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.

Lance Haoyuan Li | Cinematographer, Colorist

I liked reading fictional literature since I was a child, and those stories really made me picture all those wonderous worlds. I got interested in movies relatively later than my fellows. In middle school I watched the Time Machine (2002). Although not a real masterpiece in terms of its overall quality, back then I was greatly amazed by how this movie is able to visually portray the travel through time, which opened a new door for me to explore all the visual stories. Read more>>

Kaiqi Wang | Fashion Artist & Designer & MUA

Art has been the driving force that has shaped my life, igniting an unwavering passion since my earliest days. Growing up in a small coal mining town, I discovered solace and joy in the act of creation. Whether I was fashioning dolls from steppe grass near our humble home or painting a face mask for a school play, my creative spark burned brightly. This flame was further nurtured by my father’s love for calligraphy and stamp carving, deepening my innate spirit of creativity. Read more>>

Wenqin(Melody) Ni | Director, Producer, Production designer, model & Actress

I didn’t start my career in artistic way but economics, high paid job but boring routine. I grew up as a good Chinese girl but now I’m a bad Chinese girl, I’m a rule breaker and artistic person with all its freedom. I went Middle school went on a film trip, one teacher saw my talent in filmmaking and told me that I should be a filmmaker, another teacher said only people who is failure with all other subjects will pursue art. I swollen my dreams down under the pressure of the culture. Read more>>

Gabriel Abrego | Furniture Maker

I constantly have a ton of ideas in my head that I can’t let go of until I bring it to life. Whether they work or not. Working a typical 9-5 job doesn’t allow for the opportunity/time to pursue those ideas. There was a point where I had a few large side projects that came up and could possibly lead to me being able to do what I do full time. So I left my day job and pushed my craft full-time. 6 years later and here I am still doing what I love. Read more>>

Kelly Shanley | Standup Comic, Content Creator, Writer

I honestly don’t feel like I ever really had a choice. I’ve always been a creative person and loved writing and performing. Whether it was on stage, in a backyard, or just in conversation, I felt alive when I made people laugh. I’ve been drawn to comedy ever since I can remember. My parents were devoted fans of Saturday Night Live and sitcoms of the 90s so I grew up watching comedy my whole life. Read more>>

Mark Navarro | Artist, Composer, Producer, & Audio Engineer

I was never good at school or any sports when I was a kid. I definitely was the kid who slept through class or the person who just stopped showing up to school for days at a time. I just didn’t care about school at all. It wasn’t until I started self-teaching myself how to play the guitar. Then I met some really meaningful friends at the time and we started a math-rock/post-rock band and went on some tours. Read more>>

Anabelle Rottman | Digital Illustrator & Graphic Designer

Creativity is magic. No matter the medium, it has the power to make people truly think and feel. But the magic isn’t that it just portrays thoughts and feelings, it’s how these thoughts and feelings end up affecting and inspiring people. Through seeing how colors and shapes work together in a certain painting, or how camera angles and dialogue may pair in a certain film, we learn how to better understand others’ perspectives and ourselves. Read more>>

Neon Nash | Singer / Rapper

I always had big dreams about being a singer. Ever since I was a little kid I would perform songs for my family even just at home in our living room. I’ve always admired singers on stage that are able to put on amazing performances with their own music and aspired to achieve that for myself as well. Moving to LA to pursue those dreams was a big step I took for myself and I’ve overcome a lot to get here. But I’m very proud of how all of my efforts are paying off. Read more>>

EMAYLA | Singer, songwriter, artist

I breathe art. All I am and all I do is art, whether it’s music, drawing, painting or dance, I express myself and my feelings through my art, so it’s inevitable to be an artist and do what I love for a living. My art, career and talent, all in one, is my biggest blessing. Read more>>

Mozado | Sonician

I decided to pursue a career as an artist for the age-old reason of wanting to go against the grain of what society tells you you can be. I grew up in like an upper-middle class family in an upper-middle class town and as I got towards the end of high school I started to see how everyone’s paths were more or less laid out for them. Go to college, get a 9-5, usually in corporate America, even though its not something most kids had the slightest actual interest in. Read more>>

Arnie Cantarero | Writer

It was a tough decision. The one thing our parents teach us is to get a steady job and not rock the boat. I thought this was the only way, but as an avid reader, this never sat right with me. I started writing and the sheer joy I got from doing so made realize writing was the path for me. Read more>>

Jiyun Choi | Illustrator & Designer

Hello! My name is Jiyun Choi and I am an illustrator and designer currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Art has alway been a way to connect myself with the world since I was a kid. I was a very introverted child and I spent most of my times reading books with beautiful illustrations. Those inspired me to create my own stories and characters. I have always wanted to share that experience with other people through my art. Read more>>

Jessica Castro | Professional Photographer

Artist run in my blood. My fathers side of the family has a very successful world renowned glass business, Arribas Brothers. I grew up admiring a box of photos my parents had of their 7 years together in the 80s before having me. It was when I traveled to Colombia with my parents that I decide I would want to purse a degree and career in photography. Read more>>

Daniel Wong | Music Producer & DJ

I’ve always been involved in music behind the scenes, but during the pandemic I decided to pull the trigger and launch my own solo project. Like many others during the time of the shutdown, I spent a lot of time reflecting on what I wanted to achieve. Something about the unending strangeness, seemed to have paved the way for even more change than usual. It’s hard to plan two weeks in the future—who knows what will be open, what we’ll feel safe doing—but, with previous lifestyles already uprooted, it felt easier than ever to plant new ones. Read more>>

Brooke Molinaroli | Contemporary Art Advisor

I always wanted to be a part of the creative process or a creative and/or innovative environment. It took me many years of wrestling with the idea that I was not going to be a creator whether an artist, photographer, designer, or writer. I pursued all of these possible careers taking classes in photography, writing and considering graduate schools in many of these areas. Read more>>

Robzie Trulove | Drummer/Creative Activist

I pursued a career as a professional musician due to several key factors in my life. Firstly, as a first-generation Caribbean-American with Jamaican and Panamanian roots, music has always been an integral part of our traditions and culture. Growing up, I was naturally drawn to it and going the musically creative route was no surprise to my family. Read more>>

Pranav Mehta | Photographer

Mainly because the arts drew me towards it. I come from a very normal middle class indian household where my entire family has comprised of businessmen crunching numbers all day. It was decided pretty early on in my life that one day I would join that business or at-least be a part of that business in some or the other way. Destiny however had other plans, where I got drawn towards cameras and photographs at an early age even though that was not something that I was thinking about. Read more>>