Artists & creatives on why they pursued a creative career

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.

Xianghan Cheng | Abstract painter

Engaging in art has always been something I persistently pursued and never gave up on. I started drawing in kindergarten, and painting was my favorite subject in elementary school, without exception. In middle school, I officially began to learn all the foundations of painting and drawing, and I have continued painting until day. Painting is an indispensable part of life, like breathing, eating, and sleeping. It has become a part of me, and I have become a part of it. When others see my work, it feels like they are seeing a part of me. Every time I create a new painting, I feel excited. Read more>>

Sabro Foster | Artist and illustrator

It wasn’t until I retired from teaching that I pursued art full time. I think I have a deep need for certainty, having grown up in a very poor single parent home, and in spite of a deep desire to create art, there was always an overwhelming need to know that the bills would be paid every month. But at the end of that career, that desire to create was still there. Art has always been there, as a tool for expression, as a point of contact with others, as therapy, as recreation and renewal.. as much of a need as a hobby. Read more>>

Rozie | Singer Songwriter/Artist/Creative

I always say I didn’t choose it, it chose me. Creativity is a part of my existence. Making your art become a career is a bonus, but you don’t pursue it because you think it’s going to make you the most successful. You do it because you love it, and you know there’s no other way to happiness. Read more>>

Tiffany Chen | Projection Designer/ Programmer

I pursued an artistic and creative career because I’ve always been driven by a passion for storytelling and creating experiences that move and inspire people. Initially, I started as an economics major, dealing with numbers daily while producing events on the side. During that time, I realized I felt more alive when I could engage in real human interactions and see the impact of my work on others. The thrill of bringing a vision to life—whether through sound, visuals, or live performance—fuels me, and the ever-evolving nature of the creative industry keeps me curious and excited. Read more>> 

Felicity Luhill | Writer, Producer & Storyteller

For me, writing and storytelling never felt like a choice. The first time I sat down to intentionally write a short story, it felt as if something quieted inside my brain, inside my soul. Everything inside me became aligned and the world around me became a lot clearer. I realized very quickly that writing was simply something I needed to do. Writing is still that way for me. It’s both how I make sense of my reality and it’s its own reality onto itself, one that I carry with me. Read more>>

Chanice Lorde | Actress, Creator

From a young girl, I always loved family gatherings and entertaining others. That paired with my obsession with television shows like That’s so Raven made me realize I want to entertain others and bring them joy, the same way I felt watching my favorite shows. Read more>>

Lauren Delisle | Screenwriter & Somatic Practitioner

I’m not sure if I’d say I chose to pursue a creative career, as it was more that a creative career pursued me. Though I grew up dancing and reading poetry at open mic events, I always saw my knack for writing as a skillset that would allow me to thrive in the context of marketing or web-copy. I envisioned being a writer when I grew up, but didn’t really understand what that meant as a career field. Read more>>

Danielle Moses | Artist, Actor, Goat Wrangler

I believe that engaging with art in its myriad forms is essential for humans to truly thrive. From collecting prints, to attending live performances, to the simple acts of playing music on your drive or practicing a hobby craft while you wind down at the end of the day, art is an essential part of our lives. And it plays a role in every aspect of our lives, down to the simplest and most mundane things we barely pay attention to. I also believe in positively contributing to society however I can, and for me that means making art.  Read more>>

Yan Bing Chen | Freediving Instructor, Underwater Photographer, Wild Mermaid, Film and TVC Producer

I believe that life isn’t just about experiencing, it’s about creating. To express who you are to the universe through creation.
Art is a huge field and everyone is qualified and capable of participating and creating/finding their own expression and discovering themselves in the process of creating. So for me, pursuing a career in art and creativity is a two-way exploration. Read more>>

Leani Fallon | Tattoo Artist

It always felt right—simple as that. Tattooing and drawing have always been my passions. Even before tattooing, drawing was my outlet. Growing up, my childhood had its tough moments, and drawing became my escape from reality. It eased my mind and gave me a sense of control, as I could redirect my focus to solving creative challenges, which I genuinely enjoyed. Read more>>

Tiel Bowers | Photographer/Videographer

Well for one, I was an Art major. I graduated from California State University Northridge, this year actually, with a bachelors in arts. To make the most of it I actually need to have some creative endeavors, so I decided to go with what I naturally gravitated towards to the most. Read more>>

Christian Wolf | Producer-Presenter-Director-Administrator o

As cliché as it sounds, I don’t think I chose to be in the arts but more that the arts chose me. Ever since I was a child is was involved in some sort of performance. My first memory was putting together a dance and lip syncing for my parents in the living room. Then putting together “plays” which was more like planned playing, for the kids in the neighborhood. It wasn’t until I discovered magic and acting that I really thought about a life as a performer. Knowing that the career path of either was challenging at best, I started a local theater group with the city’s Parks and Recreation department, which allowed me to teach, direct and produce. Read more>>

Jie Chen | (3D) Fashion Designer & Visual Artist

I believe the essence of life is creation—our lives are, in themselves, a work of art. It takes creativity to navigate every step, shaping who we are and where we go. For me, art is a way to discover and define myself; through it, I see who I am and who I can become. Read more>>

Evan Raiff | Poet, Author, Storyteller

For me, I don’t know if there was ever any other choice. Art and creativity has always been a significant part of my life for as long as I can remember. I first stepped on stage at four years old for a preschool production and immediately fell in love with the stage. In school, I would relish every opportunity we were given to write, read, or tell stories. From there, I enrolled in a local youth theater program and dived into every book I could get my hands on. My passion for art has always been present, from grade school to college. Read more>>

Courtney Beach | Multimedia Graphic Designer

Self-Expression has always been an important part of my life. I feel as though the introvert part of me needs creativity to balance out the reserved part of me. The creative career gives me the opportunity to do so and the joy that it brings me is something that I yearned for when searching for a career that I felt could provide longevity. Also, I am a person that is driven by progress and within the creative field it has been fulfilling to see myself grow as much as I have creatively and makes me excited to see how much more I can grow in the future. Read more>>

Angela Cervantes | Makeup & SFX Artist

I pursued the creative career that I am currently in because I knew that this was the life that was meant for me. Growing up, I never found a liking to anything that didn’t involve being able to put my love and passion for creating art into it. As long as it involved, expressing my identity and the things that I loved and that I’m passionate about, I enjoyed making it and I enjoyed creating it. And still remains the same till this day. I also knew that no matter how much I tried to push away my love for make up, SFX and artistry would always come back and haunt me, and I couldn’t handle sacrificing my own happiness and passion for what I love so I could appease those close to me. Read more>>