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.

Antonia Vivino | Actress, Singer, Dancer

I was always drawn to music as a child. I’d feel rhythms at a very young age and my parents being musicians themselves recognized my musicality. I started ballet dancing at the age of eight and then edged into more musical theatre when I was 11. What I’m thankful for is discovering these art forms myself. I was never pushed into anything. I was naturally brought into this industry and I think that’s when I finally said yes I need to make this my career. This is who I am and what I love doing. It’s always been a part of me. It’s not an easy career, but what’s beautiful is what you can create yourself. I constantly get to grow as a performer and when I am not currently “booked and blessed” as they say, I am choreographing a passion project or taking classes for example. I know I can pursue this career to my fullest because the possibilities are endless. Read more>>

Dona Nabata | Artist

I have been an artist all my life, as even as a child, I was always an observer. As time went on, due to my ethnicity, I was always on the periphery, which gave me space to observe and evaluate. When I was 14 yrs. old, I discovered that by questioning what Art is, I could expand my world beyond my immediate environment. Art gave me solace, as I wanted to live in a place beyond the face value of what I found around me. Later, Art was a place to put my curiosity and intellect. I was relieved to discover it was a nebulous world with no hard answers. Now the impulse to create has become a physical need, the back and forth of the mind and the material is something I must do. Read more>>

Randi Weidman | Actress

I have always had a thirst to communicate. A desire to connect. To be seen and heard. I believe this is what gave birth to my creative spirit. Being a shy introverted child was painful at times. I never knew how to reach out. The stage gave me a platform to exercise my will to convey. I felt heard. It’ was like learning a language and finally feeling understood. The theatre is a ministry of sorts.. I followed my calling actively working in the 99 seat theatres of Los Angeles, and began to audition for film and television.. Read more>>

Sueda Catakoglu | Musician & Composer

I am a composer, songwriter, pianist and singer. The reason why I decided to pursue a career in music is entirely my passion for it. I always dreamed of doing the profession that I am truely passionate about. Performing and composing my songs, writing my own lyrics, creating my own show and planning all the details behind the scene has always given me the absolute joy. I really observed myself during my conservatory years, to really make sure if I am ready to deal with the difficulties that being a performer or composer brings to the life, and I decided I am ready to deal with those, because I really like what I do. Read more>>

Lamondo Hill | Actor/Writer

I pursued an artistic career because realized it was my calling but most importantly the journey I am on is bigger than me. My goal is to inspire the world to be better and do better with my art. Read more>>

FTS Don Ron | Artist

Honestly , I pursued my artistry subconsciously . I always grew up freestyling outside of the corner store , or at the basketball court . I only started to take it seriously when I started to go through very trying times of life . I unfortunately lost my dad and 9 friends in 2020. And honestly the only thing that helped me cope was to write lyrics or go to the studio and record . Once I had people liking my music & got the oppurtunity to monetize it. It basically took over as my coping mechanism . And I decided it would be something I do forever Read more>>

Amantha Tsaros | Abstract Painter

I’m not sure I had a choice! Creativity was always a way of life in my family. My mother had a ceramics studio at home and she herself was raised by a traveling magician! Everyone in my family is creative in some way – from drummers to graphic designers. My mom would encourage me to see the different colors in clouds, pointing out that they are purple or yellow and not just white. Everything was viewed artistically – I didn’t realize that there was another way to live. Read more>>

Alex Bosserman | Digital Artist

My original plan was to enter the advertising industry post college, but graduating during covid when everyone was getting laid off really didn’t set the stage for me as a newbie trying to get in. So, my plan-B was teaching English abroad, and I spent 2 years doing so in South Korea. It was fun at first but eventually a grind that left me feeling dispirited and without a creative outlet. The work was exhausting so there was no energy at the end of a workday for my creative efforts. I quit teaching but stayed in Korea, with connections in the underground music scene that got me some creative gigs to support my life here. My ultimate goal is to create visuals for musicians, and I see my time spent post graduation as taking baby steps towards that! Read more>>

Yetong Xin | 3D Artist

That’s because by pursuing a creative profession, I can truly sense the existence of the individual “self” throughout the process. Creative occupations often demand independent thinking, where the emergence of inspiration relies on one’s unique and profound experiences. When embarking on a creative project, I begin to trace back my experience, drawing from those experiences that are distinctly my own and transforming them into universal ideas that resonate with the audience. For instance, in my childhood, I loved the fresh air after rain—a freshness tinged with the aroma of grass and a subtle acidity. This was a personal sensation, and many people likely shared similar experiences. Read more>>

STiRZY | Artist & Singer-Songwriter

I’d rather die than not express myself. Perhaps that’s a little crass, but if I’m not creating, whether it be writing, recording, or performing on stage, I don’t feel present; I don’t feel alive. I obviously made the conscious choice to pursue a career in music, but at the same time it feels like I didn’t have a choice, I had to do in, had to go after my dreams in order to stay alive. Read more>>

Emilea Rivera Dargert | Intuitive Counselor, Transition Guide, Chakra Tarot Reader

Honestly, every job I’ve ever had has been in the creative arts, I’ve never had a desk job or a 9-5. My very first job was at Tower Records, then a myriad of event and theatre jobs until I found myself in the film industry, but I was still searching for something more fulfilling. A few years ago I decided to take stock of any common threads that brought me fulfillment and what I realized was that in all these jobs whenever co-workers had a problem or dilemma they needed help with they came to me, and through intuition or spiritual learnings I was able to help them. I saw that this was my path, to serve others in navigating their path forward with practical tips and tools that were unearthed through tarot readings, chakra alignments, crystal healings and my online programs. Read more>>

Shawn Zhang | Creative Coder & 3D Animater

During the Christmas season of 2022, I sat alone in a hospital room at NYU Langone, gazing through the window at the dense block houses and industrial chimneys outside, deeply contemplating my future. At that time, I never imagined that I would be hospitalized for depression, nor did I expect to find the courage to rebirth from it. Looking back to 2017, as my sophomore year was drawing to a close, I was still an undecided major, filled with internal anxiety. Seeing my peers rapidly progressing in their respective fields while I was still taking general education courses, I hastily chose Computer Science as my major. Additionally, having already taken many math courses, I decided to double major in Mathematics. Read more>>

Xiaonan Hu | Screenwriter & Director

I feel that both art and religion are explorations of the ultimate questions of life, such as “What is our purpose in this world?”. Cinema is an art of “dream-making”, and I believe that the greatest films are those that can capture a dream-like quality. I also hope to become a ‘dream-maker’, using art to explore those ultimate questions of life. Read more>>

Guillermo Alvarez | Artist, Photographer & Cultural Organizer

The lifestyle of an artist has always fascinated me. Being able to communicate a message, a story, or simply an emotion has always had a huge impact on me. I started pursuing an artistic career during one of the most challenging experiences I had to overcome and started a path to creativity, storytelling, and advocacy. For a long time I was ashamed to share my story of incarceration and being a survivor of gun/gang violence. The more courage I gained to share my story, the more empowered and connected I felt to my community. I found my passion in film-photography, journalism, and muralism. I am an artist because it’s a powerful tool that can influence generations of leaders fighting for social justice. Read more>>

Matthew Ross | Painter

I think I couldn’t help it. I understand the world visually. My memories are visual, my dreams are visual and so my art is visual. It started with sketches, in the margins and between lines of notes in school: It was, unconsciously, the medium that I used to process my reality. Once I embraced that way of interpreting the world around me, making images became something of a compulsion for me. So, my art has become an outlet for everything that I absorb. The first time I painted a portrait, I was hooked. This was an enormous step forward for me and it opened a world of possibilities. I have continued to paint people, which I feel is a great challenge. When I paint, I’m attempting to describe the essence of someone on a piece of panel. Read more>>

Hari Iyer | Writer and Director

In short, because I’m pretty miserable at everything else. Growing up, I tried to be everything but an artist. I like many privileged Indian boys in America thought i was going to be in the STEM field. A doctor, engineer, architect, businessman, computer engineer, even a professional NBA player. Something with a tangible roadmap to somewhat sustaining one’s monetary life. And I would arrogantly bounce around, expecting to strive in whatever I did…. But I was mediocre. Average at best. I had neither the brains nor determination required for those pursuit, often trailing my smarter, talented and more committed friends. I’m not demeaning those paths, there is definite artistry and creativity needed for those careers, but i guess something wasn’t catching on for me. Read more>>

Audrey Horner | Artist and Ceramic Studio Manager

In my life, I have been passionate about a very wide range of subjects; philosophy and theoretical physics, marine biology and pedology, photography and anthropology. And it is through study and a commitment to learning that I have found a throughline that I have followed across disciplines– The beauty of expression. Regardless of content, what I have found myself being drawn to everywhere I look is the way that people or things express themselves. Expression is art, and I guess I believe that the only way to sincerely respond to all the beauty that I see around me, is to open myself up to the vulnerability of expression myself. Read more>>

Radhika Bansal | Film/TV Producer

I have always found comfort and happiness in films. Growing up, it was my introduction to the world and I have learnt a lot of movies, it has defined how I interact with the world. Getting lost in a film and forgetting about everything else is what has always kept me going. So I think the ultimate goal is to be able to make a movie that one day makes some else feel the same way my favourite movies make me feel. For the message to resonate with them, the characters to provide a friendly hug or the plot to show them that they are not alone in the world. I just want to make someone’s favourite film or TV show and for me to be remembered by my work. The most rewarding moment is when you share your story or your film with someone outside of your team and they get excited about it. Read more>>

Armando Ortuño | Actor & Vocalist

This may seem so funny, although when I was a kid, my friends and I would genuinely play outside of our home and do improv and pretend we were different objects or characters. I remember we would fake being WWII soldiers and jump on mud, grab dry dirt and rub it on our clothes to imitate military fatigues. I would also try to voice looney toon characters, hot wheel noises when I would play with toy cars, and I would imitate dances from singers such as Michael Jackson in my living room. All of this had me in a position where I enjoyed watching entertainment, TV Shows, and studio voice overs on TV as I would visit universals studios almost all the time to get the feeling of being on set. Read more>>

Siyan (Camille) Ji | Photographer&Visual Artist

Growing up in a small city in Northeast China, I was immersed in the peaceful lifestyle of the city. When I was young, my mother used to take me on travels all around China. Exploring different places allowed me to witness diverse landscapes and lifestyles. During one of our trips, we purchased a small digital camera, sparking my interest in capturing the world around me through photography. From vast landscapes to the minutiae of daily life, photography became more than just a tool for documenting the past; it evolved into a means of expressing my own perspective on the world. It felt like constructing a world within each frame, choosing and arranging elements to convey my vision and imagination. Read more>>

Dionisio Burgos | Photographer & Poet

I chose a creative career because I felt free, I was able to express myself and express my ideas through my writing and through my photographer. It was also a coping mechanism for my depression instead of bottling everything up I was able to write it out. I was able to take a picture. It was also great to tap into that part of myself to bring life a visual concept, the feeling knowing that you are creating something that’s going to impact someone or group of people. Read more>>

Jojo Korsh | Photographer & Artist

I think my career as an artist was fated from a young age, long before I realized this was the path I would pursue. At the age of 13 I took my first darkroom film class, and immediately fell in love with the process, but had never considered it as something I could do for a living. Like most kids from my hometown I assumed I had to become a lawyer or doctor so I chose the latter and went to USC initially as a pre-med student. I took a few photo electives in those early years, but was so focused on achieving this “dream” of becoming a doctor, even though I was falling behind academically every semester. After 3 years of trying to fit myself into a mold that was clearly not going to take, I finally accepted this was an impossible challenge and I needed to make a change. Read more>>

Shyna King | Lash artist

Over the years, I navigated through various career paths and changed majors in college multiple times, searching for fulfillment. It wasn’t until I enrolled in beauty school in 2015 that I found true happiness. Despite the school closing down four months before completion, I persevered, exploring job opportunities while still practicing beauty services on the side. Though I found a decent-paying job, uncertainty lingered. Eventually, I pursued a course in lash extensions, and it ignited a passion in me. In 2021, I attended esthetician school, and upon graduation, I secured my license. Initially working from my parents’ house, I honed my skills and quickly built a clientele. Read more>>

Catalina Diaz | Illustrator

It wasn’t until I was in high school that I realized that being an artist was a viable career option. My art teacher did a presentation on the art college she went to and she talked about how it helped her in her creative journey which inspired me to pursue the same journey for myself. During that journey I decided that I wanted to become a children’s book illustrator, and then to work in children’s media in general. I am still working on getting my foot into the children’s media scene but I’m working hard to get there. I like seeing people enjoy the art that I make and I want it to be art that inspires them as well. Read more>>

Gina Garavalia | Animation Artist & Storyteller

Hi! Firstly, thanks for taking time to interview me! Sometimes, people will ask me, “When did you start drawing?” Truthfully, I started drawing when I was old enough to hold a pencil and never stopped. Throughout my childhood, I enjoyed inventing stories to illustrate and incorporated art into my class projects whenever possible. Around 2009 when I grew more serious about pursuing art as a career, I received my first drawing tablet to create digital paintings. Later in 2012, I attended Stamps School of Art and Design at the University of Michigan. Being part of larger university allowed me to supplement my artistic studies with other interests such as creative writing, literature, and history. Read more>>

Alexis Hunter | Writer/jewelry designer

I’ve always loved beauty and everything artistic. I started as a painter many years ago and was successful with my art. This evolved into writing prose and eventually a book which was published in 2015 and revised in 2022. It’s my passion. I have to be creative to express we’ll I am. Read more>>

Kiki Zamost | Filmmaker

My passion to pursue a creative career can be expressed through the intersection between the two forefronts of my life: filmmaking and rowing. For the last 11 years the core of my identity has been rowing competitively. Pursuing both film and rowing over these past years allowed me to realize how much the outlets intertwine and serve each other. Like filmmaking, each crew race produces and represents its own story, from starting line to finish, its own beginning, middle, and end. For example, in a typical boat, each of eight rowers occupy a unique seat in the boat, however, they share a need for synchronicity in order to achieve the objective. Read more>>

Tiana Randall-Quant | Actor, Educator, Collaborative Storyteller

Art has always been at the center of how I perceive and understand the world. I’ve been an avid reader since I learned to read and discovered my passion for acting at a very young age (The first full length play I was in was Toy Story 2 in the second grade–I played Ham.) When I was a teen and in the process of deciding what I wanted to do with my life, I had it in my mind to study psychology but couldn’t shake that irresistible draw to literature and performance. I realized then that acting was my way of connecting my interests of literary creativity and the study of human behavior. I was also raised by storytellers. Read more>>

Max Liu | Concept Artist & Illustrator

My artistic journey started in childhood, fueled by a love for Japanese animes and Hollywood films. I could not resist sketching scenes from them on paper. With my parents’ backing, I turned my art hobby into a career through high school art classes. Delving deeper into the world of artistry during my college years, I discovered the transformative power of digital art—a medium that seamlessly combined my innate artistic sensibility with a rational design process. Career-wise, I set my goal of becoming a professional digital artist and concept designer for the entertainment industry. I still carry my dad’s words from my college days: crafting joy for others holds more value than just reveling in what’s already created. Read more>>

Findlay McConnell | Dancer

From the time I can remember, I never had a sit down conversation with my parents discussing that I was going to pursue a career in dance; it’s almost like the question was already answered. From the time I was born until now, I have always been moving. There was never a Plan B, another passion that was equal to dance. Nothing ever compared and nothing else was ever discussed. It is the thing that I love most and what I am meant to do. The world of dance allows for so much creativity and challenge and dialogue and knowledge. The learning never stops and that’s what I find so interesting about it. No matter how advanced we think we’re getting in the field; there is more to learn and discover. Read more>>

Emily Qiu | Film Writer & Director

I grew up in a small Chinese city, where my family’s focus was firmly on the finance industry. This environment naturally set a path for me to follow in their footsteps. However, my story took a different turn, starting when I fell in love with films in middle school. They were more than entertainment; they were my windows to diverse cultures and ideas, shaping my perspective significantly. Despite the expectation from my family, my heart was leaning towards something more creative. This led me to study architecture design in Australia for my undergraduate degree. Architecture wasn’t an easy journey for me. I struggled, but these challenges were invaluable, teaching me resilience and fostering a creative mindset. Read more>>

Marco A. Mata | Music Producer and Film Composer

At the age of 12, my curiosity led me to explore the world of music production, inspired by my favorite EDM artists. Watching videos and researching the craft, I decided to invest in my first music production software. As the years passed, my passion for music deepened, prompting me to make a life-altering decision to dedicate myself to this art form. Leaving my home country, Costa Rica, I ventured to the United States to broaden my musical knowledge. After a year of intensive study, I discovered my passion for composing music for films. This newfound avenue allowed me to express emotions and tell stories through my compositions, fulfilling my initial desire to share feelings through music. Read more>>

Samantha Rivera | Writer and Photographer

I love art and I’ve always been the creative type. As a kid, I always envisioned myself being in a creative field, I remember as a child wanting to be an artist so I turned to painting which then turned to my love of reading so I turned to writing. and the list goes on but I knew I could never do anything that didn’t require a creative force behind the work. It wasn’t until I was eleven and saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and understood that pursuing screenwriting and directing was an actual choice. However, I knew it was a gamble since not many Filipino-Americans really got a foot in the creative world as easily as others but I’m grateful for the adults in my life who nurtured my creative pursuits! Read more>>

Claire Yland Li | Filmmaker & Storyteller

This is an excellent question because I’ve always been interested in film growing up but did not consider pursuing filmmaking as a lifelong career until I spent three months in a remote rainforest. After graduating from undergrad, I entered the Chinese film industry as an assistant producer and assistant director for short films, feature documentaries, and TV series. Still, when people ask me whether I want to be a filmmaker, I tend to answer with, “We’ll see.” I’ve thought of the job more as a fun job for now and not a position to keep. Luckily, before I started applying for a master’s in Business, I stumbled upon a job that took me to the Southernmost part of China. Read more>>

Reza Lotf | Photographer

As I look back on what led me to embrace a creative career, a mix of influences has shaped my journey. From a young age, I was captivated by the magic of freezing moments in time through my camera lens. Expressing myself through the images I captured brought me immense joy and fulfillment. Coming from a traditional family, my love for photography was initially seen as just a hobby. Encouraged to pursue a more typical career, I ended up pursuing a degree in mining engineering. Yet, my passion for photography persisted, and I found a like-minded companion in my college best friend, who shared my enthusiasm for capturing moments. Together, we immersed ourselves in the world of photography, fueled by my eagerness to absorb every bit of knowledge available on the subject. Read more>>

Vanity Alexander | Founder and creator of Vanity Alexander, a women’s RTW and beauty & home decor brand.

I believe we are all created on purpose, for a purpose and that each of us possesses specific talents and abilities. I often refer to said talents and abilities as gifts, because if nurtured and honed properly, they will benefit the world greatly. Because of this, I have always felt that it was my duty to share my gifts. When I’m not exercising my creativity, I often feel a great sense of lack as opposed to when I am operating in my purpose, I am fulfilled me in unexplainable ways. Read more>>

Icerage The Mastermind | Disc Jockey & Music Producer

From a young age, music was my companion, my confidant, and my passion. Being a musician was never a choice; it was an inherent part of who I am. I found myself drawn to different instruments like the bass guitar, piano, and drums, each offering a unique language through which I could express myself. It wasn’t just about mastering these instruments; it was about the stories they could tell and the emotions they could evoke. As I delved deeper into the world of music, I realized it wasn’t just about playing notes; it was about curating an experience, and crafting a journey that would resonate with others. Read more>>

Jane Doe | Rock Band

Because all of us believe we were put on this Earth to be musicians. That this is really our calling and by golly we’re gonna give it our best shot. Read more>>

Teona Zak | Singer, songwriter , Performer

I pursued the artistic career because I was always drawn to music. I went through a very hard time when I was growing up. My father left at a young age and I saw myself put walls up and not want to be vulnerable with anyone. I was closed off and didn’t think there was a way to open up again because of the pain. Suddenly, my voice instructor recommended I would go to a song writing workshop and I did just that. I found myself at the age of 14 writing one of the most vulnerable songs I have still till this day – Monster. Everything I couldn’t say I wrote and sang, and that inspired me to continue, because I finally let go of the pain I was carrying. I found a way to be vulnerable and unapologetically honest. I saw that truly when words fail music speaks. Read more>>

Shelldhn | Singer / Songwriter

The reason I decided to pursue an artistic career is because of my love for music I always had a passion for creativity. I would always be singing around the house. Growing up I had a music all around me. My mom sang in church, and set the foundation. Initially, it was just a hobby, but I found a real love for it in high school when I was in chorus class my instructor Mr. Collins was an instrumental part in pushing me to pursue music as a career. Read more>>

DougieTheDon | Music Artist

I have always been a person who isn’t afraid to express how he feels.. I have always been in love with poetry and the ability to write your experiences on paper so transferring that to music was easy for me. Mix that with the love and passion for music and the product was undeniable. Being able to tell my story and my truth through music while seeing people relate to what was said on a song I created, is the most satisfying part about pursing this career Read more>>

Cassandra Tsolis | Movement Artist

Before embarking on an artistic path, I had previously worked in administration and the non-profit realm. After being in this space for a few years, I felt there was a part of me that wasn’t yet explored. More so, I hadn’t given myself permission to take a risk and follow my curiosity of what dance could look like professionally in my life. Movement was first introduced to me through my Yia Yia; showing me the traditional Greek dances of our culture in her living room. From there I slowly began discovering other forms of dance; with some being in the studio, to crews in college, to performance teams and more. Read more>>

Jada Renee | CEO : Investor , Brand Strategist , Creative Director

I chose to pursue a career in the arts because it’s the only thing I know. I’m a creative and have always been a creative. I always wanted to be an artist but I would always struggle to see how that was possible because I never saw a successful artist doing what I wanted to do, which was “everything” lol. I wanted to be successful doing any and everything that I felt was creative and cool and make profit from those things. So rather it was painting , fashion , making music playlists , throwing parties I always wanted to be happy in life doing those things. Money doesn’t really come into play until you get older but I always wanted to be happy doing my art. Read more>>

Alice Castiglione | Artist

I pursued an artistic career because, for me, it was the only path that resonated with my deepest passions. Art, in its profound sense, encompasses various disciplines, requiring a dedicated discipline of its own. This intrinsic connection with artistic expression isn’t something acquired over a brief period; it’s a sentiment cultivated from childhood. My educational journey reflects this commitment—I delved into sculpture, art history, painting, and art projection during high school. Subsequently, I pursued a three-year course in Theory and Techniques of Visual Multimedia Direction at the Academy of Fine Arts. Upon relocating to the UK, I furthered my studies with a Master’s degree in Photo Documentary. Read more>>