Meet David Habben

We were lucky to catch up with David Habben recently and have shared our conversation below.

David, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

Creativity is the core of problem-solving, and art is, at its essence, a practice of solving problems. I believe that all art is an effort to solve or resolve an issue that exists for the artists and their audience. For an illustrator, that often presents itself as client needs. The client’s “problem” is their need for imagery to convey their message effectively, and the illustrator helps everyone involved to find a solution. Individual artists address a different set of problems that are reflective of their mindset and often reflective of cultural concerns that find expression in the artist’s endeavors.

As I’ve grown throughout my career, I’ve found that utilizing opportunities to be a visual communicator pushes me to strengthen my creative skills. Each project, whether for myself or others, is a chance to find a new way to present an idea and connect what’s going on inside my head and heart with the experiences of those who will view the work. I play with materials and perspectives over and over again to discover new ways of both communicating and creating. It’s one of several reasons that a sketchbook is a vital part of my process and creative development.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As a freelance illustrator, I still work with a variety of clients, especially those who are looking to push beyond the typical boundaries of illustration. I love to work collaboratively as both an artist and instructor with people who are willing to explore and discover together. Some of my current projects include young adult fiction, poster design, and album art.

I feel very fortunate to be wearing the hats of artist, illustrator, and educator as it pertains to my career. I’m entering my seventh year of teaching illustration at Brigham Young University, and that experience has pushed and stretched me in ways I didn’t realize were possible. Those experiences have also nurtured my creative development and given my work new direction and clarity. Sharing my experiences through workshops and presentations about creativity is one of my favorite things, and I’d love to explore more opportunities there.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Patience with yourself and others. Give everyone and everything time to develop. Your work and life won’t benefit from constant hot takes.

Persistence with your work and goals. Every skill worth having requires long-term effort. Every accolade you want will be all the sweeter when you’ve done the hard work to achieve it.

Prioritize your life. You can’t do everything and you don’t have time for everyone. Choose carefully what you do and who you do it with.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I love collaborating with people, especially those willing to pursue lofty goals. The bigger the dream, the better. It’s even better when we can work together to create a framework that allows those goals to come to life. I’d encourage people to connect with me through my website, habbenink.com or message me through social media (@habbenink).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://habbenink.com
• Instagram: @habbenink
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/habben

Image Credits

Photo by Blake Bekken. All other images ©HABBENINK