S1 E6 | How Do Artists Develop?

In today’s solo talk episode of It’s All About the Process, I look back at how my undergrad actor training didn’t prepare me for building an artistic practice and what I did in grad school (and beyond) to change that.

Utilizing the research of psychologist K. Anders Ericsson on deliberate practice, I unpack why repetition doesn’t equate to growth. A more intentional approach to actor training is needed, one that both breaks complex skills into smaller, trainable parts and builds autonomy rather than dependence on external validation.

At the end of this episode, I use “listening and responding” as a practical example to illustrate the ways actors can develop awareness, attention, and responsiveness through deliberate practice.

FYI: this is Part 1 of a two-part talk on deliberate practice. Part 2 will explore how strategy and feedback support long-term artistic growth.

Keep going,

PK

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