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.

Adriana Villi

Much of my adult life I have been torn going back and forth from a “practical” non-artistic path to a creative life and career. I always seemed to have one foot in and one foot out. I found it difficult to try to balance working 9-5 and still fully pursue my artistic passions. Although I was blessed with a job that I really enjoyed with great people, I felt like part of my soul was dying a little bit more each day. Read More>>

Mehrnaz Mohammadi

Sometimes I try to imagine what I would become if I had a chance to redo things all over again. I fantasize about becoming a neuroscientist, a therapist, or even a politician. But the more I think about who I was when I was born and how my nature combined with my unique upbringing, I believe that I would have always chosen an artistic career, even if that sounds somewhat ludicrous. So I pursued an artistic career because I had no choice. Read More>>

Alma Ramirez

As a child i was all about the performing arts. I was in a performing arts academy where I took lessons in Singing, acting, dancing and piano. For whatever reason I decided to abandon the arts at around 10 years old and focused on school with the ultimate goal of becoming a doctor. I got my bachelor’s in Biology and after taking my MCAT, I realized medical school was not my end goal after all, so I decided to get an MBA in Healthcare administration instead. Read More>>

Matt Orso

Someone once told me that I couldn’t or that it was a bad idea to do so. Most of my favorite things to do are artistically slanted; thus, it makes sense for me to pursue something in the artistic field. I’ve always been more interested in creative pursuits, I think my biggest love is storytelling. All things I do typically revolve around that. Whether it be photography or writing, or film making, a good story is what most motivates me. When I was a kid, my school had a career day, and this gentleman who spoke to my class said something that stuck with me. “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”  Read More>>

Bradley Palermo

Ive always done hair and music. Even when I was touring a lot in my bands Femme Fatality, and later in The Sudden Passion and as a solo act, I was always coming right back back home to take haircut clients. I think the two go well together, and I’m just not a guy who’s going to sit in a quiet office. Val Barber is the kind of place we’re I’d actually hang out, where I do hang out. It’s got good music, good people, and often times my dog Dale. It keep life fun. Read More>>

Sabrina Stern

As a kid I I’m sure you were asked many times what you wanted to be when you grew up. Nobodies answer was ever something for the end result being money. Sure, some people wanted to be doctors, but if you ask them why, I’m positive the answer would not be “to pay the bills.” I never knew what I wanted to do at that age, but as I got older, I’m sure my younger self would be happy I chose what I wanted to do as opposed to something that just paid the bills.  Read More>>

Eric (Cawfee) Lewandowski

Because for me, it was all or nothing. Some people are totally okay with working a 9-5, having a family, growing old and that’s that. Sometimes when I talk to people about making music or being a musician they’ll say “uhg, I wish I could do that!” And the truth is I can’t really either haha. I just want to create sounds and make music that I haven’t heard yet, and I’m not sure I really know how to at the end of the day; the only think I do know is that to figure it out, you just have to try. That’s why I picked a creative career in music, because I have that delusional voice in my head that won’t go away until I sit down and make the sounds I want to hear in my head. For me, there was no other option. Read More>>

Joel Chandler

I wish I had a cool answer but the short answer is I can’t not. Music is a terrible career. There’s no money, tons of investment of time and money, rejection is omnipresent at every level, and it often feels like nobody gives a short or it’s impossible to cut through the noise. Read More>>

Sean Dunlap

It was the best way I could express myself without words. Growing up as a child with autism at a time when nobody knew anything about the disorder, I couldn’t speak until I was 7 years old, but I was able to express myself through art work. As I grew older, I began to learn how important it was to everybody. That art itself and free expression was just as important as oxygen. Read More>> 

Tammy Allen

I pursued a creative career because creating gives me a voice. It took me a very long time to feel like my voice mattered. I think a lot of people either don’t feel like their voice matters or they are on a journey to discovering it. What I love about styling is that it allows me to be a part of that journey. Everyone deserves to find their voice and present exactly who they are to the world. My job is to bring their vision of themself to reality and help their confidence bring them one step closer to finding their voice. Read More>>

Brandi Overton

Total fluke! My husband at the time had a friend whose wife did designer cookies. I was looking for a little extra cash, as I was a stay-at-home mom at the time and she was looking for help delivering her orders. I was her delivery driver. Little did I know, I had an artistic hand and eye for the same thing. That’s where it all started! Read More>>

Simone Thomas-Rowe

The one question I’ve been asked repeatedly over the years is “what do you want to be when you grow up?” First, it was a teacher, then a detective, an actress, a journalist, and now a film director. For most of my life, I enjoyed being in the spotlight. I loved public speaking, acting, and doing anything that allowed me to put myself out there and meet new people. As little kids we are told we can do anything imaginable.  I believe my destiny was always directing, even if I didn’t always realize it.  Read More>>

Shaun Fabos

I pursued a creative career because I can’t not create—it’s just how I’m wired. I started in post-production doing Foley work, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to shape sound, to be in the music. Mixing became my thing, and that led to producing EDM just for the love of it. Even now, running a studio, I’m still creating, just in a different way. Whether it’s designing a room, curating a vibe, or helping artists develop, it’s all part of the creative flow. I’ve never been able to just clock in and do something I’m not passionate about. Creativity isn’t what I do: It’s who I am. Read More>>

Sonya Glass

Honestly, I wouldn’t know what else to do with myself if I wasn’t pursuing music. I wouldn’t recommend pursuing an artistic career unless it truly is what you feel you have to do. I say this because, there really isn’t a road map to success as an artist. So much of it is out of your control. I knew I wanted to be a singer songwriter when I was around 7 years old. I heard the song “Winter” by Tori Amos and I thought, someone finally understands how I feel. Then I thought, I want to do that, I want to be able to capture my feelings this way. Read More>>

Ava Q. Rodriguez-Smith

Getting my B.F.A. in Fine Arts, I had no clear path as to what I was going to do after graduating college. I began working in the skateboard industry. Learning on the job I started in the warehouse silk screening graphics onto skateboards and tees. Given more responsibilities I started designing clothing and footwear, then art director, eventually working my way up to brand manager, helping establish one of the first BIPOC premiere street/urban skate brands of its time with pro skateboarder Kareem Campbell, called Axion Footwear. It was part of World Industries, during the golden era of skateboarding in the 90’s that saw explosive growth. Read More>>

George S. Harkness III

I pursued an artistic and creative career because of one message my college professor, Dr. Sutton gave after I completed my final exit exam. He said that no matter how much money you make or how successful you become, if you don’t pursue your passion, it will all mean nothing in the end. I thought I was going to work in Human Resources but instead, I’m living a LA dream I didn’t know I had. I am truly grateful for all that I have been blessed with thus far and hope to be one to others along my journey! Read More>>

Alyssa Hudson

Honestly, I get bored really easily — I’ve always bounced between different creative outlets or ideas. I love learning new things and challenging myself, and for a long time, I was trying to find something that could really hold my interest. When I started A’kini, it was different. I wasn’t bored — and I haven’t been since. I do everything behind the scenes: the designing, the website, the photoshoots, editing, social media, customer service, you name it — it’s all me. And the crazy part is, I love it. It’s the first time I’ve been able to pour all my creative energy into something that’s entirely mine. It lets me be artistic, strategic, and hands-on every single day — and that constant evolution is what keeps me going. Read More>>

Elsian Atienza

I pursued an artistic career because, for as long as I can remember, music has always felt like home. Growing up in Oak Harbor, a small town on an island, opportunities were limited, but I still found ways to put myself out there, whether it was posting covers on YouTube, performing at school talent shows, or local community events. It was never about chasing fame, I just really loved doing it. Read More>>

Leah Rabinowitz

I’ve always been fairly shy, and the only way I knew how to express myself was through my creativity. I started wanting to be an actor because I loved embodying different characters and somehow found it easy to perform as someone other than myself. As I got older and more comfortable with myself, I started to turn to photography, which combined my love for fashion and theatrics. As a photographer, you have to direct the subject rather than being directed, which took me a long time to get comfortable with – Read More>>

Amy Roiland

I actually stumbled into a creative career by accident. About 15 years ago, I started a fashion blog just for fun—styling my own looks, shooting photos on my rooftop with a tripod, a Nikon, and a clicker. I’d share the images everywhere I could. Slowly but surely, things began to take off. As my audience grew, I started collaborating with brands—and eventually, with some much bigger names as the journey continued. Read More>>

Jonathan Aguillon

For me, art and imagination were an escape from the challenges of my youth. When I immigrated to the United States, I had little exposure to American culture. To make sense of the world around me, I turned to drawing, video games, and comics—mediums that not only offered comfort but also helped broaden my horizons. Read More>>

Jasmine “Jax” Kohlbrenner

When I was young, I’d always watch DIY YouTube tutorials ranging from how to make your own squishies to lip scrub. One channel in particular, My Froggy Stuff, specializes in creating accessories, furniture, and displays for dolls like Barbie and Monster High using common materials. I would follow many of her tutorials, making new clothes for my dolls and furniture like a couch, which I still use to display some of my dolls to this day.  Read More>>