Deciding to pursue an artistic or creative career path isn’t for the faint of heart. Challenges will abound, but so many of the artists we speak with couldn’t be happier with their choice. So, we asked them about how they made the decision in the first place.

Hanyue Song | Visual Communication Designer

Since I was old enough to grasp a pencil and start doodling, I have always considered art and design to be my primary hobby. When I was quite young, I began to study drawing and handiwork, which I believe laid the seed for my future. However, at the time it was a hobby for me. Read more>>

Dorsey Britton III Christiaan Tahyar | Moose Mob Media

Dorsey: A combination of an overactive imagination and curiosity to discover something new artistically. From as far back as I can remember I’ve always had an interest in filmmaking and music. So choosing a career that was artistic and harnessed my creativity visually was a given for me. Read more>>

Louis Stevens | Composer

I’m not really certain I had any other choice or ever truly considered any other pathway. I can remember other times when I flirted with the idea of becoming an architect or even during the COVID lockdowns I applied for a masters degree to study acoustic engineering but I always came back to music in some form. Read more>>

Dexter Bensman | VP of Project Management

Unfortunately, I didn’t fully realize that music was a passion of mine until the absolute last second of my last semester in college. So my decision to pursue an artistic or creative career came very late which made it very difficult to land a job. Read more>>

Catherine Della Ripa | Portrait Photographer & Owner of Della Ripa Photography

I began the practice of photographing children and families when I had children of my own. As they grew I found myself with more and more time to devote to photographing other families and their children. I just fell in love with this process! Being able to capture the people that matter most to you in live is my passion! Read more>>

Danzhu Hu | Multidisciplinary Visual Storyteller

Growing up in a small town in southern China, I have always felt disconnected and isolated mentally, and because of my introverted disposition, I was used to having inner dialog and self-exploration from a young age. Read more>>

Julie Joseph | Dancer & Creator

To me, pursuing an artistic career has been more of an experiment than anything. I alawys was of the mentality that I’ll try it out until it no longer fits, and even though the fit has changed, it’s still where I feel most at home. Read more>>

Edoardo Gastaldi | Ambient and Neoclassical Music Composer

Since the very first years of my life, I always felt the need of inputs to create things, and ultimately to see progress in what I was doing. If at a certain age people would have asked me “What’s a thing you like?”, I would have – most likely – answered: “I’m a curious person, up to the point that I can find interest in anything”. Read more>>

Becca Guzman | Hairstylist

I actually never had it in my plans that I was going to pursue a creative career. Out of high school, family and friends would tell me to pursue hair since I was always changing my hair. By 25 I revisited that idea and enrolled at Vidal Sassoon in Santa Monica fortunately finding my passion. Read more>>

Lauren Dreyfus | Writer, Director, and Production Designer

I decided to pursue an artistic career because of the endless possibilities it leaves open for you. I have always wanted to be a writer and create worlds and new characters— I think filmmaking not only allows you to be creative in a visual sense but also introduces you to so many artistic departments. Read more>>

Tara Rey | Special Effects Makeup Artist

Art has always been a passion of mine. From a young age I knew I wanted to do something artistic. There’s so many different careers you can have as an artist. I fell in love with playing with makeup and bodypaint as a young age. Read more>>

Matthew Acuña | Animation Writer and Director

When I was younger, I explored every creative avenue I could get my hands on. I tried art (wasn’t my strong suit and still isn’t) and then comics (falls in the art category, so still wasn’t great) and writing. I found that no matter what I was doing, it was the story that really mattered to me above everything else. Read more>>

Brittany Charlotte Smith | Actor/Singer/Dancer

One of the early reasons I wanted to pursue a job in the arts was a genuine love of performing. As a kid, I forced my friends to learn the lyrics to Spice Girls songs and perform them with corresponding dance moves at recess. That 15 minute school yard concert was something I looked forward to everyday. Read more>>

Nupeir Garret | Actor, Dancer, Fitness Instructor

I felt incomplete when I didn’t follow my passions. I didn’t even have a plan after I graduated at California State University, of Sacramento. I got my degree in Theater & Dance in 2012. All I knew, it was either New York or Los Angeles. Los Angeles was a lot closer drive from Sacramento and my cousin Kael told me I could crash on his couch. I took that opportunity and ran with it! Read more>>

Ivory Kellogg | Artist| Musician| Health Coach

I decided to pursue an artistic career because it’s the only way I could see myself being truly fulfilled. I love performing and I love the journey of finding myself as an artist and creating my own unique voice. Read more>>

Arianna Barquero | Cosmetic Tattoo Artist & Professional Hair / Makeup Artist

Ever since I was 5 years old I would love playing with my mom’s makeup. Growing up my grandma would take her afternoon naps in her rocking chair and would allow me to “doll her up”while she slept. I loved it, because I could basically apply as much makeup as I wanted and she wouldn’t care because she was sleeping… Read more>>

Anthony Frisketti | Photographer

i’ve always been drawn to the more creative side of things. Visual arts has always been of interest to me. You can share a feeling or emotion without saying a word. Read more>>

Aishwarya Kirawant | Artist & Entrepreneur

I pursued an artistic/creative career because it is something I am very passionate about. Every song or video I create is a small part of me and my imagination. It is an outlet for me to put my emotions and create something meaningful that inspires others to create as well. Read more>>

Mari Ledezma | Colorful Artist

I decided to pursue the idea of a creative career as an artist because I have always been very passionate about art in general. I can honestly say it comes naturally for me and I have had a lot of encouragement from my peers over the years. Overall, making artwork makes me very happy and I have seen how much people like my work. It just encourages me to continue and to not give up. Plus if I am able to add more color into the world, then that is what I will do! Read more>>

Kelsey Le | Entrepreneur & Nail Designer

As a perfectionist, I used to crumble up and throw away any paper I was drawing on when a line I wanted to be straight, wasn’t. I used to give up on any thing I wasn’t immediately good at. I remember in elementary school that I tried to do graffiti because two of my friends were really good at it. Read more>>

Tianshu Wu | Illustrator

I enjoy imagining and telling stories. When I was so little that I couldn’t read, I made up stories from illustrations in picture book and shared with my parents. I would require them to listen and if I sensed that they were not paying attention, I asked: “ Are you listening?” Read more>>

Lun Padungvichean | Illustrator and Rug Maker

I think art is one thing I truly enjoy in life. It is something I can spend a whole day on without getting tired (most of the time). I start making art when I was really young and it’s been something I enjoy doing since then. Read more>>