashioned to be, doing what you were fashioned to do)
11. The grander arc of Creative Development: (allowing the body to serve the spark, softening the presumptions of the mind, and supporting our whole system to be of deepest service to the overarching process)
12. Our Bookshop: (shop our ever-growing selection of books for creatives)
13. The resources we deliver at Casey Jacque (essays on whole body health, creative career building, creative direction, intentional travel, sustainable living, love and relating, and more)
Written by Casey Balon
(click here to read about Casey)
Meeting our inner artist’s adversary:
the contrast provided by opposing energy and our otherworldly creative opportunity
To meet face to face with our inner artist’s adversary (what Steven Pressfield has coined ‘resistance’) can be confronting, self-honouring, painful, and liberating all at once; however, more often than merging with or creating from a stagnant or armoured place, we have the otherworldly opportunity to create from a deliberately guided and beautiful and insightful and open place from within us—a point of reference untouched by ideas of glorification or the pressure to perform. This is our most vital place, our holy place. Our unmovable place.
A point of reference that seems touchable only by our Creator.
I often forget this place. I often remember this place. This frolic, this motion, animates me, captures me, and envelopes me all at once. In some moments, its invitation feels akin to an ache; in others, it generously refreshes every cell in my body, commanding to not only be known, but to set up residence inside of me. To be fully, deeply, intimately inhabited. This is our undeniable, incomparable expression—our signature of self.
“Our purpose is often one very small thing to do well, but it creates atomic light that shines on every other part of our lives.”
—David Ghiyam
Fluid, honey-like sequencing (this is not a step-by-step process):
interconnectivity between the elements—continual motion between the 3 templates—creates the ripest environment for masterful artistry
The ticket to a fulfilling arc of creative development is to move like water. The intention is for this capacity to unfold in due course, with you embodying the Explorer, Performer, and Natural as if you have access to the full range of qualities within each, instinctually being able to pull out the tool (and approach) required to serve the current stage of your project.
The goal is not to distinguish each archetype as separate from one another, moving in rigid succession from one step to the next, but to develop a relationship with how each one feels in your body so that you have the capacity to CHOOSE to engage in—and inhabit—the template that most nourishes the artistry of the moment.
The body’s articulation evolves over time:
the refinement and evolution of our form over time
an exploration of expression:
I often turn to physical training and exercise to provide insight into the creative process. When we are unfamiliar with a motion, we begin by exploring what this new movement feels like in our body, looking to the mirror for guidance as we experiment, eventually finding the position and posture most supportive and available for our physical form.
practicing with performance:
When we are working out, our form can be—quite comfortably and consciously—pronounced at the beginning of a set or exercise session and then proceed to become more challenging until the end. Sometimes, though, there is this transition (a moment of breakthrough) where the movement seems to get easier during the actual performance of the exercise. It’s as if an onslaught of neurotransmitter release provides the mental sustenance to continue, even dig in deeper.
When I have experienced this, the feeling in my body is one where I have surpassed the embrace of discomfort and move into delighting in the action itself.
using exploration to play between the performer and the natural:
Over the bigger scope of my progression in barre class (a combination group workout that blends ballet, cardio, core and Pilates), many movements are becoming more intuitive to me. I do not find myself looking to the mirror for guidance, but for refinement of posture and positioning. I do not grab the barre out of desperation or need, but for stability and sustainability. I have found flexibility. I have come to know mobility. Freedom in my body, even.
While I do work towards incremental improvement and progression over time, my development (and experience) is not entirely linear, nor necessarily located in a precise cyclical pattern. And while there are a multitude of factors that have an impact on my workout (sleep, hydration, nutrition, cycle phase, etc.), these experiences—of stability, sustainability, fatigue, resistance, difficulty, breakthrough—seem to exist, and be available, all at once.
Let’s dive into the 3 Templates for Expression we are playing with today as we:
1. welcome the deeply essential nature of exploration,
2. destigmatize the art of performance, and
3. honour the inevitability of our natural radiance.
Template for Artistry No. 1—The Lens of The Explorer:
re-contextualizing our relationship with exploration: this 1st framework is applied when our sense of curiosity and wild, adventurous heart desires to gather creative inspiration, uncover insights, and amplify our understanding of our role (or identity) inside a creative process
Our template for exploration is positioned as an impromptu, unrehearsed, mostly surrendered experience in the body. Because the concept of exploration is such a unique experience, I encourage you to inquire with yourself about what you desire to see, feel, smell, taste, hear, and think about when you participate in (or traverse) something fresh and novel—whether that be a new terrain…travel destination…hiking path…subject, class, hobby, atmosphere, or relationship dynamic.
the consciousness of the explorer:
The explorer has her eyes wide open. (She’s always on the lookout.) During the creative process, the explorer asks:
What learning opportunity is available here?
Which new flavour can I infuse into the creative system? Or: What novel approach can I experiment with this time?
Where is there room for innovation or a completely divergent angle of creative expression?
What method do I typically employ in this instance, and am I willing to experiment with new modalities? (For example, if I typically write an article, am I willing to spice it up with interview segments or weave in audio and video formats?)
qualities of the explorer:
imaginative, energized, dynamic, and curious
adventurous, optimistic, open, and playful
courageous, innovative, and heart-led
a willingness to see with fresh eyes
enthusiastic and carefree
available to be surprised, awe-struck, in wonder, and captivated by enchantment, beauty, and miracles
in many ways, free
potential challenges for the explorer:
feeling directionless, chaotic, or swept up in the swirl of creative energy
too long or expansive of a voyage (whether in the form of actual globetrotting or an internal pilgrimage) can leave us feeling worn out, fatigued, or in dire need of rest and integration, which are essential components for creative development—especially if we desire to create a core environment conducive to sustainability and longevity
there is a potential for diminished quality (of experience or product, depending on what we are applying the lens of the explorer to) and a less polished presentation: placing oneself in unknown experiences often requires us to develop new skillsets, expand our capacity for discomfort, and embrace the humility of a beginner’s mindset
executive functioning: when we’re in a state of levity, inquisitiveness, and openness, qualities such as focus, linear thought, follow-through, and diligence can become more difficult to access
translating creative inspiration in a way that will eventually allow it to be fueled into a project, structure, or well-defined form of expression (if you would like to read more about why both convergent (logical) and divergent thinking are essential for the creative process, you can read our article on the topic here: click here to save this next article for later.)
Exercise for the Explorer: A Month of Nature Dates
Take yourself on a nature walk or hike once each week for 4 weeks (if you regularly hike, specifically designate a weekly outing to this exercise); challenge yourself to explore a different trail each time. If you have access to a variety of natural elements, make a point of visiting a body of water on at least 1 of your 4 walks. Experiment with trying something new each time, however big or minute it may sound. Even micro adjustments (something as simple as catching the sunrise on one of your treks and collecting sea shells on the next) can ignite a newfound sense of curiosity and play, inspiring you in ways you may not have previously conceived possible.
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Template for Artistry No. 2—The Lens of The Performer:
reimagining our relationship with performance: this 2nd framework is applied when we desire to intentionally spend time with our voice, further develop our craft, and embrace a loving—and true—partnership with practice
Our template for performance encourages us to see the value in the production process, holding deep reverence for technique and skill development, which frequently creates the opportunity for us to strengthen, re-know, and re-home our sense of performance. Because this template possesses a potent underbelly (potentially the most pernicious out of the 3), it can also require the most tender integration approach.
the consciousness of the performer:
During the creative process, the performer asks:
What am I desiring to deliver to the audience? (What entertainment, experience, sensation, end result, or transformation do they need, and what is the most influential way I can provide that?)
Who will be joining me at each stage of the process—whether it be a variety of contributors throughout creative development, additional players inside a scene, or other essentials leaders inside production?
What do I intend to communicate through this story?
Which qualities and foundational energy will I embody? What does it feel like to deeply inhabit this?
As I approach this performance, how will I prepare? Whether it be a marketing and storytelling campaign, a script for a scene, a live play, a book reading, etc., this question encompasses both strategic and energetic angles. On a consistent basis, what practices (and support systems) will I implement to develop my skillsets, refine my craft, and strengthen my relationships with the key players in this project? How will I be rejuvenating my energy and intentionally caring for my heart, mind, and body?
qualities of the performer:
active, intentional, deliberate, and directive
charismatic, captivating, romantic, and passionate
confident, adaptable, and flexible—both in preparation and as they take center stage
intelligent, playful, and joyful
powerfully utilizing public brand and image to serve the art or body of work
dedicated, well-practiced, committed, and focused
when weaved with Artistry Template No. 3 (that of the natural) inhabiting the performer archetype can be a graceful, precise, and delicious experience
potential challenges of the performer:
Being so committed to the performance that they become disembodied, disconnected from what is deeply needed in the moment (unable to deliver beyond what was planned).
Inauthentic positioning and dissonant posturing: striving to portray a certain persona to feel safe, successful, or respected. When we utilize the performer template, it is IMPERATIVE that we are able to discern the difference between: 1) actively serving our art through artistry vs 2) wearing a mask to please or manipulate others.
As the performer commands attention and curates an experience for those who witness her, from time to time, she may teeter on the edge between drawing out a response from the audience and needing to receive a particular reaction from the audience. (The key difference between the two internal postures is that the former is delivered in service, and the latter is extractive in nature; in other words, one creative experience is reciprocal and one is seeking to get something or take). This can be icky territory to look at. I don’t know any sound human who, at their core, sincerely feels comfortable with the idea of misusing others to bolster themselves.
Suppression: The performer can become an aspect of us who we are quick to dismiss, cast away, or judge. (Hello, repressed shadow material!) Whether this is explicitly taught or, more subtly, simply witnessed, it can creep up on us.
Exercise for the Performer: Establish a Practice Team
a) Choose 2 to 3 people to appoint as your creative hype crew for one of your current projects. Attempt to choose people who are completely different from one another, bringing unique perspectives and communication styles to the table. (If you don’t feel inspired to recruit 2 to 3 people, you can simply bring your most expansive dream team to mind and envision what their opinion or feedback would be.) The only rule here is that these people, however bold, are sincerely caring and compassionate individuals who you deeply trust to champion you.
b) Schedule a time to rehearse—practice your performance—with each of them. Whether this be expressively reading a 10-page segment from the second draft of your novel, sharing a story from your upcoming marketing campaign, or an entirely different activity…you can repeat the same performance with each member of your hype team or select a different section to practice.
c) Ask them to describe their experience of you. Were they left captivated? Intrigued? Curious? Bewildered? Seen? Loved? Wanting more?
d) If their reflection leaves you feeling tender or exposed, remember this exercise is intended to help you refresh your relationship with your inner performer and sense of practicing your art. Perfection is not required, nor encouraged. If anything, I hope this exercise creates space for unexpected avenues of connection, laughter, or a newly discovered sense of creative intimacy.
Template for Artistry No. 3—The Lens of The Natural:
full inhabitation of our natural expression: when our radiance and artistry exudes from us without thought or struggle (in it’s most relaxed and natural form)
This template serves our most loving, deeply genuine, beautiful, whole, and fully alive approach to creativity—our natural expression.
the consciousness of the natural:
During the creative process, the natural asks:
What is this moment in the process asking for?
What ingredient (or thread) is needed to create continuity, or contrast, or contemplation, or invigoration, joy, balance, harmony, climax, intrigue, closure, etc.?
What aspects of me require nourishment and attention before, during, and after I engage in the creative cycle?
What are the most loving ways I can translate vivacity, momentum, clarity, and serenity through my body of work in this season?
qualities of the natural:
genuine and sustainably in communion with their heart
organically demonstrate elegance, eloquence, and mastery
fluent in their area of expertise, able to weave peripheral bodies of work into their artistry, connections, facilitation, products, and services
engage with joy, intimacy, and receptivity as they make art
emotional availability and willingness to meet the moment in order to create with what is deeply present
conscious, aware, alive, and awake
exudes safety to the people they are in resonance with
radiates a natural, fully embodied posture and presence (has access to the full banquet of their individual expression in this chapter of their life—their full spectrum of humanness, including their flaws and underbelly)
liberated
potential challenges for the natural:
can be taken for granted by the untrained eye (from a distance, the performer can appear to outshine the natural)
requires keen upkeep and heart work: this level of vulnerability and service requires a very strong and well-established sense of self, boundaries, and approach to energy management to sustain the somatic safety required for one’s genuine expression to truly flourish
valuing and championing oneself to an appropriate level: because the natural is able to effortlessly respond, create, facilitate, and engage in their craft, they often cannot see the full breadth of their unique genius (each one of us, in our most natural templates, does not feel out of place or superior)
Exercise for the Natural: Write a Letter to Your Wild Heart…and Let Her Respond
a) Gather your journal, your favourite pen, and a cup of tea. We’re going on an adventure of the heart.
b) Set the atmosphere. Gather your coziest blanket, sit yourself in a chair on the deck, or find a snug spot by the window in your favourite room. Turn on some music (perhaps something that lets every inch of you breathe), stretch your body, and settle in.
c) Turn to a fresh page. Draw a vertical line right down the center. Title the left side of the page “Things I would like to share with my heart;” title the right column “Things my heart would like to share with me.”
d) Write 4 notes, ask 4 questions, or make 4 requests for guidance on the left side of the page. These can be directly related to your voice and creative expression, or they could be seemingly unrelated. (Potential prompts: What would you like to make known? What have you been wondering about? What do you desire support with? Where are you seeking clarity?)
e) Take a breather. Get a sip of water.
f) Let your heart respond inside the right column. Let her guide you.
The creative’s heart posture: genuine listening, genuine love
genuine appreciation, genuine listening, genuine love
I truly believe the ultimate expression of an artist is being able to move through the 3 templates in a fluid, honey-like sequence we can dip in (and out) of, depending on what the art needs to thrive. This internal posture is more subtle than our attempts to reveal a flow state, more pronounced than opening our bodies into a position of receptivity, ever so slightly more innocent than a high caliber of presence.
The creative heart is open and steadfast—faithful and certain…and where our perception is not in partnership with this posture, we are willing to practice seeing in a new way. To love the humanness of it all.
Sometimes the creative sequence unfolds in a predictable fashion: Exploration. Performance. Natural inhabitation. In other creative sessions, it’s more dynamic, defying notions of cyclical patterns and notable frameworks; we may get a glimpse of the Performer, then experience constriction which propels us to move into the Explorer, then a state of breakthrough emerges, which allows us to experience the Natural. Other times, it’s a meddle of 2 or 3, or a whole lot of 1 and a sprinkle of another. Our personal recipes are discovered over time.
This is the beauty of embracing the force (and beauty) of the everchanging creative river. It can be ineffable and magical one moment and oh-so-challenging the next.
The flush out (the in-between, the rest, the rebalancing, and integration):
some steps in the creative process, just like some movements during a workout, are intended to flush out our system, clear space, and empty us for the next phase of our creative impact
My barre instructor will often guide us into movements designed to provide active recovery. Sometimes, she states certain progressions are intended to provide a flush, a clearing of the exercises we just performed, implemented with the intention that they will make room (in our bodies, in our capacity) to participate with gusto in the upcoming maneuvers. It’s as if they are placed at that particular point in the choreography so we may experience enough relief and restorative blood flow to be able to engage in the next series of movements.
The flush out allows us to unite what we learned in the previous chapter of our life (whether through a past project or an earlier stage of the same project) and release the qualities, perspectives, and approaches that will not fully serve the art—and our own evolution—moving forward.
There is an exhilaration to daring to fulfill our creative potential:
would we have it any other way?
Whether we are inhabiting the template of The Explorer, The Performer, or The Natural, we know the essence of who we are informs any action we choose to carry out. Whether we choose to engage in this intentionally, unconsciously, or most naturally…our energy informs our surrounding environment and everything we encounter. This is the grounds from which we realize we are so deeply unique and inherently loved and wonderfully made, and yet—we are, somewhat hilariously, inconsequential after all.
There truly is nothing quite as exhilarating as being who you were fashioned to be, as doing what you were fashioned to do.
The grander arc of creative development:
meditations of the heart and ideas of the mind get to work in tandem (not in opposition)
I find it incredibly valuable to acknowledge that the point of our artistry—the point of making anything at all—is not only about making the thing…it’s about how we will be developed, refined, and changed as we make the thing.
I find this particular context, in an enigmatic way, sets the body free to serve the divine spark, softens the presumptions of the mind, and authorizes our entire system to be of deepest service to the overarching process.
When our creativity is no longer exclusively focused on the reception of the art, but on who we get to become through the process of making art…now that’s something worth practicing for.
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Photo by Nicole Romanoff
Article Written by Casey Balon, Editorial Director of Casey Jacque
Casey is a writer & creative director based outside of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. With a heart for literary journalism, an appetite for adventure, and a spark for creating dynamic — and deeply collaborative — environments, her aim is to bring Genuine Voices back to the Creative Table. When she’s not carrying out an interview, or writing about Creative Vitality through the lens of the body, you can find her hiking with her dogs, regenerating with her fiancé, diving deep with dear friends, or exploring a new country.
Let’s Connect: Instagram @iamcaseybalon, e-mail casey@caseyjacque.com
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