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.

Katrina Kaj” Kunstmann | Non-Binary Queer Comic Creator

I’ve been drawing and writing since I was very young, encouraged by artistic parents (artist/hair stylist, and chef, respectively) and I’d also been exposed to aspects of nerd culture such as video games, anime, and manga when I was young. These influences left a significant impact on me and I decided at an early age I was either going to do something artistic or become a veterinarian. The connective ability of storytelling to convey emotion to an audience has always interested me. It something I want to create in my own work. I went to university in London for screenwriting, but when the UK Parliament changed the laws such that my university no longer qualified for a post-study work Visa, I had to move back to the California. Read more>>

Yi Zhu | Graphic & Production Designer

I pursued an artistic and creative career driven by my deep passion for design and creativity. It all began with my BFA in Interior Design from Miami University, which laid the initial foundation. To broaden my skills and artistic horizons, I pursued an MFA in Graphic Design at ArtCenter College of Design, spanning graphic, interior, and film production. What sets me apart is my unwavering emphasis on storytelling. I’m dedicated to infusing emotion and narrative into every project, whether for global brands or indie films, aiming to resonate deeply with audiences and leave a lasting impression. Read more>>

Sylvia Estes | Sculptor and Assistant Gallery Curator

My aspiration is to live a life that feels meaningful. I want to find the potential for artfulness in the world around me. This pursuit feels more like a lifestyle than it does a career. It’s not something that I do for the money, it’s not something I think I could ever retire from – it’s just who I want to be. I would still pursue these things if I had to support myself in a completely different way. I feel extremely fortunate that I’ve been able to make a living from my interests and passions, but that wasn’t always the case. I’ve had to work really hard and at times sacrifice comfort and convenience in order to get to a place where I feel secure in pursuing my art and curation as a supportive endeavor. Read more>>

Alyssa DiMartino | Filmmaker & Writer

Art is such an important part of my life, and it always has been, so pursuing filmmaking feels more like a natural progression and less like an active choice. I started “making movies” when I was about 5 with my 2 brothers and an old VHS recorder. I know that even if I worked an office job from 9-5, I’de still be creating when I got home, whatever that might mean on any given day. Scriptwriting and filmmaking are the main focus of my creative endeavors, but on the outskirts of my film career lay all kinds of art, especially music. I’ve been singing for my whole life (in school, choirs, vocal groups, and various music programs) writing music, and playing guitar for almost 10 years. Read more>>

Michael Cueto | Screenwriter and Filmmaker

For me, an artistic career was a no-brainer. Obviously, like most other creatives, I thought about it a lot, stressed about it, second-guessed myself, and continue to worry about if I’ve really made the right choice all the time. Film is a hard field and it demands a lot from you. But at a certain point in my life I had to read the writing on the wall: when I was 7 I wanted to draw comics, when I was 9 I wanted to be a novelist, and going into high school I wanted to enter film. I’ve always wanted to do something creative. The connecting tissue between the three was that I just wanted to tell stories. Read more>>

Marinthia Gutierrez | Filmmaker

For me, making art is a necessity. It came so naturally for me to pursue this path because I think I’ve always known that the arts were for me. If I said I couldn’t be doing anything else than film, I would be lying, because if the necessity arose I would be doing something else to keep me afloat— and as a matter of fact, I am doing so many things to get me through— and I’m also privileged enough to keep going with my artistic pursuits. Read more>>

Aaron Christian | Graphic Designer

I chose to pursue a creative career because my deep rooted passion for creating things has been a constant driving force in my life, dating back to my childhood. From an early age, I gained a huge following by bringing my ideas to life through various creative outlets such as making my own stop motion videos, expressing myself through drawing, and building imaginative structures out of LEGO bricks. The simple creative process has always been a source of joy and satisfaction for me. It is in these moments that I feel most connected to my inner self and the world around me. Whether I’m imagining a story, mixing colors on canvas, or turning a blank canvas into something filled with color, every act of creation provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Read more>>

Mitchell Gross | Visual Creator

After a serious cycling accident resulted in me having to have my right arm surgically reconstructed twice. I decided that I wanted to leave the corporate world. I was left unable to hold a camera for more than two and a half months because my right arm was in a cast and sling. Moving forward, I realized that I needed to pursue career options that were ultimately things that I found more satisfying. That inspiration stays with me today, Read more>>

Mike Campbell | Actor

I love acting! there’s nothing else I’d rather do. I love storytelling. I love telling stories that aren’t told in the history books. I love being able to have someone walk into a theater of any kind and leave slightly different then when they walked in for the better. Acting also helps us as actors understand each other and allow ourselves to be put in other shoes which in turn, can allow others outside of acting to understand the world around them. Read more>>

Siyi Lin | Film Producer

For me, transitioning into the art industry is a significant shift, but it is a choice I feel compelled to make. I have had a passion for music and film since I was a kid. I started learning piano and vocal at 4, and some of the happiest moments of my week were spent watching movies with my family. However, as an adult, I accidentally ended up in the technology industry. While technology is also an area of interest for me, art has always been buried deep within my soul, my most beloved field. Read more>>

Taylor Ross | Actor, content creator, & storyteller

Growing up on both coasts, New York and LA, I was subjected to a lot of culture and the arts. I got bitten by the acting bug at 3 and haven’t looked back since! But more than just wanting to act and play all sorts of fun characters, I wanted to take that talent by telling stories that will make the world a better place. Read more>>

Liz Foulks | Visual Artist

From the earliest memories of my childhood, I have reveled in the act of bringing something new and of my own into existence. This love for crafting and shaping the intangible into the tangible has been a guiding force throughout my life. Interestingly, my artistic journey took a detour initially. I set out on a path to study psychology at college, a field that had always fascinated me and seemed the most realistic in terms of career paths. Within my first year of school, I felt a gentle tug at my heart to embrace what I loved most — creating art. Read more>>

Mabel Palomino | Creative director for Events & Entertainment at Manina World

I’ve had this burning passion for shows and costumes ever since I was a little kid, probably around 4 or 5 years old. I grew up in a small village called Marcona in Peru, and I used to come up with these wild ideas for costumes and performances. My dear grandma would work her magic on her sewing machine to bring my visions to life, and I’d perform in local fashion shows or invite people over to our front yard for impromptu shows. That’s where it all started, really. But, you know, life doesn’t always let you do what you love right away. As I grew up, I dabbled in a bit of dance, learned a smidge of piano, and wasn’t much into sports. Read more>>

Angelo Clarizio | Cinematographer

Im pursuing a creative career because I feel that art in all aspects reflects life, and often art can shape peoples lives. For me, movies saved me. There was a portion of my life I was I had lost my identity. I stopped being me and I was depressed. I watched “her’ by Spike Jonze and “Interstellar” by Christopher Nolan and these movies helped me tremendously by allowing me to escape my harsh reality. Movies like these let my mind run free, while at the same time as films typically do, taught me deep core values and beliefs that helped me get out of that state of mind. Read more>>

Kathy Hart | Permanent Makeup Artist

Since I was about 10 I loved to draw and paint. It was one of my favorite things to do. It became a passion of mine that I wanted to incorporate in the career that I pursue. I felt as thought my love of art could potentially change someone’s life one day. Micro blading is your own art, in its own way. It is how I express my love for drawing in the sense that I am creating one’s personal unique eyebrow. Eyebrows are an essential feature and people always care about the way they look. Knowing that my clients trust me enough to draw a semi-permanent tattoo on their face is almost like a reward. Read more>>

Drayton DeWitt | Recording Artist & Aspiring Producer

For me Creating is and option. For as long as I can remember creating has given me validation that I can make y that observers can appreciate. Being able to go from an inspiration to and complete work is satisfying for me. Read more>>