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.

Marly Beyer | Artist and Art Instructor

Art has always been this innate thing for me, so in some ways it didn’t feel like a choice so much as the inevitable. I always knew I wanted to be an artist and work in that realm, and I’ve been very lucky that I’ve been able to pursue doing so. Read more>> 

Noopur Choksi | Visual Designer & Illustrator

I have always been a visual thinker. Picture books, graphic novels, and cartoons with their vivid stories, twisted worlds, and zany narratives caught my fancy from a very young age. I think I picked up art to channel my discomfort, imagination, and curiosity about the world into something more concrete and tangible. Read more>>

Yueqiao Ma | Multidisciplinary Artist & Tattoo Artist

I knew I would become an artist since I started walking. Growing up in China as an only child, life hasn’t been easy for me. I grew up with my grandparents while my parents worked day and night, I hardly had time to hang out with them. I used to draw on the ground by myself a lot to kill time. Read more>>

Kara Stegner | Free-Range Kara: Professional Wrestler, Veterinary Technician

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a desire to entertain. It started with singing at church as a child, then school plays, marching band, choir; and now professional wrestling. When I’m out in front of an audience or crowd, I feel my most alive. Read more>>

KS the Wolf

Just like anyone else, the career somewhat found me. I enjoy being expressive, and find peace when getting creative. At this point I’m just trying to maintain my peace. Read more>>

Freddy Sheinfeld | Composer for Film & Television

Music has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. Back in high school, I was always playing with different bands and discovering the thrill of playing with other people. But it wasn’t until I started messing around with composing that things really clicked for me. Read more>>

Siddharth Baxi | FX Technical Director

Growing up, Hollywood films and video games had always fascinated me, but I never imagined myself working in the creative industry. As a computer science major, I planned to pursue a career in data science. In my 3rd year, the subject of Computer Graphics was introduced to us. Read more>>

Julie Mendoza | Abstract Artist & positive minded

because art makes me feel like myself, it allows me to create and open my soul to the world. My full time job is a special ed assistant; thanks to the teachers I work with allow me to experience art with my students, learning their disabilities allows me to learn different material to use with, to create art projects for them to enjoy in the moment. Read more>>

MADE REESE | Creative Director & Designer

I have been blessed enough to experience things on both ends of the spectrum. I’ve been self employed and I’ve also had a corporate job. Though the corporate job provided me a level of stability, I always felt like I wanted to do more creative things with my time. Read more>> 

Jaime Quintana | Makeup Artist

Your career shouldn’t be a hassle , it shouldn’t an eye roll not even a sigh . Your career should be your passion because your are ment to succeed and your ment to grow in whatever you are passionate about . My passion comes from television and film. Read more>>

Mia Semone Flagg-McNeill | Illustrator

Honestly, it was the only path that I could see myself doing without losing any passion for it. While I was in high school I was stressed out about a lot of things, mostly what to major in for college which in my mind was basically deciding what to do for the rest of my life. Read more>>

PJ Hankins | Artist & Animator

I’ve always loved creating as far back as I can remember. In school, I would either be drawing or writing stories on the margins of my classwork. There was never a time I WASN’T doing something art or film related, but my younger self was worried that a creative career would be an unattainable goal and that maybe I should pursue a “safer” job path, but I never fully gave up on the idea of making art for a living. Read more>>

Mickey Jamieson | Recording Engineer, Producer, and Artist

There wasn’t a plan B; music was always the answer. It was the only thing in my life that gave me the passionate response I have for music, even from an early age, and that passion carries into every corner of the music I make. Read more>>

Susanne Phan | Audio Engineer & Music Producer

My journey into music began when my parents introduced me to “Kulturskolan,” the local music school in Älmhult, Sweden for a trial day. Although I was initially drawn to the violin, my parents were hesitant about committing to the daily practice it required because of the noise. Read more>>

Sailor Gio | Tattoo artist

For as long as I can remember, I always knew that my path in life would be linked to art. When I was little and at school we were asked what we wanted to do when we grew up, most of the children answered with common professions, such as doctor, fireman, policeman or veterinarian. Read more>> 

Gregory Verreault | Animator

I’ve always had a passion for storytelling. Movies and comics have always held a special place in my heart, but it wasn’t until I discovered the animated series: “Avatar: The Last Airbender” that I fully took notice of the power of Animation. Read more>>

Janya Govani | Actor, Writer, Artist

I don’t know. I never thought about it. I usually think about reasons to do something when something in me doesn’t wanna be bothered doing it. Read more>>

Benjamin Babadi | Engineering Art Designer

I have always been flooded with thoughts of creation, it is a desire in me that needs fulfillment. I found I could the best fulfill it in presence of tangible product that is also available through my channels and website. I live my dream when I am in my creative zone. Read more>> 

Kyle Reinhart | Film Composer and Guitarist

I honestly feel like it wasn’t a choice, I’ve always had an intrinsic desire to express myself through the arts and I never really saw myself doing anything else. Before I began my music career, I always was drawing or painting and was fascinated by cinema. Read more>>

Laurin Sampson | Singer Songwriter and Musician

I chose to pursue an artistic creative career because it allows me to express my innermost thoughts, emotions, and ideas in a way that transcends conventional communication. Read more>>

Ashley Nicole | Creating Films that are Special

I think the main reason why I wanted to do a career that allows me to be creative. was because it’s the only thing that felt right to me. Everything else I tried to do, never gave me the satisfaction and happiness that filmmaking gives me. Read more>>

Ron Yungul | Screenwriter, Producer

A friend once explained his motivation to pursue the arts: “It’s because I have no other tangible skills.” I won’t be quite as cynical, but there is some truth in that explanation. Creating is the only thing I am truly passionate about, long term. Read more>>

Yue long | Art Student & Carpe Diem Organization Chief Executive Officer

For a variety of reasons, including the urge to express oneself, the need to communicate ideas and feelings that are hard to put into words, and the drive to experiment and develop in new media, artists are frequently drawn to the creative process. Read more>>

Xinqian Li | Jazz guitarist& Composer

When I was 13 years old, I accidentally watched a Chinese TV show, and then I started to like music. At first, I liked singing along with the show, and then I wanted to learn guitar. It happened that my mother had a friend who taught guitar, so I started my music training. Read more>>

Somesh Das | Pianist, Music Producer, Composer, Audio Engineer

Pursuing a career as a musician was felt more like a calling than a choice. I considered working a more concrete profession growing up, however the power of music and its magnetic pull on me was far too strong to escape. Read more>>

Trent Foo | Actor

From the moment I can remember I’ve always loved film and storytelling. As a kid, I’d stay up late watching Jackie Chan films, or spend the day cinema-hopping with my brother and dad. One time we snuck into a showing of Resident Evil – I lasted about 5 minutes before I got too scared and ran out crying. I was having nightmares for years but it’s a fond memory I look back on. Read more>>