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.

Anthony Mohr

I always felt the need to write, starting at an early age. There something about putting words on the page, no matter how silly they were. I just kept going with no particular goal in mind. Come high school, journalism called, and now that’s morphed into creative nonfiction with a bit of fiction thrown in. Read more>>

Richard Lake

To be honest, I don’t think I chose it — I think it chose me. When I was 10 years old, I received a magic kit, and something just clicked. Some kids try it once and move on. I picked it up and ran. I was fascinated not just by the tricks, but by the connection. Read more>>

Julia Beise

It all started at a very young age, I realized that creativity was a tool for me. I felt deeply powerless and restricted in large parts of my life, and with this tool I became more aware of this. It was an outlet where I could explore parts of myself. I believe it is inherently human to search for belonging. Read more>>

Nicole Carmody

I pursued a creative and artistic career because it feels like the path life naturally led me to. Creating art and designs has come naturally to me since I was four years old. Throughout grade school, I was always doodling and filling notebooks with drawings. I struggled academically at times, but art became my escape and a way to express myself. Read more>>

Olivia Wander

Movies. Growing up I was always surrounded by film culture because of my dad. We had a specific room just for our movies, all alphabetized, He introduced me to the many genres of film, which lead me to learn more about the makeup movie magic. Read more>>

Josueños

I chose to pursue an Artistic / Creative career because I realized in college I couldn’t see myself doing anything other than creating and making music. Classes began taking a back seat to creative endeavors and my sleep schedule also began paying a price as well. Read more>>

Tina Hogan Grant

Becoming an author wasn’t something I planned; it found me later in life. I’ve always loved reading, and growing up with a father who was an author gave me a deep respect for the discipline and dedication it takes to write a book. My journey began with a message I couldn’t ignore. Read more>>

Sara Langnas

I’m currently in grad school at New York University pursuing Integrated Marketing, which has been a really intentional step for me as I pivot my career toward a more creative and strategic space. I didn’t choose a creative path just to make things look good—I chose it because it lets me translate ideas into something people can actually feel and connect with. Read more>>

FLAVIA SUEROS

I have always been driven by helping people understand the world in a creative way. In my search for truth, I realized I couldn’t fully find it anywhere except in the artistic field. Art became the space where I allow myself to explore everything — questions, emotions, contradictions, injustice. Since I was a child, I have looked at the world differently. Read more>>

Alyssa Lowry

I always knew from a young age that I wanted to do something creative, and eventually I found modeling. Before modeling came into my life, I did dance for 12 years. I always loved dance because I was able to express myself through movement, and create my own art. Read more>>

Hale

I was raised ina construction family. I grew up knowing work ethic,seeing and knowing how hard construction is it was never the dream job. I always drew,I was that five year old giving myself a half sleeve with markers. In middle school it clicked that tattooing was a thing. Read more>>

Michelle E. Lowe

Why does anyone pursue a particular career? There’s a drive within us that pulls us in certain directions. I’m drawn to writing—to telling stories I want to share with anyone willing to read them. Creativity isn’t just something I enjoy; it’s part of who I am. It’s woven so deeply into my identity that I’ve dedicated my life to succeeding at it. Read more>>

Dr. Robby Gordon

I was born an artist. I didn’t decide to become one—it was simply the way I lived. From the time I was very young, I was always shaping the world around me. I would arrange things on the kitchen counter, change spaces so they felt more harmonious, more beautiful. I was always changing my environment. It was natural to me. Read more>>

Pauline Sauer Groman

I’ve been teaching mixed early childhood ages for almost two decades. Read more>>

Effie Somrova

I pursued an artistic career because it has always felt like the most honest extension of who I am. I fell in love with dance back home in Prague, but for a long time I never truly thought it was possible to build a real career from it. That changed when I visited Los Angeles. Being there made everything feel bigger and more possible. Read more>>

Yosh Hase

I didn’t originally plan to pursue an artistic path. My professional background is actually in banking, and photography began as a personal curiosity rather than a career decision. Over time, however, it became something much deeper. What drew me in was the ability of photography to document everyday life across different cultures. Read more>>

Quiana Moore-Glenn

I have always defined myself as a visionary. From my earliest days, I used art as my primary language—whether through storytelling illustrations, immersive themed events, or launching creative small businesses. That lifelong drive to think outside the box eventually led me to my true calling: author and content creator. As an author, my work is deeply personal. Read more>>

Ashlie Crystal

I chose a creative path because it allows me to live in alignment with who I’ve always been. I chose this route because it genuinely brings me happiness and feels authentic to me. Being creative has been a fundamental part of my identity for as long as I can remember, from childhood to now. Long before it became a career, creating was my way of expressing myself, processing emotions, and understanding the world around me. Read more>>