We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Ian

I have a budget for sure, but my views on personal finances vary quite a bit from topic to topic. In my everyday life, I try to be very frugal about certain things, like clothes I’ll wear until they fall apart and I go nuts with coupons on anything I can. Read More>>

McKenna Folmar

The single most important decision I made that contributed to my success was choosing to lead with love and passion. Any profession can be exhausting and stressful, but in my industry, success isn’t just about skill or experience—it’s about genuinely loving the work. Read More>>

Curt Gaudon

When I started taking art more seriously as a career, I did a self-directed residency in Newfoundland for three months. I pursued a new artistic path, working with different materials, without photographic references, painting from life in a beautiful and harsh landscape. Read More>>

Bonnie Hussey

Figuring out a creative solution to a problem makes me happy. I love being given a set of parameters and creating something beautiful within constraints. Read More>>

Jessica Garcia

Storytelling in all forms has always made me happy. As a child I loved to read, draw and paint. Later on as a teenager I fell in love with indie romance films. Now as an adult, my imagination continues to run wild. Read More>>

Kathryn Morrow

There are a handful of core values that I hold tight, including empathy, compassion and gratitude, but the value I think is most important for success is tolerance. The more you can tolerate, the stronger you will become. Read More>>

Robb Hayes

Being a man of integrity. I have always valued staying true to yourself, even when life gets tough. You can allow growth, while being honest with who you are and your values. Read More>>

Emily Stout

When I was in school, I always felt like I found myself in Q+A’s with veteran actors (oftentimes, quite jaded), and they’d say, “If you can imagine doing anything else besides acting, do that.” Read More>>

Jason Lally

Slow and steady wins the race. Art thrives on exploration and spontaneity. Don’t be afraid to go fast and get messy in the beginning—chaos often leads to unexpected, amazing results. Comfort can lead to complacency, so push yourself to stay challenged. Read More>>

Ian Holder

the sheer amount of labor it takes to create a garment. every single item in your closet was made by human hands, not automatically. that requires knowledge, dexterity, patience, and energy. Read More>>

Aashni Tulsian

Most people don’t realize just how far ahead the fashion industry works. While you’re shopping for this season’s trends, designers, brands, and buyers are already deep into planning for next year. In fact, the trends you see in stores today were likely predicted over a year ago. Read More>>