--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've learned over the years that the best…" description: "\"I've learned over the years that the best way to develop as an artist is to make things. So I tell young artists it's not enough to be an actor anymore..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/liane-balaban-47010_active_i-ve-learned-over-the-years-that-the-bes_1110984.jpg" --- # I've learned over the years that the best way to develop… ![“I've learned over the years that the best way to develop as an artist is to make things. So I tell young artists it's not enough to be an actor anymore, you have to be a filmmaker/writer/director. There's no excuse for waiting around for a job. You have to be active and make things.” quote by Liane Balaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/liane-balaban-47010_active_i-ve-learned-over-the-years-that-the-bes_1110984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/liane-balaban-47010_active_i-ve-learned-over-the-years-that-the-bes_1110984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/liane-balaban-47010_active_i-ve-learned-over-the-years-that-the-bes_1110984.jpg) > “I've learned over the years that the best way to develop as an artist is to make things. So I tell young artists it's not enough to be an actor anymore, you have to be a filmmaker/writer/director. There's no excuse for waiting around for a job. You have to be active and make things.” [Liane Balaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-balaban/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Developing artistic skill requires continual creation, not passive waiting for opportunities. **In simple terms:** Artists must create continuously to grow. Key Takeaway Create actively, don’t wait for jobs. Themes creativity career development proactivity Mood determined energetic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - film projects - writing exercises - directing short scenes - portfolio building Key Concepts multidisciplinary practice self‑directed learning Questions to Reflect On - What project could you start today? - How do you balance breadth and depth? A Different Perspective Being busy doesn’t guarantee quality; over‑production can dilute focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists/) [Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Young artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-artists/) ## Related quotes > [As an actor, you're supposed to take jobs that will challenge you or force fans to see you in a different light. By the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/as-an-actor-you-re-supposed-to-take-jobs-that-will-challenge-you-or/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [When I start a movie, I already feel like I'm in it. 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I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-lokhande/people-don-t-stereotype-an-actor-anymore-because-they-want-to-see/) [Ankita Lokhande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-lokhande/) > [I wanna grow and develop as an artist, and I feel like different kinds of collaborations can only help me in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-wanna-grow-and-develop-as-an-artist-and-i-feel-like-different-kinds/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [I worked really hard to develop me as an artist and as a musician. I have so many different influences and play so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-king/i-worked-really-hard-to-develop-me-as-an-artist-and-as-a-musician-i/) [Elle King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-king/) > [ne thing you have to develop as an artist is a confidence in what you're doing and that you're right about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/ne-thing-you-have-to-develop-as-an-artist-is-a-confidence-in-what-you/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I love develop as an artist, to push my envelope, to grow, to make mistakes, to learn from them and to try and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/i-love-develop-as-an-artist-to-push-my-envelope-to-grow-to-make/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [My daughter's 19. I'm not asking her to develop as an artist. I'm just asking her to develop as a full person, human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/my-daughter-s-19-i-m-not-asking-her-to-develop-as-an-artist-i-m-just/) [Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/) > [I play piano and guitar and I do write my own stuff so to a certain extent I know what I want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-fleeshman/i-play-piano-and-guitar-and-i-do-write-my-own-stuff-so-to-a-certain/) [Richard Fleeshman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-fleeshman/) > [As for the industry, it has certainly changed. I think with all of these television shows and YouTube and the internet, you have so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/as-for-the-industry-it-has-certainly-changed-i-think-with-all-of/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [I'm always looking for ways to develop as an artist, especially as a jazz artist-to find different ways of testing my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-wilson/i-m-always-looking-for-ways-to-develop-as-an-artist-especially-as-a/) [Cassandra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-wilson/) > [Every artist can make art only from the materials at hand, and many of the child stars who try to mature into artists can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/every-artist-can-make-art-only-from-the-materials-at-hand-and-many-of/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [Sometimes when I write lyrics there are images in them, usually on a quite simplistic level, like colors. But most often music comes first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/sometimes-when-i-write-lyrics-there-are-images-in-them-usually-on-a/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) ## More by Liane Balaban > [Anything we can do to encourage our young people to celebrate the arts and believe in a career in the arts is wonderful for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-balaban/anything-we-can-do-to-encourage-our-young-people-to-celebrate-the/) [Liane Balaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-balaban/) > [I want to be an actor, and I am being an actor. I'm not ready to run off on a road trip. Yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-balaban/i-want-to-be-an-actor-and-i-am-being-an-actor-i-m-not-ready-to-run/) [Liane Balaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-balaban/) > [I think one of the greatest skills a person can have is to complete a task they start. 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