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.

Jimmy Ward | Film Sound Mixer and Musician

Growing up, both of my parents made a living in creative fields and I was lucky enough to receive their support to pursue my own, ever-changing goals. My mom is a professional, classically trained harpist and my dad is a former working animator and retired university professor. I took piano and guitar lessons as a kid but often struggled to find the motivation to properly practice. To this day, I feel as though I never achieved my full potential as a musician growing up, and it makes me wonder how different my life could be today if I had embraced it more. People always told me that music is a fun hobby, but it is not reliable for making money. I never really had strong aspirations for pursuing being a musician as a career, but I believe that those comments did deter me a bit creatively. Read more>>

Iman Nazemzadeh | Actor, Filmmaker & Acting Coach

It was always very intuitive. Regardless of ‘how’ i was expressing myself, I naturally gravitated towards any creative vehicle that helped forward the deep need to. There really wasn’t ever an end result to creating and I think the more and more I did i naturally fell into opportunities that gave me a chance to fulfill that expression. Over time creative opportunity turned into creative career. Read more>>

Vania Bynum | Creative Artist – Dancer, Instructor, Choreographer of Life

VC Bynum Arts and Education (VCBynum Arts) was created out of the powerful influence of Black artistic expression and its impact on my life as I recognized how dance and Pilates became a powerful medium for my personal healing, cultural identity, social justice, and building community. In my youth, I was good at math and science. I also excelled at music, theater, and public speaking, with a little bit of dance. Due to family pressure and concern for financial security, I earned a degree as a computer engineer, creating software that increased the productivity of millions. lthough I was thankful and enjoyed my job, I desired to have a more direct impact on the lives of others. After experiencing the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, I had a profound desire to return to my roots as an artist. Read more>>

Mario Rangel | Director, Editor & Colorist

My deep love for being a part of the creation of stories and characters, as well as the potential for films to deeply impact and change individuals and society, motivated me to follow my dream of becoming a director. I see film as an art form that reflects everyday society worldwide and considers it an extension of reality, not just entertainment. This belief in the power of film as a medium for storytelling and reflection of the human experience inspired me to leap into filmmaking. My journey led me to become a director and explore the post-production side as an editor and colorist. I believe that dedication, sacrifice, and the pursuit of one’s dreams are essential to achieving success in any artistic or creative career. Read more>>

Chloe Pettigrew | Interior Design Student

Being creative has been a relatively new path in my life. Growing up I was pushed into a more athletic path, where I wasn’t encouraged to push my creativity, finding myself believing that I was just not the creative type. In my late teens, the pressure of choosing a career was starting to worsen, and the fear that I had been holding onto around my future only seemed to be getting more intense. Turning to art was the only way I knew how to cope with this uncertainty. Interior design specifically came really organically in this journey. In connecting to my creative side and letting myself be guided by a more childlike instinct, I rediscovered a passion for interiors and architecture. Read more>>

Denisse Jerez | Cake Artist & Senior Paralegal

Funny enough, I used to never consider myself a creative person and now I’m making cakes and all sorts of sweet creations. I sometimes still catch myself saying “I’m not creative” and quickly correcting myself. As a kid, of course I used to draw and play, (I even played the violin for 4 years). I think as I got older, my idea of creativity was pigeonholed into someone who was an artist, or a designer, or things of that nature. Since I wasn’t those things, I never labeled myself as such. I’ve also always been someone who was sort of a “straight arrow”, and so after college I went to work at a law firm and thought I wanted to go to law school. However, I quickly came to find out I didn’t want that for myself despite thinking that it’s what I should’ve done because I would’ve been good at it. Read more>>

Kiana Honarmand | Interdisciplinary artist

Growing up, I had little access to art and art education. Galleries and museums were rare visits for me, and my understanding of visual arts remained quite limited. It was during high school that I found a deep connection to the world of art when I started playing music, but even then, I was on the path to pursue math and engineering. In Iran, we were required to select our fields of study prior to taking the university entrance exam. The year I was set to take the exam, I decided to follow a more creative path and change my field. I acquired and studied art school books, and then went on to complete the arts university entrance exam. Read more>>

Othmane El Jadid | Author, Journalist, President and founder of Moroccan Writers association, Behavioral science coach

I embarked on an artistic and creative career for a multitude of deeply personal and inspiring reasons. My journey originates in a place of hardship and adversity, in a humble neighborhood known as Hay Mohammadi in Casablanca. Growing up in such an environment, I witnessed the profound impact of poverty, crime, and tragedy on the lives of many. I felt a compelling need to break the cycle of oppression that gripped my community and to provide a voice to those who had been silenced by circumstance. As a child, I was surrounded by stories, stories of struggle, resilience, and dreams deferred. These stories, etched in my memory, urged me to become a storyteller myself. Read more>>

Cassandra Caruso | Performer

I pursued a creative career because nothing in my life can fulfill me the way performance can. Having an artistic outlet is so important because being creative and artistic is the most truly human thing imaginable. Giving people a chance to escape to a world so different (or not so different) from our own makes all the hard work and sacrifice worth it in the end. I know at times darkest in my life I have always turned to entertainment, be it art, music, books, film or theatre it has always given me a light in that darkness- knowing no matter how bad things get there’s always an opportunity to escape to a world that’s been created just for me. Read more>>

Exxy | Musical Artist and Actor

Thank you so much for having me! Music and acting have been my two greatest passions since I was a little girl. My parents signed me up for piano lessons in kindergarten. I have always seen that as one of the most amazing gifts they have ever given me because it sparked a love for music at such an early age. Learning piano was the beginning of a childhood surrounded in art and creative exploration. Through the years, I learned how to play the piano, saxophone, guitar, ukulele, and the drumset in addition to studying classical voice and music composition. A choir director at school was the first person to tell me that I could make a career out of music. It was a conversation I will never forget. Read more>>

Yi Long | Singer & Songwriter

The driving force behind my creative journey is my unwavering love for music and singing, a passion that has been with me since childhood. My goal is to embrace the freedom of being myself and to express my innermost thoughts and emotions through music. It’s a mission to continually explore the limitless possibilities within the world of music, to connect with others on a profound level, and to share the beauty and power of music with the world. This deep-seated love for music fuels my creative endeavors and motivates me to push the boundaries of artistic expression in pursuit of my musical dreams. Read more>>

Rodrigo Caceres Garzon | Graphic Designer

I pursued an artistic or creative career because I am deeply passionate about the power of storytelling and the ability to create unforgettable experiences for people. Whether it’s working on a movie, TV show, music production, or a live concert, I find joy in being a part of a team that brings these experiences to life. Creating art is about crafting moments that resonate with people on a profound level. It’s about stirring emotions, provoking thought, and igniting imagination. When I’m involved in these projects, I feel like a co-author in the story of people’s lives, helping to shape their memories and experiences. Read more>>

Aashiyana Patel | Actor & Musician

I have been told from a very young age that I am very creative. When I was really young, I discovered my passion for singing and acting. I would always perform for my family and others. As I grew up, I continued to pursue my passions and learn instruments as well, such as piano and guitar. Acting provides me with the opportunity to step into the shoes of different characters, to explore their motivations, and to bring their stories to life. I love the thrill of being in front of the camera and the ability to transport audiences to different worlds. Additionally, music allows me to channel my innermost feelings and thoughts into melodies and lyrics. Whether I’m strumming a guitar, playing a piano, or singing my heart out, I am able to communicate and connect with people on an emotional level that words alone cannot achieve. Read more>>

Goddess Dorthea | Spiritual Artist, Musician & Affirmation Poetess

I pursued an artistic and creative career as a Spiritual Musician and Affirmation Poet because it allows me to express my deepest emotions and connect with others on a profound level. Creating art and music brings me immense joy and fulfillment, and it allows me to explore the depths of my imagination and share my unique perspective with the world. Through my artistic endeavors, I hope to inspire others, ignite their own creativity, and evoke powerful emotions that can transcend language and touch the very essence of the human spirit. Read more>>

Emilio Cueto | Artist/Painter

According to my mom, when my sister was born (I was 5 years old), she needed to keep me out of her hair, so she gave me pencils and paper and crayons to keep me busy. So, growing up I was always the class artist. My fourth-grade teacher nominated me for a scholarship to take classes at the art museum in Rochester, New York, where I grew up. I had drawing lessons every Saturday from about the age of 9 until I was 16. At that time, I also started reading comics and I obsessively drew the characters over and over again. Comics were a great anatomy lesson, since the heroes all wore skin-tight outfits, and you could see all their muscles. Read more>>

Brice Gelot | Photographer

I pursue my careers because first photography is fpr me a passion for self-expression, for the desire to inspire and a way to evoke emotions in others. Capturing candid moments on the bustling streets allows me to convey my unique perspective of everyday life, igniting creativity and touching the hearts of those who view my work. For instance, my photographs of people immersed in their daily routines, from rough areas to poor neighbourhood, this project is the reason I started taking photos and is essentially my life’s work. I shoot the world as it is as nothing’s more interesting than reality. Read more>>

Linzi Lynn | Artist

I was born and raised in London and have always been artistic. From a young age my parents recognized my theatrical ability as I continued to use the living-room as a stage, so they decided to send me to theatrical school. At 11 years old I had my professional debut performing at the London Palladium which led me to pursue a career as a professional singer/dancer. After traveling the world with a show, I ended up being a featured singer at a famous nightclub in London “The Talk of the Town”. Then I met my husband and decided to settle down and have a family. After we moved to France, I was missing my creative side and had nothing to inspire me, except for the knowledge that Picasso lived on the next block! Even though I was always the worst in art class, I just thought it could be fun to splash paint around a canvas. Read more>>

Yasmine AZAIEZ | Violinist/composer/singer

As a child, I was always very creative, but rather shy. For some reason, I felt most confident performing, whether it be singing, acting out fairy tales or dancing. Like most children do, I began the violin at the age of four. Luckily my teacher recognised that I had musical ability and encouraged my mother to stand by me and practise. Since then, it has become my entire life. I have never thought about doing anything else which would make me happier. Being on stage and sharing your energy ( and receiving from others) is one of the most fulfilling aspects of making music. Since then, I also discovered how music could help others, so I began performing to raise money for impoverished people in Tunisia, and created the Yasmine Azaiez Animal rescue. Read more>>