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.

Meeka Stuart | Director of Animated Television Shows

I was lucky enough to be raised in a creative environment – having a father, grandfather, great grandfather in the art field and a creative mother and grandmother, I like to think that I was destined to move into the creative side of careers Read more>>

Mateo Nikolav | Writer/Director & Photographer

I always knew I wanted to be a filmmaker. I still remember going to the movies for the first time when I was three years old and returning home to rip my family’s VHS tapes to try and decipher what made movies so special. Read more>>

Kelly Weckstein | Artist, Small Business Owner, & Art Teacher

Since childhood, my passion for art has been unwavering. Around the age of 11, when I received my first digital drawing tablet, I discovered my deep-seated desire to pursue art. Art has served as a consistent outlet for me to express my thoughts, feelings, and interests, and allowing me to connect with others and cope with the difficulties I have faced throughout my life. For me, there was never a question of pursuing any other career path that does not allow for me to make art or to work creatively. While choosing an art involved profession may seem daunting to many, I was determined to make it a reality through persistent effort. This commitment led me to pursue a degree in Animation and Illustration. Upon graduation, I started my small business named BunniBrainArt and began pursuing a career in teaching art. Read more>>

Hannah Carman | Actress, Singer, Writer and Film Producer

I went ahead with pursuing a creative career because quite honestly, there wasn’t anything else I could see myself doing that could ever make me feel as fulfilled as my creative work does. As I am an actress, singer, writer, and producer all in one, I consider myself to be a multi-hyphenate. Every way in which I am working in the creative field fulfills me differently and allows me to tell stories in the way that I want to. If I didn’t have that, then I wouldn’t feel purposeful in my work. Read more>>

attorious renee | poet & philosopher

curiosity is genuinely my first language, i’ve only ever known creation to answer back. as I believe answers without question are a violation to natural law, which leads me to the places where i can access gratitude. I wonder through deconstructing language to access the essence of linguistic vibration for myself first. It’s how i know to alchemize nature and nurture possibility, which i seek to teach as evolution is inevitable. Read more>>

Liliana Jeanine Epps | Artist, Grant Writer, Yoga Teacher & Abolitionist

It just made sense to me. Like my brain doesn’t work any other way. Even if I was working in insurance, I would still be creative, ya know? My essence is artistic and creative and it’s an energy/ethos/mindset I carry with me everywhere I go and into everything I do. I also hate Capitalism/Late Stage Capitalism and working in a creative field is the only way for me to continue to feel sane and feel a sense of purpose in this soul sucking system. I was also raised in a family that values the arts and education so I grew up with the confidence to pursue anything I want. Read more>>

Crystal Reyes | Writer & Educator

Writing has surged through me since I can remember. While Spanish was my first-language, I had my fair share of struggles in reading and writing; including pronunciation, limited vocabulary, and accessibility to reading, I began to frequent my local library and learn as much as I could because it was all I could do to better myself. It wasn’t until my teen years that I dabbled in creative writing; in turn, I won various awards for these pieces. Whether I am writing personal essays, poetry, or raunchy erotica stories; writing is cathartic in nature. When I write, I let-go of all expectations, and with this, I am inclined to bare myself completely in my work. After all, how else can others understand you for who & what you are? Read more>>

Jack Neblung | Illustrator

Growing up, I always possessed a blind love for the craft. Creating art was an outlet for me to express myself in a way that I found fun & fulfilling. The habit of drawing every day became integral to who I am. I especially enjoyed the challenges of always trying to improve upon the previous project. Finding new and exciting ways to draw and paint always had me coming back for more. Pursuing art as a career was never a question. I’m going to be drawing anyway, it stands to reason I should try and flip a profit doing it. The dream is to take these skills I’ve accumulated over years of natural curiosity and put it towards projects that will serve a greater purpose, and to serve others. Read more>>

Shah Brielle | Singer, Songwriter & Film Director

I pursued an artistic and creative career because of my deep passion for music and the arts. From a young age, I was always surrounded by music, particularly through my experiences in a choir, which cultivated a lifelong love and joy for the art. Naturally, I am a very creative and artistic person. I used to teach and recite spoken word poetry, which allowed me to express my creativity in different ways. My involvement in learning about different genres of music, such as rock, r&b, and jazz, has enabled me to write in any genre. I believe that music is a God-given talent and purpose for me. Through my music, I aim to spread love and joy to others. It’s not just a career for me; it’s a way to fulfill my purpose and share my passion with the world. Read more>>

Vincent Weathersby | Styledbyweathersby/Wardrobe Stylist

Choosing an artistic or creative career was a deeply personal and fulfilling decision for me. From a young age, I found immense joy and solace in expressing myself through various forms of art. Whether it was Dancing, writing, or crafting, each creative endeavor provided an avenue to channel my thoughts, emotions, and unique perspective on the world. Read more>>

Emmanuel Abiodun | Embroidery and yarn Painting Artist

As a young boy growing up in Nigeria, my journey into the world of art began with the simple pleasure of drawing. I vividly remember how my classmates would bring paper home to my mom, asking me to do their drawing assignment for them. These small moments of sharing my drawings and witnessing the smiles they brought were incredibly. My art teacher’s gift of an art textbook further fueled my passion, showing me that there is a world of knowledge and path waiting to be explored. Read more>>

Amahd Bey | Writer and Event Planner

Around the time I graduated high school, I had a very hard time trying to figure out what I wanted to do. In college, I was always more drawn to my English classes and studying famous literature. I knew writing was something I liked to do, and was a journalist for our club sports teams. However, It wasn’t until I took a creative writing class, and a film studies class , that I realized my passion and interest is in creative writing. Read more>>

Alessio Ammendola | Musician

The reason why I decided to pursue a career in music is because it’s the only thing that really moves my soul. Whatever is shaking around in my head music can soothe it, amplify it or help it going away entirely. Read more>>

Andrew Lauerman | 3D Character Artist

I think I pursued a creative career because it excites me. Thinking about it, there is a bit of a rush when it comes to the unknown. It’s scary, exciting, heartbreaking, and rewarding in so many ways, but definitely never boring. I have worked so many different types of jobs, corporate and non-corporate jobs alike. I have always felt the pull of the universe to do creative things, and I honestly, I just keep going no matter what. Read more>>

Beiyan Hu

About why I chose an art career and became an illustrator, in a way, I must thank my time during my undergraduate. At that time, I majored in history, and it broadened my horizons and guided me to this decision. History is a major that is inherently about valuing human being and their experiences. Wandering through history, I am also sensitive to diversity. I realized the variety of human lives in the beautiful world and deeply understood what cultural diversity offered us. Read more>>

Mackenzie Day

I pursued my artistry because it’s been the gift and calling I’ve been unable to refrain from my entire existence. Since I was a little girl, I was jumping around on some energy that was unknown to others. Singing, dancing, finding the creativity in the room. I remember being at my grandmas Christmas parties and older generations asking me what I wanted to do with my life, i’ve just always known…”be a rockstar” I would tell them…they always seemed so amazed that I had it “figured out” in this society a lot are lost within what they think they should do and what they truly feel called to do, and I guess its also just different for everyone. Sometimes passions can just be passions, but I want to live a life of fulfillment, and being paid to pursue my passions is the dream. I’m pursuing this life style and journey and artistic vision because it’s the only way I want to live. Through creation, through art, through my self expression. Ive always known im here to make a difference, with my words, with my sounds, my personal perspective. I think were all given a gift into this world, to be here living amongst the reality we are, is quite a surreal experience, and to do what were good at, what were called to do, I think is the goal of life at the end of the day. Theres no plan B, and there cant be, I dont believe in quitting, just in divine timing. Its been a journey, a journey of ego, a journey of reflection and contemplation, but its worth it, so be living this life and to be doing what I love, despite how many people listen. The greater purpose, is for myself, is to find my sanity in what I love. To write, to create with other amazing creators and to live a life of fulfillment. Read more>>

Paul Haddad

Though it may ring as a cliche, the truth is that a creative career chose me. I honestly feel I had no choice in the matter. From a very young age, being creative is what made — and continues to make — me happy. I feel fortunate to have supported myself and my family through creative endeavors, and to have platforms in which to spread whatever knowledge I’ve gained with the larger community. Read more>>

Ben Nurhaci Lu

Blockbuster is a precious memory etched in the annals of my family’s history. As a child, my father and I would lose ourselves among the metal shelves, wandering through the labyrinthine rows in search of films. Read more>>

Janna Jalla

Growing up as a First Generation Filipino American woman in the US, I was the first in my family to pioneer a path to what the ideal “American Dream” looked like to my family and my relatives. It was always engrained in me to go to college, pursue a corporate career (bonus points if I worked for a well-known global company) and making a certain amount of money right off the bat. Money and status was an easy indicator of success and spoke volumes to painting a certain picture to our family abroad. At this point in my life, I’ve checked off those boxes and have made my parents proud in a traditional sense. I worked my way through corporate America and have built a life that I was also very proud of. My corporate career took me from Seattle to Singapore and now to Los Angeles where I plan to continue to build roots. Read more>>

Brian Santa Maria

Great question. As it turns out I pursued a lot of them. I always thought I’d be an animator but I started in theater. I was acting, writing, and just making stuff. I went into concept development. Did a project with Disney Imagineering and then Ray Bradbury. I wrote satire and won a Peabody for The Onion. But I considered any field creative, if the person doing it approached it creatively, right? Like Albert Einstein was a physicist. But he came at the work from angles others weren’t, developed new methodologies. It’s almost about approaching every problem like it’s entirely new, no matter how many people have made other approached routine. You trian yourself in a bunch of toolsets, be they writing, coloring, camera work, or even math, law, medicine, and then a creative career is one in which you apply those tool sets from new angles and make new methodologies. Read more>>

Aisaju

I chose a career in fashion at a young age, organizing fashion shows for neighbors at just seven years old. The joy and wonder in my friends’ eyes after their transformations inspired me to continue exploring the possibilities of fashion and art. To me, fashion is more than just clothing; it’s a powerful form of self-expression that transforms and reshapes our perception of the world, evokes emotions, communicates ideas and values without words, and inspires others to find their own path. Read more>>

D’GORD

Growing up I was always exposed to creativity with my dad being a music producer & seeing different artist come in and out of our house studio to work I just fell in love with watching everything they were doing & I looked up to guys like Michael Jackson, Usher, & Chris Brown I just knew I wanted to be next! Read more>>

Mingfeng Li

Back in 2017, while I was studying International Business at San Diego State University, I picked up my first camera and began exploring photography. Spending time with friends from Santa Monica College who were also into photography, we’d head out to take pictures just for fun. We experimented with various types like landscapes, street, and portraits. We even created a documentary for an er-hu artist who was performing on Santa Monica Pier. At that time, photography and cinematography were just hobbies to me, not something I saw as a career path. Read more>>