We asked some insanely talented artists, creatives and makers to tell us about when they know they were going to pursue a creative career.

Oscar Haney Jr

I knew that I had an interest in the performing arts when I joined my school’s chorus in the first grade. I’ve always loved to sing! I was raised listening to all genres of music and old school music; I consider myself an old soul. Read more>>

Vanessa Pla

I was a strange kid. At the age of six, I told my parents I wanted to move to Paris and become at artist. They had no idea what I meant, and tried to convince me that I was supposed to become a doctor and that I could do art on the side. Read more>>

Carla Simpson

I went out for girls night with some friends and they were having an amateur comedy night competition. I was with my friends drinking my favorite apple martinis. Read more>>

Tommy Tynz

I knew it was the way to go after about 2 minutes after my first hour of retail work. Read more>>

Felix Byler

When I was 14 years old, I took a gap year from high school and joined my first rock band. It fell apart by the time I was 15 due to creative differences and petty dislike of each other (teenagers, amirite), and I was left with two shows booked and no bandmates. Read more>>

John Benton

Wow, so the answer is as a child. Its funny to me how creativity comes very natural. As a child I was very easy to babysit. all my family knew that if you gave me paper, glue, markers or paint and some scissors I was occupied for hours. Read more>>

Fall Raye

Growing up I lived with my mom, brother, and my grandparents. My mom is a hair stylist, my grandfather was an artist and pool designer, and my grandma was a receptionist at a hospital who loved to write. Read more>>

Cyrus Fire

I first knew that I wanted to professionally pursue an artistic career while standing in the Book loft of German village in Columbus Ohio. I had gone there with the girlfriend (at the time) we had wandered way back into the store which is huge and labyrinthine with its 32 rooms. Read more>>

Nick Flook

Honestly, since I could walk. I remember just absolutely loving creating artwork of all kinds. I have an over-active brain that just never stops, and sitting and drawing would help me focus on one thing instead of a hundred. Read more>>

Jen Starbird

I have always loved using my imagination to create new things and tell stories. In high school and college, it was theatre and voice that provided an outlet for my creativity. Read more>>

Joana “Jam” Cruz

I’d always loved artistic outlets since I was young. I loved drawing, acting, singing, dancing, poetry, music, all the things. But I first knew that the artistic path was where I wanted to be sometime around 13. Read more>>

Chris Jones

I’ve always wanted to be an artist…I think. I’ve literally been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil and once I realized drawing came naturally, that’s probably when I decided “oh yeah, I’m gonna draw comics and cartoons when I grow up.” Read more>>

Leah Beach

My journey is about creating things to help people, which began with a passion for taking photos. I fell in love with photography in high school and chased that passion worldwide. Read more>>

Idalina Leandro

When I was younger around 4 or 5, I wanted to be a singer! I would sing for my friends with my eyes closed because I was to shy to look at them. My sister was 3 years older than me and wanted to be an actor and I followed her in that. I just wasn’t ready at that time. Read more>>

Joe Haden

As a child I always knew I was an artist and it echoed in every way. From crayon masterpieces to finger-painted dreams, my artistic journey began in the tapestry of childhood. Read more>>

SAL Salcedo

It was early on in my life, I had moved to America from Mexico when I was 13, I was set on becoming mexicos next president, my idea was to go to school achieve outstanding grades and make my way to the presidency I thought it would be easy? Read more>>

Stephanie Lask

I had been writing poetry for most of my life. It wasn’t until watching Def Poetry Jam in the early 2000’s that I would discover spoken word poetry. I was amazed at how some of these artists were able to memorize their work! Read more>>

Dani Wilson

I’m not entirely sure that we get to choose the creative path. It feels more like a deep rooted calling that is always there wanting to be expressed. When I don’t follow that instinctual call, I feel a sense of hollowness. Read more>>

Nico Bryant

Growing up, my parents had a band and I used to sit in on their rehearsals. They used to perform at different churches and venues up and down the east coast. Read more>>

Summer McCusker

In second grade I convinced some classmates that I had a titanium hip and they *actually* believed me. I would even pretend to *knock* on it and make a dinging sound. I guess the jig is up now. Read more>>

Lisa David Olson

When I was a young girl, I would out on shows in my room. Costume changes alá Cher, comedic sketches and singing like Carol Burnett. The crowd would ask for more every time! Read more>>

Lashes Lane

I knew EARLY on, As a kid I always said I wanted to be a pop star, dancer, singer, and actress…and now as a burlesque performer, I get to make all those dreams come true. Read more>>

Jeri Hilt

Some of my earliest memories are of stories, and me wanting to tell stories. I didn’t want to tell just any stories. The stories that mattered most to me were stories of place. Read more>>

Erin Welch

Growing up, I was always a “crafty” kid. From bins and boxes full of miscellaneous art supplies to swiping the tape and scissors and Sharpies from the kitchen to make little sculptures — I just loved letting my imagination run wild. Read more>>

Griffin Marc

I knew from when I was a little kid that I wanted to be on TV. I didn’t know why or how, it was just this instinct I had. I remember watching a talk show in my grandmas house and thinking “I’m going to be on that one day.” Read more>>

Brigitte Bourgoignie

I was born in Paris, France. At an yearly age, I was always driving to art and music. My parents educated us as been able to know arts and music. We were going to museums and concerts Read more>>

Joshua “J-Writes” Whitfield

I always wanted to be in the entertainment business since I was old enough to spell it! But I begin to doubt that it was a “real” possibility once I got to college and was bitten by the thought/fear of being a “starving artist.” Read more>>

Crispin Brooks

I’m not sure if I can pinpoint a proverbial “eureka” moment. However I was always encouraged by my parents to be creative. Read more>>

Jason Murillo

It all started for me as a child for me watching & listening to sports, pro wrestling & music on the tv & radio i would imitate the announcers doing my own play-by-play acting like i was there at the game, i would imagine i was on the radio djaying & mixing music & doing shoutouts on air,I had my old double deck cassette tape casio boombox, i’m showing my age here lol, back when i was young making my own mixtapes it was so much fun & kept me up many nights. Read more>>

Yencil

In my high school years I was amazed by how singers/rappers could had the power to fill a stadium of people and bring joy,happiness,fun. Yet, I wrote a song and recorded on tape. Read more>>

Ryli Ray

My path with music started at a really young age, unexpectedly, because of my older brother. We had just moved to Phoenix from New Mexico, and as a way to help him make friends and get involved in the community, my parents enrolled him in a local childrens theater. Read more>>

David Borzo

I have lived with the visual arts and powerful musical influences all my life. I never thought of being anything but an artist from my earliest days, it was all clear to me. Read more>>

Patrick McPheron

From the moment I could imagine and create things I did. In grade school I was very much drawn to art class. I would spend my free time drawing houses and spooky things like ghosts. Read more>>

Frekld Cloud

I first learned that I wanted to pursue music when I was in middle school going into high school. had started writing down my feelings as poems but soon transitioned to writing songs. Read more>>

Leah Poller

My path to the being self-realized has quite simply, taken a lifetime. It is amazing to look back 50 years and remember who I was, what I dreamed of…and look back again 20 years…and now, look at yesterday and take stock of what I did accomplish, and what I now know I want to accomplish in the remaining years. In a word…it is a breathtaking ride! Read more>>

Margy Hayes

I was told by my mom that when I was 5, instead of baby dolls, I would carry around VHS tape cases of my favorite movies. She would find me marching around in my go-to pink boots, holding “The Little Mermaid” VHS case like a stuffed animal. Read more>>

Christian Jacob Ramón

I had always known that I wanted to be some type of creative professional in the film industry, but I felt very lost and unsure about how I could get started. Read more>>

Nubian Traxx

For as long as I can remember, I have had the vision of becoming a Professional Musician. Due to my religious upbringing – My dreams and aspirations we’re suppressed altogether. Read more>>

Jonathan “Mookie” Morant

From diapers on! Read more>>