We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Dana Kramer | Creative Director and Wardrobe Stylist

Pursuing an artistic career has always felt natural; it’s a direct extension of who I am at my core. Guided by passion and good-spirited rebellion, I love nothing more than leading my clients through a process of creative deviation, defying convention, and embracing the unexpected. Never one to follow rules, a creative career has allowed me to dance into the unknown–transporting myself into an undiscovered reality. Creative Direction and Wardrobe Styling have allowed me to redefine artistry through fearless experimentation. Read more>>

Cam Ro | Artist & Entertainer

Honestly I don’t feel like I pursued being a creative , I feel it pursued me. I’ve always been into creating and I’ve always had an artistic blueprint. Growing up it’s always been a passion to be creative as I got older it became a brand. Read more>>

Tasia Woods | Gospel Recording Artist/Minister Of Music

Because it’s my purpose, it’s what I love to do, it’s my passion and every morning when I wake up it’s one of the first things on my mind. When I’m not in that space I’m not the best version of myself. Read more>>

Mark Christian Miller | Vocalist, pianist, music booker, painter.

Growing up in rural Iowa, and being a quiet kid, it never occurred to me that I could actually have a musical life as a performer. I got a taste of it in high school when they hired an enthusiastic, gifted choir director in his first job out of college. (Richard McKinney, who went on to a long and distinguished career as a music educator, composer, arranger, and choir director.). We did two musicals with Richard. It was the first time that had been done in our small, consolidated school. It was great fun and I felt a sense of fulfillment as a performer, even then. I didn’t excel in sports, so it gave me a place. Read more>>

Aydra J Swan | Elemental artist, musician and creator

The arts and creative life choose you in so many ways, the idea that our dreams are also chasing us, I’ve always felt that way. As a young songwriter, creative, and performance artist, I didn’t feel constricted in my pursuit, however, I also was often left to conjure my encouragement, I felt the art itself nourished and pushed me. Each time I created something I had a high all my own, it was also the closest I felt to presence, an inner calm and peace. No one ever had an agenda for me, so I felt free to blaze my path, it didn’t occur to me til much later on the adversity I might face allowing music and the arts to choose me. Without a formal education, I somehow always adhered to my discipline, and aside from having to generate an income early on, I always ended up in beautifully inspired locations with wonderful people and opportunities. On my feet. Read more>>

Joiee Thorpe | Celebrity/Editorial Fashion Stylist

I pursued a creative career because from a young age I began expressing myself through style and clothing. I grew up loving how pop culture. music and art influenced Fashion. As soon as I realized that I could have a career that encompassed style, traveling, and connecting with people socially, I was determined to have it. I started my career as an intern at Marie Claire magazine and for over ten years I have worked full time and freelanced, in fashion editorial, at magazines such as GQ, Teen People, People, People StyleWatch, InStyle, Real Simple, Essence. In 2018 I began my career as an independent fashion stylist and it’s been a journey of continuous personal growth, overcoming challenges and awesome opportunities. Read more>>

Larry Geller | Professional Photographer

I had lost my job in computer industry at Disney and sadly could not find work in the field I had work in for 12 years. I have a Master is Computer Science and mostly did work for large companies in Chicago in the 90s. I moved to LA in early 2001. I took a severance from Disney Summer 2001 thinking I could easily find work after a vacation. I actually has a plane ticket to Toronto for 9/11/01! Obviously I got a refund. And as you know 9/11 completely tore the country apart. I could not find work in my field. Possibly I could have moved outside of California but I just did not wish to go back to sitting at a desk 50 hours a week. I got an opportunity from Paul V, to take pictures at Dragstrip. Read more>>

Ramel West | Film/TV Director

Iv’e always had deep passion for storytelling. It’s been a dream to use the visual and auditory elements of film to convey narratives and evoke emotions, It was the only way i knew i could explore and comment on societal issues and personal experiences through storytelling. Read more>>

Shi’Darius Barrett | Actor & Director

I chose an artistic career in entertainment to mainly inspire and tell stories. As a kid, I felt performing was a way to express myself. I loved performing as a kid on stage and making up characters in my imagination to entertain others on YouTube. The reason was to tell a story, sort of like a preacher with a valuable lesson behind it. I feel the biggest reason I chose an artistic career was to tell my story to inspire. Read more>>

Ziyi Zhou | Award-winning Designer & Young Elite

Opting for a creative career was an organic choice for me. From a young age, I harbored a deep-seated passion for artistic expression and creativity. Concurrently, my attraction to the problem-solving aspect of the creative process has been a driving force. The thrill of unraveling inventive solutions to real-world challenges is an experience like no other. As a creative professional, I derive profound fulfillment from the capacity to translate concepts into tangible realities, actively participating in addressing issues for both individuals and society as a whole. Read more>>

XUECHEN CHEN | Architect Designer and visual artist

My decision to pursue an artistic and creative career traces back to the dynamic tapestry of my childhood town in China, undergoing rapid transformations in the 1990s. The simultaneous construction and destruction not only ignited my curiosity about the emotional significance of space but also had a profound impact on me personally and within my hometown environment. These changes prompted deep reflections on architecture and the representation of experiences and memories. Inspired by visionaries like Chiharu Shiota and Zaha Hadid, I came to a realization that art demands a spatial quality for maximum impact. for me, art and design are deeptly intersected and transcends the creation of functional or visual asthetics; it bears deep societal transformation and a medium for conveying cultural narratives Read more>>

Yunqi Yang | Multidisciplinary Artist

Growing up surrounded by my grandparents, particularly my grandfather, a Chinese water-ink painter, instilled in me a deep-rooted passion for art from an early age. This familial influence has shaped my artistic journey, becoming a significant part of my identity. The subtle yet pervasive impact of my grandfather’s artistic spirit has been a constant undercurrent, guiding me as an artist. Engaging in the process of creating art, especially evident in the development of my flower-themed paintings, transcends the act of mere visual expression. It serves as a therapeutic outlet. The rhythmic strokes and intricate details in my artworks reflect not only aesthetic considerations but also a mindful journey towards mental and emotional balance. Read more>>

Nikki Lewis | Ceramicist and Professor

I believe being an artist wasn’t really a choice for me, when you are truly and deeply an artist, there is no other option. You are an artist 24/7, constantly looking, seeing, and interpreting the world around you. From an early age I recognized the value in skill and making. Fortunately my pursuit of higher making was supported by my family, who were creatives as well. Pursing a career in the arts is full of challenges. You must be self-driven, collaborative, and able to multi-task. But the rewards are immeasurable when you have an excellent final product that people respond to, that gives them joy. There’s something extremely seductive about clay, the material is pliable and transformative. When I touched it for the first time, it was like coming home and I didn’t look back. Read more>>

Tremors. | Band

We all have the need to create so it was only natural to pursue a creative career. We all feel we have no life without a creative outlet. We are all like minded individuals who want to succeed in this industry. Read more>>

Grecco Buratto | Artist, Musician, Poet, Producer, Composer

I don’t think there was another option really… my father says he asked me once why I had chosen music – I must’ve been ten years old then – and I answered that I hadn’t, music had chosen me. I don’t remember any of this but it goes to show… I’ve wanted to be in L.A., playing music since I was twelve after finding out about this school called Musicians Institute and became quite one-pointed focused about it throughout my adolescence. At the same time I flirted with the idea of being a film director. I wrote screenplays – or thought I did – theater plays, tv commercials and watched thousands of films. Read more>>

Austyn Sullivan | Visual Artist, Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Composer & Writer

Creative expression has been the only way I’ve ever known how to express myself. Whether it’s releasing energy through music, expressing grand ideas through visual art or writing, it’s the only way I’ve ever known how to process the world around me. I don’t know a life without creativity and self expression. Read more>>

Tim Gaisser | Session and Touring Musician

A career in music certainly didn’t start as a lifelong, childhood dream. It was a self discovery that wound up being a major left turn from my intended path and field of study going into college. I knew that it would be a lot of work, given that many people start much earlier than I did, and nothing would be a guarantee. However, the immeasurable amount of joy I got from playing music every single day with talented, like-minded individuals sealed the deal. The arts and music aren’t recreational or a hobby to me, I truly couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Read more>>

Karthik Kal | Actor

I’ve wanted to be an actor for as long as I can remember. I think I can credit it to an amalgamation of experiences growing up. My family loved watching movies and as a South Indian, I got a healthy dose of cinema from Hollywood, Bollywood, Tollywood, and the other ‘woods from India. The enjoyment that my parents experienced was something that I wanted to be the reason for, not just for my family, but other families as well. I was in theatre all of middle school and high school, which meant I got to be a part of multiple plays. Being in front of an audience, although nerve-wracking at times, was also a means of getting to portray a character and display an array of emotions to invoke a certain reaction from audiences. I found it to be an extremely fulfilling task. Read more>>

Jenny Baumert | Underwater Cinematographer & Photographer

I pursued a career in visual arts because it’s my favorite form of self-expression and I truly believe it’s an effective technique for raising awareness and creating empathy. I love telling stories through images and connecting people to the world surrounding them by showing them places they might otherwise not get to see. I love how surreal our planet is and all of the creatures that inhabit it. Showing that beauty to others might spark more curiosity and care for the place we call home. Read more>>

Kaylee Yang | Nurse and Artist

I’ve loved art and drawing since I was young. I work currently as a nurse and am thankful to be able to do what I do, but I would also be thankful to be able to help make art for media that people can enjoy. I grew up watching so many cartoons with my sister and played so many video games with my dad and mom that have given me so many fond memories to look back on. I think that being able to help make shows, games or movies that can make people happy or have lasting impacts on people is a very special thing to be able to do, and it would be a great honor to be able to make cool projects for other people and pay it forwards. Read more>>

Amber Kobel | Fine Artist

I would say it’s because I don’t feel grounded in reality. My entire life has been one of fantasy and escapism. My hope lives in dreams, my heart belongs to heaven and my soul lives among the stars. Life would be impossible were it not for asylum in the arts. Read more>>

OLIVIIA Tcargush | Actress & Model

From a very young age, I instinctively gravitated towards activities that brought people together. Whether it was creating games, writing short plays for improvisation, or dancing to promote a sense of fun and unity, I always felt a deep connection to the idea of using art as a means to unite people. Art, in its various forms, holds the incredible power to create spaces where people feel safe, understood, and closer to one another. I’ve always followed my heart on this journey, knowing that my calling lies in the ability of art to transcend boundaries and create shared experiences. Read more>>

Rudy Salgado | Photographer & Videographer

The opportunity to capture moments at concerts, fashion shows, and award shows, etc., means a lot to me. There’s a mix of emotions and experiences in these events—blending in with the excitement of the crowd, making new connections, and being able to explore my creativity through the changing environments and trying new angles. It’s so rewarding to see my work shared afterward and to be able to visually share what took place from my point of view. Doing something I love in exciting environments feels amazing and it truly brings me happiness. Read more>>

Charles Massabo | Music Producer and Electronic artist

When I was a teenage I had surgery for peritonitis, leading to months at home. A friend introduced me to Cubase, so I started recording guitars and diving into music production. In France, I wanted to blend Electronic music and Rock, but the local scene didn’t match, I was feeling out of place. Years later I went to California and collaborated with Falling In Reverse on “Just Like You,” infusing my unique “euro” synths. This led to my music production and songwriting career, culminating in my own studio in Los Angeles, where I still collaborate with Falling In Reverse. Read more>>