Meet Darin Balaban

We recently connected with Darin Balaban and have shared our conversation below.

Darin , thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

This is a tricky question—which is exactly why I gravitated toward it. It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer, and I hope my take doesn’t sound too convoluted because honestly, I’m still figuring it out. Creativity comes in waves. It’s fleeting. It feels more like an emotional state—like being happy or sad or content—than something you can summon on command. And chasing it too hard can make it disappear. It becomes the snake eating its own tail.

I recently did a studio visit and had a conversation about this exact thing—how sometimes you have to speed up to slow down. That idea has really stuck with me. Lately, I’ve been trying to embrace stepping back a bit. Less output, more intention. It’s helped me reconnect with the “why” behind what I do.

That said, I also believe that keeping a structured practice is invaluable. Creativity might strike at random, but if you block off time—like studio hours or even just designated time to mess around—you’re giving it a chance to show up. I’m learning that both rest and routine can keep the spark alive

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’ll reiterate for those who aren’t familiar—my background is a mix of a lot of things. I’m mixed-race and grew up between Los Angeles and Oakland, bouncing between different cultures, scenes, and influences. I had early exposure to great art thanks to both my parents and my grandmother. As a kid in the early ‘90s, I went to a Keith Haring show, and my grandmother also took me to see a Yoshitomo Nara exhibition. My mom bought me Subway Art when she came back from New York—and to this day, she says she both regrets it and is secretly proud.

From there, my world became skateboarding, ‘90s cartoons, early PlayStation games, house parties, and sneaking into raves at way too young of an age. Somewhere in the mix was also writing on walls with my friends. You put all that together, and it’s kind of the foundation for what I do now.

These days, I’m much more reformed than my younger self. I keep things pretty mellow. I don’t partake in recreational drug use and I rarely—if ever—drink. That shift in lifestyle has helped me be a lot more present, focused, and intentional with both my work and how I live day to day.

I’ve been making art in different forms my whole life, and full-time for the past five years. But right now, I’m in a bit of a transitional period. I think it’s important to be transparent about that, because there’s such a curated image of what “success” looks like in the art world. The reality is, some of the artists you assume are thriving are barely scraping by, and some who aren’t even on your radar are doing just fine.

I’m currently negotiating a day job offer, and honestly, the financial instability of freelance work has started to wear on me. I know I could keep pushing through, but at 35, I want a little more stability. I just moved to downtown LA and upgraded my lifestyle a bit, so I’m trying to slow down, focus more on personal work, and step away from the commercial and commission-based stuff that pays the bills but doesn’t always feed me creatively.

That said, I’ve still got some exciting projects on deck. I’m working on a large interior mural for Acro Sports in San Francisco, and I’ll be painting a couple of utility boxes in the Melrose Arts District—shout out to Wrdsmth for the plug. I’m looking forward to whatever this next chapter brings.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

It feels a little strange to reflect or give advice when I still feel like I’m figuring things out myself. But I’ll speak on what’s been true in my experience—both generally and specifically.

First: don’t be afraid to get told “no.” Reach out, ask about the opportunity, follow up, try to meet people. What’s the worst that happens? Someone says no, or maybe you feel judged? Honestly—most people are too wrapped up in their own lives to think about you that much. And if they are thinking about you? Screw it. Just do what you want to do, as long as you’re not hurting anyone. You have to push past that internal narrative that people are watching or waiting for you to mess up. They’re not. So take the meeting, send the message, try the thing.

Second: try new things. Go new places. People—especially now—are so used to staying in their comfort zones. And I get it. With phones, the internet, and all the distractions out there, it’s easy to stay home and scroll all day. I’ve had those days too. But growth doesn’t happen there. Force yourself to go out, talk to people, and actually experience something outside of the algorithm. It changes your perspective. It opens creative doors.

Third: just do shit. I know that sounds simple, but execution is everything. You can plan and dream and ideate all day—but nothing happens unless you make it happen. Even if it’s messy or imperfect, action beats overthinking every time.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

A healthy dose of traveling. Lots of time with family. Painting graffiti. Eating really well. Probably some studio time, some reading, and being near the beach as much as possible. That’s really it. I think if I only had a decade left, I’d want it to feel full—but simple. Just doing things that make me feel alive, connected, and present.

Contact Info:

• Website: I need to make one
• Instagram: @darinbalaban