Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?

Artists and creatives face innumerable challenges given that their career path often doesn’t come with a playbook, a steady paycheck or any form of safety net. It’s definitely not easy and so we asked a few of the artists and creatives we admire to talk to us about why they chose to pursue an artistic or creative career.

Briana James | Actress | Artist

I often tell people that art chose me. I first found acting as a middle school student who had just moved to a new state. I was experiencing the preteen devastation of leaving my home and all of my friends. I felt so out of place. I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. Then, all of a sudden, there was light in the darkness. I stood in the office at my new school and the registrar passed a list of electives across the desk. “Pick one,” she said. The word DRAMA lifted off the page (cue the angelic background music). Before I knew it, I found the comfort that I was so desperately seeking. Read more>>

Nalu | Recording Artist, Singer, Songwriter & Musician

I was born into a musical family where expression was always nurtured. Creativity was a natural part of life. From an early age, I was encouraged to explore my own voice and passions, learning to play guitar at just 8 years old and enjoying the freedom to create. This foundation planted a deep love for music and storytelling that has grown with me, especially as I’ve journeyed from South Africa to Los Angeles. My sound blends RnB, jazz, soul and acoustic influences, reflecting themes of love, self-discovery and womanhood. Each song I create is a part of my own healing process and an invitation for others to connect, feel seen and find empowerment in their own stories. Read more>>

Sean Nyambayo | Actor, Screenwriter & Director

Pursuing an artistic career has been about so much more than a simple career choice; it’s a deep-seated passion for self-exploration that feels almost like a calling. The need to create and express myself brings a profound sense of purpose, and with each role, I find a unique opportunity to step into different layers of my own identity. It’s not just about the performance—it’s a process of tapping into my own life experiences and vulnerabilities. For example, when portraying a character overcoming adversity, I draw on my own struggles and triumphs, which pushes me to confront aspects of myself I might otherwise overlook. This journey is transformative, allowing me to grow both personally and professionally. Read more>>

Alima Botasheva | Fashion Designer and Fitter & Tailor

I pursued a career in fashion because I’ve always believed in the power of clothing to tell stories and empower people. Growing up in a conservative town in Russia, I felt a deep desire to express myself in ways that went beyond the traditional expectations placed on women. Fashion became my outlet for individuality, creativity, and, ultimately, change. Read more>>

Isaiah Thompson | Sports Graphic Designer

As a kid I always enjoyed sports and drawing. I played basketball since I was three years old and always liked to draw growing up. In 2020 going into 2021, which was my senior year of high school, COVID-19 Quarantine had us doing school online and our basketball team’s season was on hold. I started exploring other things that I liked to do which was playing video games. I found I wanted to become an NBA 2k YouTuber and streamer. I started editing my videos and making my own YouTube Channel art and thumbnails with my phone. I realized during this time I liked the process of creating art and thumbnails more than actually recording YouTube videos. I started to come across many sports’ graphic designers on Instagram and YouTube and saw this as a great opportunity to bring together two things I am very passionate about: sports and art!! Read more>>

Adjovi Koene | Actor, Writer, & Innovator

I pursued an artistic and creative career as a means of expressing my life with purpose—whether through storytelling, creative development, or my business ventures. Growing up, I was profoundly influenced by the storytelling traditions of my family’s culture in Togo, along with the rich inspiration of American life. Although these two worlds are vastly different, I feel fortunate enough to have experienced both. It has provided me with the opportunities to blend and express these influences. Read more>>

Amelia Jáuregui | Cinematographer

Truth be told, I never expected myself to end up seriously pursuing a creative career, as growing up I found myself leaning towards jobs in STEM, particularly medicine. The arts were something I viewed more as a ‘hobby,’ and not something I could genuinely pursue. However, though my goals were different, my passion was always in the arts, as I was the friend holding a camera and forcing my friends to do photoshoots, or making recap videos of trips that I went on. But until I found myself at a theater conference in my late high school years, and stumbled upon a ‘Filmmaking 101’ Workshop where the lecturer said “your passion can become your profession if you’re willing to work for it,” it hadn’t dawned on me that where I was spending my free time was in my passions, and the way I felt in my bio or chem classes was not the way I felt when holding a camera. Read more>>

Melanie Herrera | Professional actor and dancer

I actually stumbled upon it by accident! But once I started it, I never looked back and I knew I found my calling! I began my social media career when I was 9 and started off doing basic dancing reels that were trending. Little by little I started doing dancing reels that were more challenging and difficult. This is also when I found myself being more creative in the art of acting. I started doing acting reels, and most of them were comedic videos. I began to take acting classes and began doing more serious work like auditioning for shows, movies and commercials. I signed with rage models and talent when I was 9 and really started to fall in love with acting. Read more>>

Jasmine Rae | Interior Design& Content Creator

It’s a long story, but I will do my best to make it short. I’ve always been a creative, artistic person. I went to college for psychology because of my deep love for people, but when I finished and tried to work a regular 9-to-5 job, I struggled to stay passionate, focused, and driven. Like many other creators, I felt I was made for something more. Read more>>

Matt Haley | Comic book artist

It was always the plan! I knew when I was five years old that I wanted to be a comic book artist, one bit was made clear that one could make a living doing that! Got my first professional gig when I was twenty, drawing “Star Trek”, and while I’ve never been rich, I’ve paid the bills ever since. Just couldn’t see myself chained to a desk going to meetings and shuffling papers (or emails) worrying about what a boss thinks of my tie. Read more>>

Si Yi Lee | Animator & Storyboard Artist

I wasn’t planning on becoming an artist or animator in the beginning. I always have a passion in art, but like most typical Asian students, I was going to pursue a degree in economics or finance because that earns money. However, the college application forced me to think about who I want to become in the future. In the end, I realized that my only interest is creating artworks. But which specific art field is the question. I started browsing through different areas of arts. Then, one day, I came through an animated YouTube series made by Bible Project. It sparks me how animation can be an influential and effective medium on conveying what the artist believes. Read more>> 

Alisa Tovmanyan | Creative Director & Co-Founder at J’Adore Les Fleurs Flower Boutique

From a young age, creativity was woven into the fabric of my life. I can still picture myself draping clothes on my little frame, dreaming up outfits for my Barbies, and delighting in the intricacies and vibrant colors around me. My grandfather introduced me to the world of art and nature, while my grandmother fueled my passion for sewing, bringing home beautiful fabrics that sparked my imagination. Read more>>

Tatiana Mekikyan | Content Creator & Social Media Manager

I’ve always been enamored with content creating. When I was a kid, I always remember picking up a camera and just filming. I’d film my family, friends, cousins, we’d make amateur (aka cringy) videos, and I’d edit them on iMovie. It was a funny hobby I started to pick up especially around the time YouTube was blowing up, but at the time there was no content creators, the word didn’t even exist. I also loved the entertainment industry, movies, tv shows, and pop-culture, so it really helped use my imagination when it came to filming and editing. Read more>>

Elijah Bell | Actor/producer

I purse an artist career because it allows me to express and experience factors of myself that I don’t use on a day to day basis. Acting and producing give me an outlook on life and other perspectives of living experiences. Shows me life through another persons lens. Read more>>

Jingjing Fang | Unreal Engine artist/ Virtual world builder

I pursued a career as a creative artist because I realized early on that traditional design work, despite my six years of professional education, didn’t fully allow me to express my creative potential. During my undergraduate studies, I often felt out of place compared to my peers, as my work focused not only on aesthetics but also on humanistic and socially responsible design. However, when I entered the workforce, the market downturn and industrialized company models didn’t offer a platform for me to apply these skills. Even though I had a stable full-time job, I constantly felt that my unique talents weren’t being put to use. Read more>>

Liron Danieli | DJ/Producer

I pursued a creative career because, for me, music was always more than just sound, it was my escape, my passion, and a constant part of my life. Growing up, I was always dancing, singing, and surrounded by that kind of energy.
Music became my way of connecting to myself and the world around me. Read more>>

Miracle Pelayo | Actress, Model, Fashion Content Creator, Cerebral Palsy Warrior

I pursude acting and modeling because I felt like it was my calling at a very young age. Growing up as a child at the age of 4, my dad would always video tape me and I thought in my head I had my own tv show. I always felt at home in front of the camera. And that’s when I knew I was bit with the acting bug. When I was 12, my parents took me to go see a play and I noticed the lead actress was able bodied playing a disabled character and I turn to my Dad and I said.I was going to change that one day. I started doing theater in middle school and in high school. Read more>>

Qiuyi Li | Costume designer for stage and film

As an introvert, I’ve always been drawn to quietly observing people, curious about their behaviors, expressions, and the hidden stories within. My fascination with human nature and the layers of emotion beneath the surface made me passionate about costume design once I began working in this industry. Costume design allows me to delve deeply into each character, exploring their unique inner worlds and bringing their stories to life through what they wear. When I chose this path eight years ago, I didn’t have a clear idea of where it would lead—I just loved watching movies and seeing how the characters’ lives both reflected and diverged from my own experiences. Read more>>