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.

Martin Thompson | Actor, Director, Acting Instructor

Well, I started out life with the double whammy of being both a Preacher’s Kid and a Navy Brat! My Dad was a Navy Chaplain. So, we moved around a lot. Every two years or so we would pack up and move across the country. So, I was always the new kid in school. One of the hardest questions I would ever have to answer was when people would ask me, “Where are you from?” I had no idea! I could tell you where we lived last week! Read more>>

Cillian Dunne | Author & Screenwriter

I write because I just genuinely enjoy it. I love sitting down and typing for hours on end. It’s a lot of fun for me. It was only a few years ago, after writing my second book, that I decided I would try to pursue a career in being an author & screenwriter. Things have been going really well and I’m happy I pushed myself to write more and work harder to make the dream a reality. Yet, if push ever came to shove and I was forced to pick up a full time, 9-5 career job, I would still happily write for free in my spare time. I really just genuinely love everything about storytelling. Read more>>

jialang cai | 摄影师

Photography can be a powerful medium for exploring and exposing the darker aspects of human nature. Through the lens of a camera, a photographer can capture and reveal hidden spaces and realities that are often overlooked or ignored. By bringing these images to light, the photographer can challenge viewers to confront the unknown and to see the world in new and different ways.  Read more>>

Joshua Nelson | Filmmaker and Acting Teacher

I was and have always been an extremely shy person, ever since I was very young. And then I saw a film called “And Justice For All” with Al Pacino. I was no more than 10 years old but something happened when I watched it…I thought- that was amazing and that is what I want to do with my life. I want to be on a screen creating magic like that…so, I had to learn how to overcome that quiet, introverted personality and find a way to become other people. Read more>>

Michelle Lum | Artist & Minister

I pursued an artistic career because it’s just who I am, how I was created to be. Being an artist is not easy nor is it straightforward, but I do it because it’s how God made me. I have worked in a few different fields, and I love trying new things, but coming back to art is always like coming home. There is this wonderful joy and excitement I get when inspiration strikes for a new artwork. Creating work, even the ones that are laborious and complicated, always gives me a sense of peace. Read more>>

Tianze Edward Sun | Filmmaker/Editor

I have always been passionate about film-making since I was nine years old, and wish to write and direct movies that inspire audiences to examine the society we live in, encourage individuals to pursue their passion and embrace new cultures with different formats in the media industry. In 2012, during a social event for handicapped children and members of the Charitable Association of Linyi (CAL), which I established after CCTV launched a program for caring for people with disabilities, where I met a young girl. Read more>>

Carrie J. Liu | Production Designer

Growing up, I had the privilege of traveling across the globe with my parents and friends, which exposed me to a multitude of cultures and diverse individuals that left a lasting impression on me. Witnessing the wide array of architectural styles, savoring delectable cuisines, and immersing myself in various aspects of humanity were incredibly inspiring experiences. These encounters solidified my passion for art and design, making it a clear and natural career path for me. Read more>>

Abby Draper | Strategic Communications Expert

In complete candor, I am terrible with numbers, math and science so it was writing and public relations or bust! Honestly though, it’s incredible to be personally passionate about my profession every single day and if I weren’t able to think outside of the box and collaborate with insanely smart people I would have a hard time enjoying my work. To me, writing, in any form — be it professionally, creatively, personally or as a form of therapy — is an outlet like none other. Read more>>

Belen Rediet | Photographer, Health Advocate, Social Media Specialist

I’ve always had a heart for photography. Growing up looking through my grandfathers National Geographic magazine collections, it was always exciting to see images from around the world and the different social impacts. Having that background I would get excited taking pictures of everything when I was in middle school using the Fujifilm QuickSnap or the Kodak single use cameras. Read more>>

Bobby Leigh | BOBBY LEIGH is a RECORDING ACADEMY, GRAMMY® Voting Member, an professional Actor, and Music Manager.

I think I was born a creative and artistic person. I think that some people have that and some people are born with it and some people have other career traits. For example, I was not born to be a doctor or a banker. My Mum was an artist and my father was a nuclear physicist. My father would not allow my Mum to be creative because he just didn’t understand creative or artistic people. It was foreign to him. Read more>>

Knial Saunders | Writer | Director | Producer

Sure as hell isn’t for the money. For me, this has always been about the freedom of expression and exploration of the human condition. If I look back into my childhood I can see the shape of a burgeoning artist. I was writing (angsty) music and poetry back then. But I felt seen. And I felt heard. Read more>>

Nourhan Wahdan | Design Director & Brand Strategist

It’s funny because I originally planned on joining medical school and becoming a doctor, and I could have saved my parents a lot of money considering I got offered a scholarship, but I have my dad to thank for that. He was the first to notice my “artistic talents” on all the walls of every room in our house since I was about 5 years old, and while he was an orthopedic himself, I think he knew deep down what my calling was at the time. Read more>>

Felix van Kann | Screenwriter

Frankly, because there’s nothing that excites me as much as storytelling does. I grew into it quite organically since coming up with stories and writing them down has been my outlet from a young age on. For the longest time, however, I didn’t really know that whole careers can be built around it and I dreaded the day where I would have to take on a job that wouldn’t make me fully happy. Read more>>

Vic de Aranzeta | Design Anthropologist and User Experience Designer

Growing up, I was surrounded by creative individuals in my family and social circle, including painters, musicians, photographers, and writers. This influence sparked my interest in the arts and led me to pursue illustration and photography 15 years ago. Read more>>

Maëlle Milligan | Fashion Photographer

I chose to pursue an artistic or creative career due to my deep passion for artistic expression and my desire to create something new and meaningful. Since a young age, I’ve been drawn to visual arts and have found true joy in the process of creation. Art allows me to express myself in a unique and personal way, to communicate my emotions, ideas, and worldview. Read more>>

Cyndee Arroyo | Photographer

I decided to pursue a creative career due to the fact that allowed me to be flexible with my creativity and express myself in an entirely different format. Photography is a medium that has always fascinated me. The ability to capture an amazing moment in time is not an easy feat. Once I started to shoot, it quickly became my passion. That passion inspires me to inspire others, persevere, and create memorable images. Read more>>

Eve Richards | Actress & Fashion Influencer

I am an actress and marketing professional who is passionate about the acting industry, fashion, travel, and giving back to the community. Growing up in London, New York, and Boston, I was exposed to different experiences and cultures that shaped my artistic sensibilities. Living with a confrontational lawyer and righteous judge made my home life entertaining—especially when I developed a passion for theatrics! Read more>>

Lydia Gomez | Entrepreneur & Educator

I had my first crafting class in 5th grade, which focused on crocheting. I fell in love with being able to use my hands to create something useful. Since then I’ve pursued any art electives available in middle school, high school, collage and during my free time. I had a blast creating whimsical, wacky and vibrant artwork. As an adult, I began asking myself important and practical questions to determine my career path. Read more>>

April Peng | Screenwriter/Filmmaker

I didn’t always plan to. I was a woman in stem until 21. But during my study abroad at UCLA, I joined an Asian American theater company where everything clicked into place: who I was, what I believed in, what to fight for. I wrote a short play about my wound from my immigration from China to the UK at 8 years old, leaving my dad behind. When I sent it to my dad, he had to read it copied and pasted into a web translator as he doesn’t speak English. Even so, he cried. I decided to pursue screenwriting. Read more>>