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.

Daria Daria Strachan

I’ve always been a creative person. Ever since I was little, I have always had a love for drawing, painting, and storytelling. During Quarantine, my creativity manifested in different ways; first through painting, then through drawing and storyboarding, and then eventually into filmmaking during my junior year of high school. Read More>>

Aakash Subramaniam

I didn’t pursue a creative career just because I liked cameras or visuals. I went into it because I needed a way to express the things I didn’t always know how to say out loud. Cinematography gave me that space. It helped me sit with my emotions instead of running away from them. And honestly, it helped me make sense of what I was feeling while giving others something real to connect to. Read More>>

Kurumi Murata

I grew up in Japan and moved to California at 21 to study abroad. I’ve always been fascinated by languages and cultures — by how they shape our understanding of the world. But when I first arrived in the U.S., I ran into a huge challenge: communicating in English. I couldn’t fully express myself, and that led to a deep sense of isolation. Read More>>

Yuhao Wang

I am someone who is deeply curious and thoughtful about the world around me. To me, art is more than just a creative outlet—it is a language. It allows me to articulate my thoughts, to “invoice” my voice, and to amplify it so that others—perhaps even the world—can hear and see it. Read More>>

Jacob Teran

I pursued a creative career because it allowed me to express who I am. My life took many unexpected turns. My background is not the typical/ traditional one. I dropped out of high school. I went to a juvenile rehabilitation center for what was known at the time as at-risk youth. I got into trouble in the streets by making some questionable choices. I saw many violent acts that most teenagers (depending where one lives) don’t witness and experience.  Read More>>

Dj Vixen K

I took interest in pursuing artistic or creative career because I wanted to have a career that didn’t feel like work. I knew my why’s from an early age. I grew up around music, dj, and party planners so it was embedded in me that I go a route that not only doesn’t feel like work but that also puts a mile on people’s face. Read More>>

Sean Kellz

In my childhood, I never mentioned wanting to pursue this out loud. The gift was always there and some in my community would always say “remember me when you make it.” As a child, it gave me a lot of confidence like ‘oh I must really have something.’ However, I was raised to keep a day job in order to maintain adulthood, but I’ve never felt more comfortable on any job than I feel behind a microphone. Read More>>

Bogush

I didn’t have much of a choice! Before coming to the US I didn’t have any real work experience other than being a performer/singer-songwriter. My very first “job” was music – I used to busk for a living on the streets in Europe. And when I moved here, soon enough I made a decision to keep doing that and make money solely on music. I didn’t know anyone in LA and all I had was my acoustic guitar. That’s why this decision was so important – it forced me to constantly keep making new connections and discover new opportunities. Read More>>

Stella Cher Lee

I pursued an artistic/creative route because this was the only way to unapologetically express myself. I never saw myself in the corporate industry but maybe that’s also because I’ve always been a dreamer. The dreams I’ve had growing up never stopped growing. The desire to figure out who I am, what I’m meant for on this Earth all came crashing down on me one day. Read More>>

David Meneses

To be honest, it never really felt like a decision. It was just who I was. Since I was a kid, I’ve been drawn to stories that sparked the imagination. I grew up watching anime like Cowboy Bebop and Saint Seiya, reading fiction like Harry Potter, and getting lost in graphic novels like Watchmen. Those worlds felt limitless. They taught me that creativity isn’t just about escaping reality—it’s about reshaping it. Read More>>

Anne Yasmine

I initially saw art as an outlet, a cathartic space where I could perform, express, and find release. In Indonesia, that space had its own spotlight and I was fortunate to experience the highs of recognition and momentum. But it wasn’t until I moved to New York City that I understood why I truly chose this path. Pursuing an artistic career has a way of humbling you. It strips away illusions and constantly nudges you to face yourself, to be honest, to be vulnerable, even when it’s uncomfortable. Read More>>

Valeria Munoz Reyes

I chose a creative path because I’ve always felt that the stories we believe, the ones we’re told and the ones we tell ourselves, quietly shape everything around us. They influence how we see each other, what we believe is possible, and even what we think we deserve. Art has this strange, powerful way of revealing those stories. Read More>>

Cayla Josephson

For years leading up to college — and even making my way through college — I was split on what I wanted to do. My time was split between the arts where I pursued acting and writing and the sciences where I studied bones and forensics. Even through community college I collected associates degrees like they were Pokémon cards, still delaying the moment where I would have to choose a path.  Read More>>

Emerald Terrell

Creativity has always been a part of who I am. As a child, I gravitated toward anything hands-on and imaginative—puzzles, board games, DIY projects, sewing, calligraphy—you name it. I also started dancing at the age of three, which gave me an early foundation in artistic expression and movement. I naturally thrive in creative environments, and photography became a perfect outlet for that. It’s also a career that constantly challenges me to grow—both technically and creatively—and I love the balance between artistic freedom and problem-solving that each shoot brings Read More>>

Anie Delgado

I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. Believe me ,over the years I have tried. I started writing music to process my own big feelings but along the way, I realized that there are a lot of other people out there that connect to my vulnerability. I keep making music because I love connecting with people and giving them permission to be vulnerable and feel everything. Read More>>

Iana Tokarchuk

I knew early on that I wanted to be an artist. I think of creating as an axis of being—something everything else in life revolves around. And I see my photographs as an extension of myself in a way. I guess I just didn’t want to do anything else that wouldn’t give me that same sense of fulfillment. Read More>>

Richard Hall

Choosing an artistic or creative career can be driven by a passion for self-expression, innovation, and bringing new ideas to life. Many creatives find fulfillment in turning their imagination into reality, whether through visual arts, music, writing, or other forms of artistic expression. It’s a way to leave a mark, connect with others, and continuously grow and learn. Read More>>

Watson Side

I never felt like I really had a choice in the matter. Call it destiny, fate…whatever. It was clear quite early on that I would never be a bank teller, a firefighter, an IT consultant…I could go on. I remember watching the opening number from the 2013 Tony Awards on Youtube over and over again. I was 14 at the time. But even before that, my dad had a vision for me and my two sisters. We were the Gould Sisters, a modern take on the Andrew Sisters.  Read More>>