Do you remember the moment you realized what you wanted to do professionally? Was it magic? Was it scary? We wanted to hear from some of the most talented artists and creatives in the community and so we asked them to tell us the story of the moment when they knew they were going to pursue a creative career path.

Camille Khali

To be honest, as a child I was always into the performing arts and even recall wanting to be an actress early in life – but it was all just a “dream”. Eventually I found myself being able to express myself physically through athletics growing up but it wasn’t until after completing my time as a D1 college lacrosse player that I found the need re-channel my energy into re-awaking my childhood dreams again – professionally. Read more>>

Elaine Drouin

I’ve always loved being in the kitchen. Even as a child, whether I could bake or not, I always had a concern for presentation. Always wanted it to look pretty. The holidays were always the best time to bring out my creative side. Whether it was a cake, a trifle, pastries, etc., it had to be pretty. Having said that, never did I have the urge to bake for a living. It was Christmas 2010, I had baked a cake and was so happy with the way it turned out and had so much fun doing it, that I thought to myself, in my next life I’m going to be a Pastry Chef. Read more>>

Anastasia Machekhina

When I was a child I loved to draw and create different things and I always did it perfectly. I always added something extra, plus I did it with high quality. I really love the quality. I use to make outfits for my Barbie’s. Barbie world was exiting for me. Beautiful girl wearing beautiful outfit.. Read more>> 

Shannon Evans

The first time that I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally was when I was 12 years old. I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember but when I was 12 was when I decided that I wanted to be a full time artist. Read more>>

Kriss Hidalgo

So the first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally, was when I started the the Made By Anxiety rollout for Astrophobia. Read more>> 

Planet Lo

I cannot pin one specific movement in life to knowing that passion. It wasn’t a leap or revelation. It was small steps forward. Creating and drawing and painting as a child just stayed with me as I grew older. Read more>> 

Lee Davenport

It was during the end of my sophomore year in college when I was feeling very lost about which direction I wanted to proceed with my degree. At this point I had changed majors three times, but had not yet found something I was confident would lead me to a successful career, Read more>>

Bert Cornielius

I am a 2nd generation performer. My family is the world renown Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose who rose to fame in the mid to late 70’s. Theyre hits Treat Her Like A Lady and Too Late To Turn Back Now topped the billboard charts for decades after, Read more>> 

Judith Berk King

It’s never too late. Unlike so many other creatives, who knew from a very early age that this is what they were born to do, I came to that realization after many, many years. Read more>>

Monty Montgomery

I realized that I wanted to be an Artist in Mrs. Jackson’s 3rd grade class at Mineral Elementary in Virginia. There was a poster contest in my class and I remember realizing that I not only wanted to win the poster contest at the local bank but that I wanted to create a piece of art that people would enjoy looking at. Read more>>

Cathy Longueira

I have always been a creative person from an early age but did not have the opportunity to learn formally until I was in middle school. My art teacher, Marilyn Traeger was really instrumental in providing a foundation for me to learn my craft, refine my abilities, and gain confidence. Read more>>

Jason Joshua

Well I grew up in a below low income housing for most of my young life but could never tell. My mom always had the best music taste from Soul, Funk, Salsa & Merengue & everything in between. Read more>>

Kendu-Marquette Williams

In 2015, I became a youth motivational speaker for the Boys & Girls Club mentoring troubles teen and youth to move forward and to aim for their goals no matter the experience. After that I realize the gift of encouragement for people throughout my experiences. Read more>>

Lucy Gebert

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally was when I transferred to University of North Texas and enrolled in UNT’s college of visual arts and design. I studied graphic design for a little bit but then took a different path with interdisciplinary art and design & studies. Read more>>

Ash Brown

The first time I was thrown into the spotlight was at a friends’ wedding. The ceremony was beautiful. Everything seemed to be going well. Then the emcee did not show. Read more>>

Devin Manning

Well, When I was younger my family use to make all of my cousins form a group and sing these old gospel songs. So I knew at the age of 3 years old that music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my lift. Read more>>

DeLoné Osby

I had been working in property management for about 11 years in January of 2020. I used to be the over achiever. Working after hours to make sure resident files were done. Read more>>

Susan Spiranovich

I was encouraged to draw, make things and play make believe as a child. Growing up, I can’t remember a single day that I didn’t draw or build some sort of toy with my father, albeit out of cardboard and newspaper. Read more>>

Nila Jane Autry

I was laying in my bedroom, thinking how I would decorate my bedroom if I was all grown up. I may have been about 10 years old. I envisioned wallpaper that matched my bedspread and my sheets, that matched my table cloth, that matched my pillowcases and my carpet. Read more>>

Randolph Scott

It was the first time I ever performed live. Someone put a flyer in my door for a music contest. When I arrived this guy by the name “Silver B” who I learned later was one of the biggest promoters and radio personalities in Cleveland, Ohio, told me not to enter the contest and instead walked me down a hallway to a fashion show that was taking place at the same facility. Read more>>

Michael E. Johnson

The first time I really began to narrow my focus to pursuing art on a deeper level was my Junior year in high school after I stopped playing basketball. I needed a class to fill that sports elective space, so I chose to take an Art 3 class, which was an advanced level art course. Read more>>