One of the most daunting aspects of pursing a creative or artistic career for many aspiring artists is not knowing how to learn the craft. So, we asked some very talented artists and creatives to talk to us about how they learned their crafts and we hope their stories will help you in your journey.

Dan Gober

My journey of becoming a songwriter was like a switch. Like many people that were my age (early teens) the weight of those years were filled with wonder and creativity. Before I even learned how to play guitar I was writing songs. Of course they weren’t great songs but I was still creating, and that was the important part. Read more>>

Blue Day

I got into photography through cosplay of all things. 10 years ago I started taking photos at comic book conventions of my friends costumes. It really ignited a spark in me! I dove in and learned from everything I could I get my hands on, youtube, the library, and LOTs of practice. Read more>>

Yilong Zhang

I started music by playing bands and and learning beat-making by myself during my undergrad where I studied visual arts. Then I went to a two-year master program at Frost School of Music to pursue music production further. If I knew what I know now, I would have put more time and effort into finding the right community and collaborating with more people. Read more>>

Dawn Webb

I learned how to become a booking agent by trial and error. As a booking agent, I booked a jazz band for a client event where the drummer at the end of the evening asked me if I would consider being her manager. I knew absolutely nothing about the music business, managing artists, etc. However, I leaned on what I learned about managing artists from my career in human resources and from my business management degree from college. Read more>>

Sean Anthony Sullivan

Writing, recording, and performing music has been a relentless journey for me. Whether it was the early moments of feeling the reverberation of an open grand piano or the amplification of an electric guitar beating against my chest, I knew there was something powerful there that I wanted to be part of. As a kid, I would write and record songs on multi-track cassette machines and share them with my friends at school. I was always looking for a stage to play on, eager to share the joy of music with others. Read more>>

John DeBellis

When it comes to being a Solo Acoustic Artist, learning the music and putting together a 3 hour set is the easy part. It took me close to a year to formulate the Cover songs that I wanted to use for my first real set that I put together. I finally got to a point where I felt confident in my set list and my ability to play it live. This is of course after about 15 years of being a bedroom musician with a few open mics here and there. Read more>>

Eugene Puno

I’d say I learned DJing and Production by throwing myself into the fire early maybe before I was even ready. I had a friend throwing an art event at a local club in 2015 in Ventura, I jumped on the chance to play a set (having just bought a DJ Controller 2 weeks prior) I messed up so many times, but that left me determined the following weeks to ask so many questions to fellow DJ’s and watch endless tutorials and practicing for hours. Read more>>

Jose (Poe) Molina

I always loved photography but I never took the plunge into it till around 5-7 years ago. A lot of the skills I learned were thru trial and error, Google and of course YouTube academy lol. I think a lot of the obstacles that stood in my way were mainly myself. I would always second guess myself or talk myself out of doing it. Read more>>

Leslie Hernandez

For me, bag making was almost an adventure with many trials and errors. First I started with quilting, making blankets for myself and close friends. Eventually covid hit and I decided to put my sewing skills to use and sell fun masks. After a lot of trials and errors, I had created comfortable and fun masks. Once the mask restriction were over, I didn’t know what to do but I had the confidence to try anything. Read more>>

Accasia Hanson

“I primarily gained my knowledge by volunteering and working alongside professionals in the industries I aspired to join. To enhance my skills further, I pursued higher education and obtained qualifications in various fields that align with my overall goals.” Read more>>

Prem Desai

Like any discipline, filmmaking is best learned through a mix of practice and study. I’m no exception. I try to watch and make as much as I can. Every project I’ve directed–from my first short film to my recent music video–has taught me valuable lessons. After each one comes a reflection period: What parts of the process and result worked? What parts didn’t? Read more>>

James Weaver IV

My journey into music and the arts began early at D.R.E.A.M Studios Incorporated, my family’s performing arts school. It was there that I explored acting, singing, and dancing, but it was Hip-Hop that truly resonated with me. This early exposure laid a solid foundation for my skills. At Hampton University, I majored in Strategic Communication and minored in Marketing, which equipped me with the knowledge to promote and communicate through music effectively. Read more>>

Aaron Cold

My journey into electronic music began in the late 80s with EBM, inspired by mix tapes from Frankfurt’s “Dorian Gray” club. Born in Heidelberg, Germany, and raised in the nearby town of Ketsch, I had a strong foundation in music from my early years, taking lessons in organ and keyboard. My passion for creating music led my parents to invest in a mini recording studio setup, including a Tascam 4-track tape recorder and an Atari ST with early Cubase software. Read more>>

Jack Sirius

I began really learning the inside of the Pro-Wrestling business back when I was 13 and began to find my way into the business by helping make and sell merchandise for the wrestlers. As time went on I began to learn more parts of the business and gain new responsibilities behind the scenes at local wrestling shows. From running the merch table, to filming shows, to selling raffle tickets, running concessions, selling tickets at the door, designing posters and graphics, and even running social media accounts for local promotions. Read more>>

Bass Watts-Fernandez

As a frontperson I truly learned to perform all throughout my youth, whether school choir or ukulele classes with performances or through robotics competitions I would always be looking for a way to perform. As a manager for this band I really have just been learning as we go and taking advice from slightly larger or more experienced bands than us. I honestly feel like I couldn’t have spedup the process of learning how to be a performer as that developed simply as I grew and when it comes to managing I feel like this current speed of getting at least 1-2 gigs every month and connecting with individuals is a great pace! Read more>>

OmiO

We’ve been gathering information our whole lives. The know how of making sounds is something that comes natural to us. By us, we mean the collective us… you (the reader) included. Instruments can be taught, and honestly the moment you actually learn your instrument you start to suck at it. The learning process, similar to the creative process, requires the humility and wonder of a child. You can’t speed it up, or slow it down. Read more>>

Zach Peterson

The only way to really learn stand-up comedy is by doing it. You have to rush through the hesitation of not being that great in the beginning to come out the other side as someone who can do well consistently . You have to be the right amount of delusional. Luckily, I was, and after years of thinking I knew what I was doing. I actually had learned something. Read more>>

Rachel Popowcer

I think that early on, as young as 6 years old, making art was a way for me to connect with people. I learned quickly that there was an interest in what I was doing artistically, and that interest (especially from my peers), dovetailed well into my own love of creating; spurring me on to learn more and to improve. Read more>>

Thomas Hinds

I picked up a pen at an early age. Started with sketching cartoons and writing story lines in second or third grade. Knowing what I know now about the only way that I could have sped up the learning process would have involved more supportive people in my life. I honed on what I could, while I could and have no regrets about the path I’ve been down. Read more>>

Maria Blair

As of right now with Split Intentions, all four of us are learning everyday. I think in our world (Hardcore), you have to be in order to make what you’re doing matter. A lot of it is learning from others who are older and smarter than you and learning from those who have been in your local scene for a while. Read more>>

Bethany “Orá” Cruz

I taught myself many elements of creating during the pandemic after my martial arts career was put on hold. I immersed myself in mural tag-alongs, late nights of art, YouTube videos, experimented with my Nikon D-7200, and learned through trial and error. To speed up my learning, I always believe in the power of a mentor. Essential skills for growth are the ability to make mistakes, be persistent, and think out-of-the-box. Read more>>

Alyssa Barreda

Ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment and creative fields. I started dancing ballet, folklorico, and hip-hop from ages five to thirteen, which ingrained in me a deep appreciation for artistic expression. In middle school, I attended drama classes and realized my passion for the behind-the-scenes aspects of putting together a show. I often made short videos and edited them with my friends, not knowing that this would later become my craft. Read more>>

Brooke Sebold

I currently work as a filmmaker and editor, but for the purposes of this question I’m going to focus on the craft of editing because, unlike directing, editing is largely an invisible role that rarely gets the spotlight in interviews, and so I don’t get to talk about it much. Read more>>

Danyon Davis

My entry into the arts was through a summer program for high school students in New Jersey called the Summer Arts Institute (SAI), which I was accepted into the summer following my 7th grade year. I auditioned for the theater department, but at 12 years old the coordinators of the theater department thought I was too young to take on as a student. Read more>>

Michelle Tift

My creative practice spans multiple media, so I’m always on a learning curve. While I consider myself self-taught, especially since I haven’t had formal education in studio art, I owe a lot to the creatives I’ve encountered who have guided me along the way. YouTube has also been invaluable, especially for learning video editing on the go. Read more>>

Justin Douville

I approach any new artistic skill by learning the technical to enable the creative. When it comes to learning electronic music production I tend to dive into manuals. Any new DAW, synth or tactile skill (like theory on piano) is something I approach through reading and taking notes as if it were for a class or something haha. When I put in that work on the front end, I find that growth comes a lot quicker as I tie learned concepts to outcomes. Read more>>

Sam Qavah John

I learned by taking leaps. Leaps of faith. Into the unknown. Unknown places. Unknown goals. Unknown ambitions. With each of those leaps, I evolved into the creative that I am today and created the untapped potential for who I can be through deliberate and oftentimes unexpected leaps. With every step, I wanted to be the best. I wanted to emulate the artists I had been inspired by. From Hugh Jackman to Emma Stone to Dick Van Dyke. Read more>>

Meaghan Marie Green

Like most artists, I’ve loved to draw for as long as I can remember. I always had such a vivid inner world, so learning how to express that imagination and that internal vividness through the language of visual art was the first motivating factor to refine my craft, whether I understood that as a kid or as a younger student or not. But that purpose is the first thing anyone needs to commit to learning something. Read more>>

Josh Hagen

I picked up photography during the pandemic as a new hobby. Over the years, I had collected action figures from various media licenses and came across some incredible photographers who were placing their figures in real-life situations, using creative lighting, setups, and practical effects. I was inspired and decided to give it a try, initially just to keep myself occupied. Read more>>