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.

Miranda Byk | Artist

I pursed a career in the arts because it’s something that came naturally to me, that I found immense joy in doing. I am lucky enough to live in a city and be a part of a community that is able to support these endeavors for emerging artists like myself. I am able to do something I am passionate about and have the ability to do so because of my peers, family, and colleagues. Read more>>

Alex Paik | Artist & Director of Tiger Strikes Asteroid

I think being nerdy and pursuing an artistic career go hand in hand. When I was younger I loved diving deep into Western classical music with my fellow “orch-dorks,” as well as sharing and discussing secrets and details about video games. There’s a deep satisfaction that comes from being able to nerd out with others about little things that would go unnoticed to the untrained eye. Those small details can change the entire reading of a work of art. Read more>>

Pauline Maltseva | Concept Artist & Illustrator

I was born and raised in a small town near Moscow, Russia, and my early childhood happened in the 90s during Perestroyka. It was a very hard but also a very hopeful time when, after decades of living behind the Iron Curtain, suddenly, the floodgates opened, and the Russian media space exploded with movies, books, music and art from all over the world. It felt like everything was happening all at once and it was a very exciting time to be a kid. Read more>>

Weiying Ma | Multidisciplinary Designer

I have always had a passion for creativity. Drawing has had an innate attraction to me since I was young. From a young age, I was constantly doodling and drawing. However, despite my talent and love for the arts, I felt pressured to pursue a more “practical” career path. It was only during my undergraduate studies that I gradually realized the significance of interests in a person’s life. After being exposed to some fundamental design courses, Read more>>

Jade Moyano | Journalist & Entrepreneur

I have a degree in political science and international relations. I really thought I was going to change the world by working towards social impact and justice. My dream was to work at the UN, and I got an internship out of college at a NGO that worked alongside the UN on human rights issues and corporate responsibility. I was super inspired at first, but once I understood my job was basically going to be fighting my whole life against the system to change legislations that have been in place for decades to no avail, I felt really small. The work was important but I felt hopeless and sad about the situation of the world. Read more>>

Hailey Foss | Actress

Growing up, I did two things: musical theatre and rodeo competing (on a horse). And both of those gave me this insane adrenaline rush that I never got anywhere else. Then I started working in films and commercials and became so fascinated with all the puzzle pieces being put together. I had no idea how much work goes into a project and how many people it takes. I felt like I was apart of something bigger than myself, and found it so neat how all these strangers came together to make this piece of art, whether that’s a film, series, commercial or a play! Everyone had the same goal; Read more>>

Armanee Sinaga | Ink Illustrator

Even when the path I would try to take wasn’t for art, Art and creating would always find its way back to me. I genuinely think this is what I am supposed to do. Share stories, create worlds and just drawing whatever comes to mind. I’ve always loved illustrating since I was small and the fact that I even tried to anything other than art is so funny to me. I LOVE DRAWING. I have something to share and I hope that my shared work connects with people. Read more>>

Justin Stapleton | Writer and Director

For me it is not a want to, rather a have to. I am an extremely imaginative and free thinking individual, and have worked in positions that are devoid of creativity such as medical records. When I did I felt caged and stifled. I m a bird that needs to spread their wings. Read more>>

Daniela Moreno | Founder, MOE studio

I pursued an creative career because that was what I found myself giving energy to when I didn’t have to. If I had time to myself, I loved taking photos and organizing them in a cohesive way that made me feel good. Organically, I started a career of creating content for brands which ultimately led me to starting my own content studio, MOE studio. Read more>>

Ivan Magdaleno | Musician/Creative

It was a calling really. A small voice inside my head that eventually grew into a loud one. Everything I see and hear is inspiration and generates new ideas for the creation of sound and visuals. Read more>>

Natalia Ortonowska | Actor, Photographer, Filmmaker, Creative Director.

I pursued an artistic career because in my heart, I had to. Since I was a child, I always knew what inspired passion and drive, and the film and fashion industries were it. I started acting when I was really young. I performed in school plays, danced for many years at a high end dance conservatory in the center of my hometown, Read more>>

Katherine Pérez | Singer, songwriter.

Ah, I ask myself this question everyday. Everyone’s story is different and choosing one’s path, one’s career is one of the most life altering decisions we have to make as human beings within our society, I believe, it becomes our reason for being here, alive. If you’re lucky, you get to choose what your heart desires. On many occasions I find myself having to be reminded to be grateful, that at all, I was able to make this choice freely. It is so easy for my mind to regret what paths I didn’t walk, and it is so hard to know if there’s a chance at all of having the ability to create a life in resemblance to what we envision for ourselves. Read more>>

Brittany Fanning | Artist

It’s possible I chose this path because I’m terrible at everything else. I don’t work well with others and I get very sleepy if I’m doing any type of mundane work. I’m only truly interested in a few things; food, crime, comedy, and art. I hate cooking. I’m too clumsy to rob a bank. I have terrible stage fright. That leaves art. When I was young, I would hop on my old windows computer and upload photographs into Microsoft Paint. Read more>>

Chelsey Cherry | Makeup Content Creator & Cosplayer

I’m definitely somebody that needs a challenge and to me, there’s nothing more challenging than pushing your own boundaries creatively. After I create a look I’m always asking myself “What’s next? How can I go even harder? How can I improve?”. Makeup also gives me a chance to fully express myself with my appearance which is something I wasn’t able to do growing up. I feel free knowing I can wear whatever I want on my face. Read more>>

David Fiuczynski | fretless guitar, microtonality, Screaming Headless Torsos

I enrolled in a liberal arts college because i thought that a career in the arts was too risky, but ended up taking mostly music classes so it seemed this was the right path for me since intuition came naturally to me. I then went to New England Conservatory and then enrolled in the New York school of hard knocks and learned creative survival skills Read more>>

Chris Jackson | Musician and Software Development Engineer

Since I was a child I always found myself doing things that allowed me to express myself. Whether it was drawing, building magical forts with my siblings or eventually picking up a guitar and playing, I was always finding ways to allow my stream of consciousness to come out in whatever form I could. As I got older, I realized I could utilize the same creative thinking and expressiveness in my career.! Read more>>