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.

Kamal

I didn’t really choose to be involved in music, I was born and raised in Lebanon in a family of musicians. My mother is a singer, so is my sister, my aunts, my uncle’s a composer… It did not come to anyone’s surprise for me to join in on the fun. Read more>>

Sera Fae | Artist, Producer, Multi-Instrumentalist

I think I finally answered that question once and for all this past year. When I was younger it was because music was all I was really interested in. I could’ve maybe gone into a creative writing career, been an author of some kind, but music was the path I started on so I stuck with it. Read more>>

Jakob Sitter | Artist

I’ve been doing creative projects for as long as I can remember, so a career in the creative field was a natural choice for me. In college, I initially enrolled in a graphic design program but quickly switched my major to fine arts. It wasn’t part of the original plan, but I loved the freedom it gave me. Read more>>

Zixin Chen | Illustrator

As the only child growing up in a small town, I found immense joy in all kinds of pictures books and animated movies. Those solitary moments were my happiest. Beck then, imitating every picture I liked with a pencil was my only artistic expression, but the power of imagery was already so strong in the eyes of a little girl. Read more>>

J.C.F.

Growing up I was inspired by many artists, whether it was film or music as it was constantly something that intrigued me from a very young age. Both forms of entertainment showed me the power of art, and inspired me to write screenplays when I was around six years old. Read more>>

Dominic Wordlaw | Mixed-Media Artist & Writer

For me, art is everything, art is in everything, every breath, every thought, every action, every word, every moment, every person, place, and thing. Even abstract concepts like time and space are art forms with immeasurable and eternal beauty. Without art, I’d be lost. Read more>>

Cherry Cho | Digital Creator & Future Dessert Cafe Owner

I pursued an artistic or creative career because I am not someone who likes to stay still or do routine tasks. I enjoy challenges, learning new things, and meeting diverse people. I love traveling and came to the United States to explore the world and meet new faces. Read more>>

Nico Padilla | Photographer

I didn’t, I actually studied Mechanical Engineering but never really felt completely passionate about it. I went in blindly like most people do, a couple of career tests and you are good to go right? According to all the statistics I was meant to be an engineer but deep down inside I knew there was something else waiting to be discovered. Read more>>

Tairan Hao | Artist

I pursued an artistic and creative career because I have always been captivated by the profound influence of art on human perception and society. Growing up in a dynamic environment exposed me to a rich blend of cultural and technological intersections. Read more>>

Rotem Alima | Film and TV Producer

As a producer and a filmmaker, I’ve always felt that art could make the world a better place. At first, I wanted to make art that would inspire people and help them see things differently. But everything changed on October 8th. Read more>>

Orin Torati | Creative Director and 3D Artist

My artistic career stemmed out of an early obsession and passion for music videos, animations, and comics as a child. This continued growing over time, through a consistently growing affinity for music, fashion, and spatial design, which I pursued through studying architecture further in life. Read more>>

Javier Arellano | Hairdresser/artist

Hmm I’ve always been a creative since childhood, from painting to sketching to cooking. I actually used to sketch fashion collections in high school as well, sometimes I still do, which makes me wonder if it’s another puzzle piece for me to add to the bigger picture. Read more>>

Anna Belle Bayley | Actor

From a young age, I was always more creatively inclined. In school, my best subject was English and my favorite parts of the day were art and theater. Beyond this creative inclination, I always felt emotions very deeply on a level that could be described as “too sensitive.” Read more>>

Nienke Jansz | Model, singer and content creator

I have always been a creative person, I grew up in a musical family which I think sparked something in me. My dad plays the guitar, my older brother the drums and my other brother the bass guitar and piano. Read more>>

Javier (Javi) Barajas | Agent Trainee

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been super passionate about art. Most kids have that default “thing” their parents always mention when describing them to friends or family—as one of five children, my thing was being the chubby, artsy one. Read more>>

Wilnice & Wilnique Denley | Twin fine artists – Heart Expressionist

We aspire to uplift the frequency of the hearts of others through our artworks by whispering messages of innocence, lightheartedness, and sweetness. We utilize our playfully childlike meticulously detailed artworks as a healing modality that mends the hearts and spirits of others. Read more>>

Lucas Penner | Musician & Actor

Because something about it feels like I’m being used properly. I’ve worked jobs where I’ve felt like a toaster being used to catch fish. Not very effective. Turns out a Lucas Penner is best-suited to acting, music and writing pursuits. Read more>>

Liz Zagone | Comedian, Writer & Actor

I’ve always been very artistic. Growing up I loved to paint, draw, sculpt, act in plays, make homemade music videos, etc. As I got older my focus went from creative expression to “fitting in” and being social. It wasn’t until my late 20’s I got started in stand up comedy, which reignited my creative spark. Read more>>

Kevin Harris (ApeO) | Artist (Rapper)

I’ve always had a deep fascination with sounds. Music has been my lifeline during my darkest moments, often pulling me back from the brink. It’s this profound impact that drove me to become an artist. Read more>>

Honglin(Adam) Zhu | Director of Photography

Currently, I’ve been working solely as a DP, which is exactly what I want to do for a lifetime. In this role, I believe I excel at capturing the emotions of characters. I can choose specific shot sizes, lens lengths, or movements to convey the genuine feelings of a character. Read more>>

Max Randolph | Blacksmith Artist

My imagination drove me to be creative from a young age. I feel as though I never really chose to pursue a creative career, more so that it chose me. I would not have survived without my art and creative pursuits. However, I did choose steel as my medium. Read more>>

Ruth Yang | Wedding & Family Photographer

I chose to pursue a creative career despite being raised in a family full of engineers because I love being able to show how I see the world through photography. Everyone knew me at school as one of the few artistic people for winning art contests. Read more>> 

Makayla King | Artist

I pursued an artistic career because the pull to create has been following me for as long as I can remember. The creative process being the center of my career is all I could ever want because it’s part of who I am. Putting my emotions and energy into creating has always fueled me, but at the same time is my greatest form of release. Read more>>

Jill deRusch | Lead singer of Comfort the Dead and Actress

I pursued a artistic/creative career because it’s truly what is the most fulfilling to me. Wether it’s writing the songs or performing them , it’s where I’m comfortable and happy. Time spent on music has never felt like a waste and there’s always something to learn from it. Read more>>

Yazhi Zheng | Illustrator & Motion Graphics Designer

Under the influence of my family, I had a strong interest in painting since I was a child. I remember the happiest times were when I visited my grandfather’s house to play on weekends. Grandpa was passionate about calligraphy and art. He not only collected many related books but also instructed me according to their content. Read more>>

Iris Olympia

I’ve always known it would be challenging for me to succeed in an inflexible work environment, so from the time I was a teenager, I have been working to make my dream of becoming a content creator a reality. Read more>>

Amy Chernikova | Costume Designer & Stylist

I pursued an artistic career because of my imagination and where it often takes me. Since I was a little girl, I would spend my days in the forest where I grew up and imagine an entire world made of magic and adventure. I would create my own accessories that I had foraged from trees and plants. Read more>>

Mônica Moura | Animation Director

I’ve always had an inclination to the arts, from a very young age. As I grew older I realized that that was the area that would best accommodate my desires an abilities. Read more>>

Rachel Sullivan | Actress

Little did I know that when I stepped into my local dance studio at age 3 that I would make the first steps into a lifelong career of performing. Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to play pretend professionally. Read more>>

Zhihan Qian | Graphic Desiger

Things happened pretty naturally for me. Forgive me for not having many stories of rebelling against typical East Asian parents. They did have some expectations, but they didn’t interfere much when it came to picking my college major. I started studying design during my undergrad and soon realized the limitations of my environment. Read more>>

Naya James Sonnad | Playwright, Screenwriter, Actor

It took me a long time to understand the value of art and creativity. We all have incredible capacity to create. Alas, we live in a world that values consumerism over these essential creative impulses—which limits so many people from making artistic contributions (and we’re all the worse off for it!). Read more>>

Brian Starley | Recording Engineer, Mixer, Producer

As a kid growing up in (Salt Lake City) Utah in the 80’s, MTV was pivotal in shaping my love for music. Between Headbanger’s Ball and Yo! MTV Raps, my mind was blown. Read more>>

Queen Kat

While I have always been driven to art especially music and performing arts, I did not start thinking of it as a potential career in music until the Devine intervention that occurred to me in. Read more>>

Lawring Wood | Colourftw—Nail Enthusiast/Nail Artist

Although doing nails is not a full on career for me (I help students with college applications as my full-time job), I initially pursued nail art at the beginning of the COVID pandemic quarantine just to have fun at doing Dimension Nails weekly nail art challenges #DNChallenge, inspired by my nail friend turned IRL friend (@polish3Dmommy) who has been participating, too. Read more>>

J. L. Robbins | Artist, Author and Craftsman

I wouldn’t necessarily say that I pursued it as much as it pursued me. The need to create was something that has been with me for as long as I can remember. I’m sure many have had the same feeling with other lifelong passions, but the creative ones seem to be the most common. Read more>>

Shihori Nakane | Pop singer songwriter

From what I’ve heard from my parents, I was an artistic and autistic child. I always focused on creating something forever, I started songwriting and sang my songs to my mother when I was 7. Read more>>

Zoe Ze Zhou | A starving artist trying to survive

When I was in high school, I spent one summer back home. My cousin, who is six years older than me, would come home every day and complain about her job. Despite being well-paid and valued at her company, she was still unsatisfied. I remember looking at her and realizing that I didn’t want my future to be like that for the next 30, 40 years. Read more>>

Choosing to become a creative was hardly a decision that was only for myself. Growing up I’ve always had an admiration for fashion, but never really saw anything for it until I got to the senior year of high school. It was the one thing that always put a smile on my face so I went for it. Read more>>

Timea Papp | creative director/choreographer

I feel like there was no other path for me. I loved dancing as soon as I could walk and wanted to be a choreographer before I knew how to pronounce it. The ideas in my head wanted to be manifested onto stages, and in films. The need for expression was stronger than anything. Read more>>

Cooper Jones | Lead singer and main songwriter of Poppy Harlo band

I wanted to pursue a creative career simply because even from a young age I’ve always enjoyed making things, whether that be physical art writing, it’s always been something that has come easy to me. Read more>> 

Gabee Rolla-Danley | Composer and Musician

I’m pursuing a career in the arts because I love, and have a need to create. I would be making music and art just for myself even if I wasn’t sharing it with other people because it has always been something that is part of me and can’t be separated. Read more>>