Meet Jay Hubbard

We recently connected with Jay Hubbard and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

I’ve gotten past creative blocks by staying collaborative and consuming the work of other talented artists and friends. I really enjoy digging at the roots of the plant. The flowers are pretty, but the roots are where you find everything that’s truly special. It’s where you can be reminded that everything is okay—it’s not the end of the world. The stories you thought were original have been told many, many times, and yet they still found unique voices.

There’s a lot of peace in knowing it’s all been done before. If you focus too much on being original and having an impact, it can cause you to take in so much that you block yourself. People need to make art because they love it. The idea of originality is a creative block that can be extremely damaging. Be yourself, be honest about your experience, but stay open to the world and the perspectives of others as an artist. Without that openness, if you’re closed off and focused solely on originality or leaving a legacy, it inevitably leads to burnout.

If you stay true to yourself and grow through your influences—whether they’re your friends, a local hero, a movie director, or a painter who’s been dead for years—you’ll be set for life. Take advantage of the experiences of your friends and loved ones. Understand them and use their stories to grow as a person. Your art will naturally reflect that growth.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a videographer and designer, and I do most of my work for nonprofits. I find a lot of love in music video production, and I’ve been working on a project that I’m hoping to kick off soon, focusing on musicians and the art of collaboration. I honestly adore the process of accomplishing goals with others. There’s something about stepping into a project, hearing a passionate vision from someone, and making it feel real on an emotionally impactful level—or even just creating something super cool through the lenses of many different art forms.

I love music videos, it feels so careful and honest. Artists trusting eachother with their art, because my goal is to make sure that your song looks the way that it feels in your heart, and in your head.

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

Listening, challenging, and setting boundaries. Listening is key, I feel like we’ve been hearing that since kindergarten haha but it doesn’t come as naturally as I thought—it takes practice. Truly listening means paying attention, asking thoughtful questions, and engaging deeply with ideas, which allows you to understand other people’s visions and strengthen those collaborative projects. Challenging is equally important. You need to be comfortable challenging ideas, yourself, and your peers to push beyond “good enough” and create something extraordinary. This isn’t about being combative, or aggressive, but about striving for the best possible outcome and encouraging growth. Setting boundaries is another critical skill. We all need boundaries haha

Finally, I’d say learning how to moodboard effectively is a game-changer. Moodboarding is key to creating a clear vision for any project—narratively, aesthetically, and conceptually. Do your research and make it tangible; don’t just say “it’s in my head” that’s not helpful to anyone who’s working with you to make this happen. Moodboarding brings your vision to life and keeps everyone aligned. As someone still early in my journey as an artist and human, I’m constantly learning and growing, and I hope these things can help you learn and grow too.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I think everyone should make the effort to become more well-rounded. Use your strengths and weaknesses to find people who are stronger than you, and learn from them so you can grow. Plants need soil, sunlight, and water—not just a lot of one of the three. Lots of plant metaphors in this interview, I think, but you get the picture, haha. Surround yourself with people who have new ideas, fresh perspectives, and strengths so you can learn from them. Learn how to grow and how to become a better artist and human.

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Image Credits

Ayuka Shichinohe, Robin Oldaker, Joey McManus, Jonah Scanlan

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