Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Qui Talks | Media Personality & Event Marketing

I pursued a career in the arts because I never had any interest in sitting behind a desk all day or becoming a doctor. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to creative pursuits like fashion, media, and marketing. I find immense joy in expressing myself through these mediums and bringing my ideas to life. But it’s not just a matter of preference. I believe that pursuing a career in the arts is essential for my personal growth and fulfillment. Read more>>

Chloe Anderson | Actress & Singer/Songwriter

Because I tend to be more right-brained I’m pretty much everything. I have outside-of-the-box ideas and I hate the thought of working a “traditional” 9-5 job for the rest of my life. I wish it was easier to have a secure creative job and there were more opportunities to do so, but I guess then everyone would do it. I’m proud of how creative I am and I have so many artistic ideas I want to come to life. Read more>>

Julie Downing | Children’s Book illustrator

Illustrating books combines so many elements that interest and inspire me. As a child, I was a huge reader and I loved stories: in books, in movies, and even family stories told by a variety of relatives. I loved immersing myself into the world of the characters in my favorite stories. I also did a lot of theater. I loved creating and inhabiting the world of the character I played. Read more>>

Ryan Wang | Artist/Filmmaker

I initially studied Anthropology and International Studies for the first two years at UC-Irvine. Later on, I took some classes in filmmaking, and in my senior year, I was selected by the school to go to Nepal and create a documentary about a farm run by a couple at the top of Mountain Manhku in rural Nepal. This farm provided a safe haven for struggling women and children to live, work, and thrive. Read more>>

Shreya Thakkar | Design Researcher & Strategist • Experience Designer • Futurist

Nestled in the heart of Vadodara, India, I was born with an insatiable desire to express my artistic side. Creating art was my escape, my haven, and my passion. As I grew older, my interest in design intensified and I pursued a degree in Interior Architecture in Gujarat. Soon after graduation, I found myself at Nikki Thomas Architects, a prestigious firm in Bangalore. Read more>>

Mariana Silva | Art Director and Set Dresser

Ever since I was little, I was very drawn to anything artistic. When I was little I enjoyed painting, and creating art pieces for my family. My parents always enrolled me in extra curricular activities that consisted of painting, drawing, or ceramics. Friends and family always gifted me with art supplies, color pencils, paint, markers, anything for me to paint and draw. All of that was a very important part of me, and helped me cope with the challenges I faced when I was growing up. Read more>>

Krystal Dinsberg | Comedy TV Writer

I’ve always been a writer. Seriously, when other little kids wrote about their feelings in diaries, I was creating worlds and stories. Why I didn’t use the computer to do this I have no idea, but I began to fill out pages in journals since middle school. Since I’m a military daughter and moved quite a bit growing up being creative also lead me to finding my “tribe” of like minded individuals every place we lived. Theater and writing were a way for me to use my energy in a way that transported me and gave me a semi-family. Read more>>

Catlin Tran | Founder & CEO of Nutripair

I think many people overlook the creativity and artistry in everyday items like technology. But I believe that technology is actually the most accessible form of design and serves as a canvas for ideas that we interact with every day. Every platform we use, the phones that we touch, the laptops that we type on; were all designed by someone with a certain vision in mind and a particular experience to convey. Read more>>

Justin N. Kim | Artist / Painter

Ever since I was a little child I enjoyed creating imagery. I paint nowadays and the joy of creating is still present in the studio. Albeit, it is difficult to achieve that flow state and feel that joy, this is something I was made to do, to create. Read more>>