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.

Drex Lee | Film Maker

I decided to pursue a creative career in the beginning because I couldn’t find any other job. Being creative was the only thing I was good enough at to earn a living. Then when I tried pursuing ventures outside of a creative career, I wasn’t as happy so I left all those other ventures behind and decided to only pursue this one and only career. Read more>>

Penny Fournier | Illustrator

The short answer to this dreaded question is that making art is the only thing I know how to do. The long answer is that it’s the only thing I want to be doing. I wanted to pick a career that would challenge me and evolve as I changed through the years. At 18 I was living in Paris, drawing short comics and taking more “traditional” art classes but I decided to move to New York to study illustration at the School Of Visual Arts. Read more>>

Zhang Xun | 2D Animator and Rigger

Growing up in Singapore, my parents put a lot of emphasis on my academic achievements. I mainly excelled at subjects such as sciences and mathematics, however, I did take visual art for my contrasting humanities subject. I also drew a lot of fanart of shows that I liked, no matter how busy I was with school and homework, I will find myself staying up late to draw (mostly fanart). Read more>>

Harrison Long | Music Producer, Engineer, Mixer

I’ve always been deeply inspired by music and the arts. Growing up, I loved playing the guitar and I was one of those kids that always had headphones or earbuds on. I think appreciating the arts is something that truly defines our humanity, and the idea of pushing artistic boundaries seems to be a natural part of human evolution. There is something about music in particular that can really just put you in a certain emotional place. Read more>>

Ece Naz Kiziltan | Director & Producer

I grew up in a family where dance and music was a big interest. We were always a big family with so many people surrounding us depending on these interests. Being around different types of people opened my mind and made me an observer of human actions. My family always encouraged my interest in the arts. I took dance and acting classes on weekends, but it was acting that truly captured my heart. I took part in a movie when I was just 7 years old. Read more>>

Flip Sarta | Artist/Development Executive

Like many kids, my childhood was full of cartoons, comics, and games that meant the world to me. Of these, the most significant to me was the fantastical animated series by Thurop Van Orman, ‘The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack’. The mixed media aspects and interesting visual style captivated me, and I was struck by this kind-hearted protagonist existing in a harsher world. Read more>>

Me’Chele Frierson | Clinical Social Worker

When I very young, my eldest brother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The clinical social assigned to him did a really good job of educating the family on his diagnosis and how family support is so crucial to the prognosis of his illness. From there my love of mental health developed and grew. Read more>>

Fiona and Sage Reuscher | Program Directors, DJs, Media Creators and Parents

We started our own radio station because we were tired of listening to the same songs on repeat. Corporate control on radio has put profit above all else. We hear the same voices as every other market and the same tired playlist, every day. Read more>>

ELEV8 | Artist, Producer, DJ

It pursued me. It chose me. From a young age I knew that this was it for me. My love for music runs so deep it goes beyond words. Read more>>

Kendyll Hillegas | Illustrator and Artist

An artistic career wasn’t something something I planned on. While I loved drawing as a child, by adolescence I only picked up a paintbrush on rare occasions. I had internalized the idea that artistic skill was something you inherited, and if art-making felt difficult, it was because I lacked the talent to do it. Read more>>

TILLI | Singer/Songwriter / Musician /Artiste

I pursued an artistic and creative career as that is what comes through me with the most joy and persistence. And I thought it would have the most freedom ! Another artist friend of mine said, but with freedom can come loneliness and that is also true. There are many times when it seems it would be easier to choose a more regulated job and career description. Read more>>

Denzel Jenkins | Director, Writer, Producer

I experienced a lot of trauma in my life which led to depression, suicidal thoughts, worthlessness, etc. Being in that dark space, I wasn’t sure what was next in my life, so I sought out God and became a disciple of Christ. This would lead me to writing poems, short stores and the revelation of my desire to be the best filmmaker I can be. It’s therapeutic for me, bringing a lot of healing into my life, and I hope that the art I make can bring the same impact to those who experience my work while keeping them entertain. Read more>>

Rebecca Trujillo Vest | Rebecca Trujillo Vest | Osmunda Music & CEO/Programs Director, Pandion Music Foundation

I grew up in Santa Fe, NM—a place that fosters creativity in many forms. Early on, I found contemplative moments making music to be a nurturing experience similar to a mother’s love. We can connect and communicate through music. We can touch hearts. . . and then minds. It provides the power to create shared experiences. For me, the messaging is the most important part of creating my music. Read more>>

Jessica Ruiz | Makeup Artist

I am pursuing a creative career because I enjoy being able to express myself through make up looks. Growing up in a Hispanic house hold I was not able to I wear makeup until I turned 15 years old. I remember one of my aunts secretly buying me makeup when I was about 13, I would sleepover her house and practice for hours on putting on eyeliner. Read more>>

Luying Wang | Film Director

I pursued an artistic and creative career because of my unwavering passion for storytelling and my deep desire to connect with people on an emotional level. From a young age, I found solace and inspiration in the world of cinema and the power of visual storytelling. I was captivated by the ability of films to transport audiences to different worlds, evoke a range of emotions, and spark meaningful conversations. Read more>>

JoJo Carmichael | Dancer

I decided that I wanted to pursue dance professionally probably when I was 14 or 15 years old. I had other interests and still do, but I just knew that nothing would bring me the satisfaction or fulfill me the way that dance does. There’s also so many avenues within dance that I am itching to explore. Read more>>

Rutvij Reddy Seelam | Cinematographer

Five years ago, upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, I would have been at a loss for an answer if you had asked me about pursuing an artistic or creative career. At that point, my expertise was limited to handling a camera and creating compelling images and videos. However, my intense passion for photography drove me to seek further exploration. Read more>>

Abdulrahman Hamdi | artist painter

My journey as a painter has been a pursuit of self-discovery and an exploration of the depths of human emotion. From a young age, I found solace and empowerment in expressing my thoughts and feelings through art. The medium of painting, with its limitless potential for visual storytelling, resonated deeply with me. Read more>>

Gigi Dia | Actress

I’ve always been very creative, since I’m a child, so it was natural for my to pursue an artistic career! I love art! It can be music, paintings, films. Art is part of my daily life and I can’t live without it! Read more>>

Roadkill Reno | Taxidermy artist

Happiness has always been my priority. To me, finding joy in the day to day is far more important than having a successful job and making lots of money. I think most people are lost, without passion, taking jobs that are mindless and soul-sucking because society has lead them to believe that is the path to success. I have always known that the traditional lifestyle was not for me. Read more>>

Ishani Joshi | Artist/ Songwriter

The energy and pure joy I feel when I pick up a mic is unmatched. When I’m performing, I feel like the most confident and vibrant version of myself, and I couldn’t imagine pursuing anything different. While I’ve always felt at home on stage, I found a new love in the art of songwriting when I moved to Nashville. There’s something indescribable about sharing an intimate piece of my heart and experience with an audience and connecting with people though my music. Read more>>

Meral | Artist and performer

This might sound a bit cliché but music is therapy for me. One way to really process things is to write and sing about it. Not only is music therapeutic but also extremely fun. I love being able to write lyrics and to create harmonies from those lyrics. In music there is infinite freedom, a feeling which I feel like I don’t really experience in other parts of my life. In music I can fully be myself and I think it’s such an amazing thing that there are people who relate to that. Read more>>

Victor M Frausto | Artist, Actor, Comedian, and Awesome

All my life I’ve always been interested in Art and being creative. but never really had an opportunity to pursue it. I grew up in Highland Park, during the 90’s and early 2000’s it was not the safest neighborhood. So there was not many art programs around. So I grew up thinking that there is no such thing as artistic or creative careers for people like me. Read more>>

Patil Khakhamian | Cinematographer & Photographer

I pursued an artistic and creative career because my artistic inclinations have been ingrained in me since childhood, and I couldn’t ignore this part of myself. Although I briefly considered becoming a biologist, the thought of abandoning my artistic side worried me deeply. In college, I found myself unsure of what to do with an art degree, so I opted for a degree in anthropology. Read more>>

RecipeZZZ for Sleep | Podcast

I have so much respect for artists and those who are able to make a career out of their creativity, and I never set out to have a creative career. It’s not something I dared to dream about. I was content to just be able to enjoy other people’s work. I’m more of an art appreciator who has a chance to dabble in creative work. Read more>>

Candice Taylor | Gallerist + Curator

I chose this career or rather it chose me. Art has always been apart of my daily regimen. I am a firm believer in doing what makes you happy. Art is my self love and healing. Do what you love and it’s never a job is what they say, I will have to agree with them. Read more>>

Johnny Cortes | Actor, Director and Acting Coach

From the minute we’re born, we start hearing stories. From a book, a show or a movie. Growing up I would go rent movies at the video store, yes renting movie existed hahaha, and I would get lost in those stories. I started acting when I was 15 years old, I loved creating characters specially comedic characters. Then I went into Cinema in College, we had to write and direct short films. Read more>>

Larry Herweg | Professional Drummer & Real Estate Sales Agent

Playing music became super important to me in my later teen years and into my twenties. Playing drums is such a great physical and mental outlet, you get to be creative while burning off some steam at the same time. Early on I honestly never thought I could make a career out of it. I just made sure I was playing music as much as I could between holding down a retail job and getting my degree in Sociology from University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Read more>>

Tim Herd | PhD Student & Creative Consultant

I chose a creative career due to the opportunity to control my own narrative & engage in work centered in my own passions. Read more>>

Brandon J | Inspirational Soul Recording Artist/Talk Show Host

I’ve been singing since I was 3 years old, so I’ve always known that I wanted to pursue music as my career. It brings me great joy to encourage/inspire others through my music. Read more>>

Mollie Kimberling | Freelance Photographer

I never really saw myself as the creative type while growing up in a small town in Idaho. Compositions and colors always caught my eye but I never really knew how to apply that to a possible career option. Could I really have a job that I actually enjoyed doing every day? Read more>>