Artists and creatives face innumerable challenges given that their career path often doesn’t come with a playbook, a steady paycheck or any form of safety net. It’s definitely not easy and so we asked a few of the artists and creatives we admire to talk to us about why they chose to pursue an artistic or creative career.

Cristina Glezoro | Actor, producer, graphic designer.

Because it is what makes me happy. To be an actor is to find a safe space that allows you to explore your inner self, other peoples lives, places and circumstances that I don’t see in my everyday life. I’ve discovered that my work is never just for me and my happiness, but for others as well. The people who go see a performance end up being impacted by it; they end up discovering the world, the emotions and ideas as well. I love that. Read more>>

Gregg Sargeant | Action Actor & Stunt Coordinator

I did lots of jobs before I started my career in movies and television, so many that for a while I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Everyone has to find what their passionate about while finding themself and that can be quite a journey. Discovering what drives you and makes someone excited to get up each morning is key. Read more>>

Jakob Zermeno | Actor & Artist

I pursue a creative career because nothing makes me happier. I have worked several other jobs, labor jobs, desk jobs, and sales jobs, and they all make me feel stuck. I feel like I’m just some robot doing what I am told with no control or freedom to express myself and release my inner feelings or thoughts.  Read more>>

Stephanie Nicosia-Vannatta | Photographer

Although I enjoyed a successful career in the dental field I still craved more than my 9am-5pm office job. My true dream was to become a photographer and I had major regret about not pursuing it. Read more>>

Cody Davis | Guitarist & Songwriter

It kind of just pursued me, honestly. I always had it made up in my mind that I was not very creative and I actually dreamed of being a quarterback in the NFL! Somewhere along the way, I discovered guitar when I was 11 or 12 years old and quickly became obsessed with it. Read more>>

Chris Harris | Children’s Author and TV Writer

I always knew I’d be a writer, partly because that’s what I love, and partly because I’m painfully unqualified for anything else. I’ve gotten injured just looking at a hammer. I have the computer-coding skills of French toast. My people skills are even worse. Read more>>

Imogen McCluskey | Director & Writer

I have always been fascinated by people – their pride, shame, love, grief. Everything that makes up a life. And I believe what Roger Ebert said about cinema is true; that is a machine that can generate empathy. Read more>>

Aisha Singleton | Artist, Filmmaker & Humanitarian

I wouldn’t say I pursued a creative career, it chose me. Like an entity requiring a host. Whenever I chose a pragmatic approach and jobs that I “should” do inevitably things ended badly. I think as an artist and creative our work is intrinsically purpose driven and if we do not create we’ll end up quite miserable and unfulfilled. Read more>>

Nils Benson | Painter

I was 5 and remember wanting to learn to play the cello, as my mother couldn’t find one small enough for a five year old I learned to play the violin instead. I wanted to become a composer after reading a children’s book about Amadeus Mozart, and wrote a couple of 4 measure tunes. I have been expressing myself creatively ever since though various mediums and crafts. Read more>>

Alexx Calise | Musician, Writer, and Photographer

I pursued an artistic career because it’s all I know and all that I want to do. Sure, I could get a higher-paying job in another field, but would I really be happy? I’ve been writing and playing music for as long as I can remember, and it’s the only thing that makes me feel whole. I think it would be a mistake for me not to take advantage of the gift I was given because that’s what creativity is at its core. It’s truly a gift. Read more>>

Mandysa Brock | Actress & Model

I pursued an artistic career because this is where my creativity thrives! Acting allows me to connect with others through the shared love of storytelling. When I was in middle school, my reading teacher gave us an assignment to create a movie trailer for a recent book we’ve read. My friends and I chose Hunger Games, and assigned roles for each other like who’s filming, acting and editing, etc. Read more>>

Ira Storozhenko | Film Director

Art, to me, is not only a form of self-expression but a tool for timeless conversation. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by paintings, studying artists and their styles and seeing how a single image could perfectly represent the century, speaking about critical social issues. Read more>>

Leysla Castillo | Founder and Marketing Strategist

I pursued an artistic and creative career because it allows me to fully express my passion and imagination. From a young age, I found solace and excitement in the world of art, design, and creative expression. It provided me with a sense of freedom and a way to communicate my thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Read more>>

Anthony Neylon | YouTube Presenter

We originally created a wrestling podcast, as a way to talk about wrestling and gain engagement from an audience. Dom and I both enjoyed the performance aspect of wrestling and wanted to cast a critical eye on it, talking about the performance aspects, as well as production and delivery. Read more>>

Beatriz Dias | Visual Artist and writer

From an early age, I was immersed in a creative environment that shaped my passion for art. My parents fostered a household filled with artistic expression. My mother, an illustrator, and my father, who dedicated his life to the television industry, ensured that my sisters and I were exposed to various art forms and cultural experiences. We would embark on family trips to museums, exploring the profound impact of ancient history on our society. Read more>>

Tyler Sherer | Artist

At the age of five, I was gifted a book called “Fun with a Pencil” by Andrew Loomis. I spent countless hours studying the book and drawing, trying to recreate the characters. As I grew older my interests evolved and I discovered tattooing. The idea of making permanent art fascinated me. Tattoos live and breathe with a person; it doesn’t sit still it travels, it moves, it ages, it dies. Tattoos are a symbol of an individual’s journey, a mark in time. All of this has led me to pursue this path. Read more>>

Sebastian Fendelander | Portrait Artist/Filmmaker/Writer

I’ve always been a very visual artist. I love filmmaking and painting. I love telling stories. I find people’s personal stories fascinating. Who they were, who they are now, and who they aspire to be. I love hearing about the pivotal moments in people’s lives that lead to growth and change. Or what people love that makes them unique. And then using my imagination to bring all of these things together in a portrait or film that really speaks to the individual. Read more>>

Natalie Squire | Illustrator & Designer

Art has always been my world. Whenever people ask when I started drawing, I say that I doodled just like every other kid does but simply never stopped as I grew up. I obsessed over animated films and the illustrations in children’s books, knowing that I wanted to be a part of making them. I think we all start off creative as children but somewhere along the long, people lose touch with that creativity because it is not deemed as important as other pursuits such as academics or athletics. Read more>>

Yungbc | Music Artist

It was around my sophomore year in high school when I wanted to go forth in it. I remember seeing kids in my school posting music, and I felt like I had the stage presence and confidence to do so, and I have done it ever since. Read more>>