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.

Beata Jutila | Actor & Dancer

I pursued an artistic and creative career because it’s where my passion lies. From a young age, I’ve been drawn to the stage, dancing, acting, and bringing stories to life. These experiences have shaped who I am today and have filled me with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Read more>>

Ozgur Kilic | Dj

I’ve always been deeply passionate about music and the power it has to connect people and evoke emotions. Pursuing a career in DJing allowed me to channel that passion into something tangible, creating experiences that resonate with others and bring joy to their lives. Read more>>

Nicelle Davis | poet, writer, performance artist and instructor

I was born a poet and have lived my life accordingly. Poems are a biproduct of being acutely aware of the world around us—to be in constant translation of time and place. It also allows for surreal dreamscapes to interject themselves into narratives. I often find strangeness in the most ordinary things, and this offers a fresh perspective on a multitude of issues. Read more>>

Annabelle Oyler | Songwriter & Musician

I’ve always had a unique perspective on the world. I grew up with eccentric parents who have always appreciated film, comedy, arts, and music. My dad was a straight-edge skater who liked punk, jam bands, rock, grunge, experimental, industrial, and he introduced me to a lot of the bands I still love today. Read more>> 

Ebbony Duran | Actress & Business Owner

The simple answer is that it made me feel alive. I was doing the “right” thing for so long. Going to college, getting a degree in something that matters and just working to survive until I can get into my career. I was going to be a research scientist focusing on reducing plastic waste. It was a noble cause but I lacked passion.  Read more>>

Walter Pasion | 2D Animator, Story Artist & Character Designer

The idea of pursuing a creative career was something I did not think of at all until my last year of high school, otherwise my career path would’ve been becoming a pilot, stemming from my interest in planes at the time haha! Going back to my childhood though, I did love to draw, and watch cartoons/anime, but the thought of it as a viable career DID NOT come across my mind at all, other than the encouragement from my teachers to keep drawing or go into graphic design.  Read more>>

Po-En Wang | 3D Artist / Motion Designer

Emotions and feelings are something I have long been fascinated about but struggled to convey when interacting with people. Although wearing emotions on my sleeve is not a norm in my culture, a professor helped me break through this barrier.  Read more>>

Cazzy Zahursky | Children’s Book Author and Illustrator

I’ve always enjoyed working in the arts, so I decided to pursue a career in the arts. From a young age, I have enjoyed activities such as drawing, painting, sculpting, writing, and performing. I find immense fulfillment in engaging in many forms of creativity, as they provide me with a sense of purpose and happiness. Read more>>

Andrew Coronel | Producer & DJ

Not only do I love and enjoy making music, I realized it was my calling. I think being able to sit in the studio and create in my own world is the best feeling I can ever ask for. I started attending music festivals right out of high school and watch so many great artists be able to showcase their craft to the world. Truly recognizing dance music is the culture and community shapes it. Read more>>

amadeus medina | Curated fashion stylist designer event planner entrepreneur

Creativity has always flowed through me, whether it was drawing, styling, cooking new dishes, putting on runway shows with my little brother, going windowing shopping with the homies and styling them or simply enjoying the art of dance. i’ve always been in tune with the feminine energy; the creator. When I seen the opportunity to bring my brainchild to life I took the leap of faith and never looked back. Read more>>

Jenna Vopat | CG Artist and Production Artist

I’ve always been an artistic and creative person, ever since I was young. Creative ideas and visions have always came easily to me and have always been something I was passionate about. When deciding what I wanted to pursue for a career I knew I wanted to follow a path that would always fascinate me and keep my life full of beauty and creativity, as well as keep me happy and endlessly learning and growing. Read more>>

amanda teixeira | visual artist and editor

I am a visual artist from Porto Alegre, a city in south Brazil. I am from a middle-class family; my dad was a sculptor and a musician, and my mom was a teacher trained as a librarian. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to be born into a politically engaged family that always took me to see exhibitions and made sure that I had access to visual arts, music, and literature. Read more>>

Jingxuan Wang | 2D/3D Motion Designer

I’ve always been driven by a desire for freedom and creativity. From a young age, I found myself brimming with unique ideas, and drawing became my primary mode of expression—allowing me to channel my emotions effectively. Passion is crucial for me; I thrive on investing my energy and time into what I truly love. Read more>>

Ji Woo Lee | Illustrator & Visual Development Artist

Growing up, I was always encouraged to get good grades, study at a prestigious college, and secure a stable job as a nurse. I followed that lifestyle until late high school, when I took an art class for credits. It became a class that I looked forward to every day. At first, I thought it was because I didn’t need to study or think too much about the assignments given.  Read more>>

Alex Camacho | Actor

You know, it’s funny how often I’m asked this question, and every time, I find myself stumbling for a clear-cut answer. I mean, here I am boldly claiming and living out acting as my ‘life’s passion,’ yet I can’t help but feel like I don’t ever really know why. I always had a movie on as a kid. One of those fancy square TV/VHS combos. Read more>>

Vick Liu | Theatre Producer & Director

What drove me to pursue an artistic career in theatre is my belief that theatre possesses a unique power in creating social discourse without confrontation. To me, theatre is a medium that highlights empathy and critical engagement. When you see a story unfold on stage, performed by actors at arm’s length, breathing the same air as you, it is hard not to feel what they feel.  Read more>>

Hope Boy Deluxe | Artist, songwriter, musician

Ultimately I started to pursue music because there was no avoiding it. I’ve always been on the creative side, always loved music. But when I started writing my own songs, it became pretty obvious to me what I wanted to do with my life. Read more>>

Mojdeh Saleh | Artist

I feel alive when I am creating. It’s invigorating and a joyful process. It’s not always paint on canvas; it can be arranging flowers in the house or preparing food. I feel you can’t go wrong and there is no such thing as a mistake. Also, I’m programmed as a right brain person. Read more>>

Kate Surinskaya | Actress, Screenwriter, Director

As a kid I loved to connect with other kids by acting out scenes from movies and TV shows I admired at that time. There were no right or wrong scenarios, rules, or ways to play — we just did. And we felt free. It took me to a place where nothing was impossible. Years later, I still live by the same principle:  Read more>>

Trevor Munson | Screenwriter/novelist/screenwriting instructor

In first grade I remember trying to write and illustrate a science fiction story I made up called Martians battle Martians, I knew I was doing a bad job. I was frustrated because I didn’t have the vocabulary or the grammar skills to depict the images and ideas I saw in my head on the page. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, that was the day I decided to become a writer and I’ve been pursuing it ever since. Read more>>

Sinew Zhang | Real-time 3D Artist & Environment Artist

I pursued an artistic career as it has always been intertwined with my quest to understand the meaning of life and my own existence. From a young age, creativity was not merely a hobby; it was a vital means of expressing my thoughts, exploring my identity, and understanding my place in the world.  Read more>>

Chiara Spampinato | Creative Producer and Mixed Media Specialist

Embarking on an artistic and creative journey wasn’t just a choice for me, it was a calling, a deep-seated desire to craft moments that resonate, to weave narratives that stir souls, and to leave an indelible mark on the world around me. Hailing from the vibrant land of Sicily, my journey took a poignant turn when I found myself in the heart of the UK, a young dreamer seeking to carve out my path in this vast tapestry of life. Read more>>

Kippi Leonard | Painter

I have always been creative, starting from childhood. My curiosity was evident early on as I delved into activities like sewing, jewelry making, designing furniture, refashioning clothing, and playing the piano and guitar. However, my artistic journey took a new turn in 2013 when I began drawing, painting and experimenting with various mediums. Read more>>

AJ Lavilla | Self taught street artist & artrepreneur.

I pursued an artistic or creative career because I believe that this is my gift, wether its painting or creating content to help busineses grow through social media in a creative way is what I do best. Read more>>

Tyler Phillips | Character Animator

When I was a little boy I loved drawing, however my friend’s little sister showed us her cartoon dog drawing and it blew me away at how simple and appealing it was. I wanted to possess that power of making something special. I think that inspiration and artistic competition through high school drove me to be a better artist. It wasn’t until my mid twenties that I pursued being an animator. Read more>>

sea Krob | artist

Great question! I have a genetic chronic kidney condition called Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) where countless cysts grow on my kidneys, which enlarges them. I am the fourth generation in my family to be diagnosed with cystic kidneys. As my kidneys grow, it damages the filtering abilities of the kidneys and PKD is one of the top causes for end stage kidney failure resulting in the need for treatments of dialysis and/or a kidney transplant. Read more>>

Di “Amber” Li | Cinematographer

My personality is deeply driven by a passion for exploration and innovation. I enjoy trying different things and decided from a young age that I didn’t want to live a boring life. Therefore, pursuing creative work was a natural choice for me. In the process of creating, I feel like I immerse myself in another world, where my imagination is set free, allowing me to explore and express my innermost feelings and thoughts. Read more>>

Ana Guraieb | Fiber Artist and Educator

It is very simple: I just can’t picture myself doing something else besides what I chose to do in this life. There is no scenario where I imagine my future and there’s no art, no inspiration, inventiveness, or creativity in the picture. I pursued a creative path because, as cliché as it sounds, it’s my calling. It has always been a part of me and, even though I don’t believe that my career should dictate my value as a human, it is a big part of my identity. Read more>>