Jennifer Balkan on Falling in Love with the Artistic Process

Contemporary painter and educator Jennifer Balkan, who holds a PhD in sociology and studied behavioral neuroscience, shared eight lessons for artists on the FASO Podcast Episode #184. Balkan emphasizes that sustainable creative careers depend on loving the daily practice of art, not external milestones like gallery representation or sales. She recounts transitioning from neuroscience to painting after a Paris trip and a first painting class. Her multidisciplinary background now enriches her portraiture, which explores emotions beneath surface appearance. Balkan advises artists to step outside comfort zones, experiment with new materials (e.g., Posca markers, colored pens during the pandemic), and recognize that artistic voice develops through consistent work rather than deliberate pursuit. She highlights teaching as a way to deepen one's own understanding and advocates for multiple income streams—combining exhibitions, teaching, commissions, and workshops—to build a sustainable career. The core message: falling in love with the process—sketching, experimenting, making mistakes—is what sustains a lifelong artistic journey.