We asked some of the most creative folks we know to open up to us about why they chose a creative career path. Check out their responses below.

Dtrue | Independent Hip/Hop Artist

I pursued an artistic career because it was the only way that I could express myself. My background as a basketball player helped instill the habit of hardwork and dedication to my craft. I felt like if I could make something that other people could relate to then I’d be playing my part in this life. Read more>>

Diane Bay | Artist & Writer

I loved to create with my hands when I was a young child, and that interest deepened as I became an adult. However, my adoptive parents did not encourage me to pursue my art, but wanted me to do something “practical.” So visual art became a hobby and freelance graphic design became my job. This allowed me to use some creativity, but it wasn’t an outlet for my own vision. Read more>>

Donn Stewart | Actor & Producer

I grew up in a beautiful small city in Mexico, called San Miguel de Allende. My grandfather is a wonderful singer, Luis Octavio Perez better known as Arqui Octavio. I grew up watching him sing with Mariachi Band and actually before being an actor I wanted to be a singer. After graduating from High School I took a leap of faith and traveled to Hollywood without knowing anyone, no job, no manager and no idea of how Hollywood actually was like but I always dreamt of working on the movie industry in Hollywood. Read more>>

Marcello Liverani | Musician & Composer

Emotions, dreams and visions are what make us human I strongly believe in the power of art in arousing emotions, dreams and visions. For me, being creative, means embarking on a wonderful journey and having the opportunity to communicate it to others. I have always had an inclination towards the artistic process in particular towards music. Therefore more than a choice it is something that is part of my nature Read more>>

Nico Tangara | Creative & Creator

I always thought I want to be engineer or scientist when I was very young, but video games changes it. I was 14 years old, I played a lot of online games. I got super hooked in some of them that I ended up modifying the game and launch my own tiny private server for my friends to play with. I created some monsters sprites and even code some NPCs for narrative of the game. I do enjoyed it very much and I think the sensation of creating is always the reward for me. Read more>>

Chanel & Amanda Crider | Designers, producers, stylists

Color me Crider was born through friendship, passion and purpose. For us, this is not about just the job, it’s about connecting and building relationships. We have a true passion for what we do, and when our clients trust us to be part of their team, that’s where the magic really happens. Our minds are always creating and dreaming up new ideas. Color me Crider has provided us space to let our creativity blossom. Read more>>

Chisato Chavo | Painter & Tattooist

Makes me calm and balanced, also almost automaticity `I draw everyday, Read more>>

Michael Weber | Musical Artist, Film Composer, Record Producer

I’m a firm believer that a life in the creative realm is something that is not necessarily chosen but is rather an undeniable urge that exist within us that we cannot turn off. Creators need to develop new artistic projects, the same as eating and sleeping and drinking. It’s actually a borderline true life necessity for our mental well-being. Music is the medium for my creative adventures, mainly because I was exposed to it at a very young age because my father and uncle had ties in the music industry as road crew members. Read more>>

Blythe Berg | Musician

I grew up in an environment where academic achievement was heavily emphasized, and I think that shaped my definition of success for quite some time. I legit thought I had to be a doctor or a lawyer to have a successful, fulfilling life. It took years of pushing myself and burning out to realize there’s another, gentler way to live. I had to let go of a lot of “shoulds” and ideas of what my life is “supposed” to look like, and tune in to what I actually wanted: to live a life that prioritizes creative expression. Read more>>

Lyjah Vaatete | Tattoo Artist

Before I was even of aware of the path I would walk one day I was already chasing the arts. It wasn’t something that I saw as a career but just my passion and my love far art alone. As I grew older and the time came to make the decision for where I wanted to go in life it felt very natural to continue with art. From a very early age I was always drawing and painting and for as long as can remember I never went anywhere without my sketch book as a kid. Read more>>

alika cooper | Artist

I was struck young by the otherworldliness of painting and drawing. Luckily had supportive teachers and parents in a school environment that didn’t prioritize the arts at all. I didn’t think that art was something you could actually pursue as a career, but I couldn’t stop taking art history and studio classes in college, to the point that it only made sense to transfer to art school. Again, growing up in town, in San Diego, the arts were really not valued . At art school I was enthralled, with the courses and teachers, and the making. It just kept snowballing I guess. Read more>>

Milan Tiff | Artist

Was paralyzed as child. ( Polio ) Did not walk until 10 years old. Years later became an Olympic Track and Field Hall of Fame athlete Read more>>

Elisa Ortega Montilla | Artist

I pursued a creative career because I’ve never seen myself feeling fulfilled in a more traditional role. I’m not sure where that stems from, but I always told others I would make a living “doing my own thing, whatever that turned out to be.” Funny enough, when Thrifty Titties first began, our co-founder Barrit and I intended to resell thrifted t-shirts, but soon found that it was just not enough of a creative outlet to continue pursuing. Read more>>

Kenneth Kynt Bryan | Living The Dream – Multitalented Actor, International House Music Recording Artist, Dancer-Choregrapher, Model, Educator, and Entrepreneur.

It’s always something that I just did naturally without knowing people considered it art of creativity. Read more>>

Queen Amina | Abstract Artist.

I chose to pursue an artistic career because of the ways we are able to connect with others. I find it beautiful how a connection can be made simply through the work of someone else, through the mind of someone else, without one word needing to be said, or a direct reasoning needing to be addressed. We all gravitate towards something that we create a relation to, things that feel familiar to us, or things that introduce us to the unknown. Read more>>

Sumner Howells | Photographer

For as long as I can remember I have been creating something. I was always excelling in art classes, stealing my dad or godfather’s cameras, editing pictures on picsart, even making potions while waiting for my horseback riding lessons. I played the piano and absolutely adored singing. All the things I loved doing were things that some people would consider “impractical.” Read more>>

Ana Latese | Freelance Editorial and Narrative Illustrator

I’ve always been a creative individual. From drawing to film to graphic design. My earliest memories were drawing on the walls of my childhood bedroom with permanent markers. After the film program at my university wasn’t the right fit for me, I decided to pursue Illustration as a career. I never saw anyone like me in children or middle grade books and I definitely wanted to help make a change in that. As a black artist, illustrating children’s books is my attempt to promote a world where black and brown children are seen, heard, valued, and validated. Quoted from one of my favorite artists, Faith Ringgold, “You cant sit around and wait for somebody to say who you are. You need to write it and paint it and do it.” Read more>>

Miguel Pinedo | Writer & Producer

This is probably what everyone says but when I was a kid I remember watching Jurassic Park and loving it to the point that I wanted to be a paleontologist. As I grew up and saw more movies and shows I fell in love with coming up with ideas and making stories on my mind of things I thought would look good on the big screen. The older I got the more serious I considered the idea of making that my job because it checked the most important requirement for me. It’s something I love doing. Read more>>

Brenton Cosier | Actor/Singer

Performing came to me a little older than most. I only started “singing and acting” when I was 17 and played Captain Von Trapp in the Sound of Music at high school. I fell in love with every single aspect of theatre immediately. I played a lot of sport growing up so i enjoyed the teamwork aspect of it, how everyone has an individual role and if someone doesn’t pull their weight the show falls apart. Read more>>

Stephen Covarrubias | Photographer

Photography has always been a passion of mine. I didn’t take it seriously until 2018, after a trip to Hawaii. Since then, I’ve taken every opportunity I could to absorb as much about photography as possible. When I am out exploring the world, I have my camera in hand and I tend to photograph whatever captures my eye. I am very intentional with my photography and I take my time and wait for the perfect conditions. I’m currently exploring the idea of starting a website and selling my images. I am still in the early steps of how I want to approach this but it’’s in the works. Read more>>

Alex (Ali) Correa | Artist

Being creative has always just been about survival. It started when I was young. Something bad would happen in my life, for no apparent reason, and I would become sad and confused. Using that experience for creative fuel would help me understand it better, until I could ultimately overcome the experience. It’s like a super power, really. Being able to take something that hurt me, and using art to change it into something that I loved and even wanted to share with others, has saved my life more times than I could count. I was also influenced heavily by my mother, who raised my brother and I by herself. Read more>>

Nick Lux | Actor & Writer

Obviously it’s important in life to try to pursue a career in something you enjoy. I don’t think there’s been a single moment in my life as an actor, which began at age 10, where I didn’t enjoy what I was doing. Growing up I always viewed each project I was working on as a step towards that “next big thing.” The thing that’s going to advance my career, get me cast more often, get me that big agent I need, or whatever prospect it was that I had in mind. Read more>>

Yasmeen Semaan | Singer/Song writer

oing what I love and what I love since as long as I remember is entertaining people and seeing their reaction, that’s what really gets my heart beating. Read more>>

Janelle Safford | Musician

I began writing songs when I was very little. Seeing how other musicians made me feel less alone in what I was going through inspired me to create music as well. I have always loved music because of the way that it can create words for unexplainable feelings. I remember when I was a little girl, I would walk over to my family friend’s house with my CD and CD player in hand and I would perform a new song that I had practiced the singing and choreography for. Singing and writing music has always been a huge part of my life and being able to share what I love doing with others is very exciting to me. Read more>>

Michael Warren | Actor/Photographic Artist

Interview 1. I don’t think I chose an artistic or creative career. I believe it chose me. When I accepted a Ucla basketball scholarship, my intentions were to major in Sociology and become a social worker. My goal was to save families. Things didn’t work out in Sociology. I was a sophomore and knew I was going to have to choose a major my next year. I was walking on campus and the spirit of the Lord spoke to me. What I heard was photography. I had been into photography shooting endlessly of my friends ann the campus. There wasn’t anything artistic about my pictures. Read more>>

Adelina Lopez | Upcoming Artist and Entrepreneur

Being 16 years old, the reason why I decided to pursue an artistic career is because of my overall love and interest for drawing. Making art is something I have always loved doing ever since I was little, so being able to pursue a career out of it is an absolute dream come true! Read more>>

Lola Darzens | Actress & Writer

Art has always been a pillar of my life. My childhood was full of music, movies, writing, dancing, theater. And even though I brought most of these activities to my adult life, I had always considered them a passion rather than a possible career. I went a more traditional route after high school and entered business school. But after facing the reality that my eventual work life would barely have any kind of artistic creativity, I decided it was time to drastically change. Read more>>

Michael Lyons | Actor/Clown & Writer

Like many other artists, I couldn’t NOT pursue an artistic career. For the years I wasn’t actively pursuing acting, it was almost all I ever thought about. My default network was always busy with thoughts and dreams about pursuing the career, the kind of work I could do some day, the excitement of it. And whenever I was involved in a play and was rehearsing or performing, I was the only time I felt truly satisfied with how I was using my time and energy, and didn’t think about anything else. One of my very first acting teachers in high school spoke to this feeling, and that’s helped bring me back to it whenever I started to drift too far away from it. Read more>>

Masataka Suemitsu | Photographer

I am always interested in visual art since I was a child especially drawing and crafting. Although I went to a medical school in Japan following my father’s footsteps, I could not give up my passion to learn more about art. I quit the college after two year study there, which was so far the most difficult time in my life. I stick with art-related studies and jobs since then, but still searching for the best medium to express the images and stories that I want to tell. Read more>>