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

Corin Wilke

I think I have always had a desire to pursue a creative, entrepreneurial path, but for much of my life I didn’t believe that this was a realistic option. I always hear the stereotype for artists that “oh, I was never good at anything else, so I knew it had to be art.” I have always performed well academically, and am a textbook overachiever in everything I do. I was encouraged to pursue a “serious” career and not be a “starving artist.” But I choose art. Because no matter what else I might succeed at, this is what sets my soul on fire. I love making things, and am happiest with a paintbrush in my hand. Read more>>

Cultivate Creations

Cultivate Creations was born out of two sister-in-laws – turned friends (Eva and Kelsey) who both have a passion for creating. We both decided that we wanted to pursue a small creative business together, when we both realized that we liked to create things by hand. Eva had been crocheting and creating macrame for fun, and Kelsey loved doing DIYs and making apothecary, like soaps and bath soaks. It was on Christmas when we both were gifting our handmade goods, when we thought, why not join forces and post our products on Etsy! Read more>>

Alyssa Ruffin

When I was 5 or 6, my mom had competed in a singing competition in Iowa, and made it to the finals held at the iconic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. I didn’t get to attend, but it was televised, and she brought home a recording of the entire competition. I remember watching it back with her. She sang “The Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler. There was also a little girl in the competition who sang “All My Ex’s” by George Strait. Read more>>

Rachel Downs

I grew up on a farm, and learned to work hard at an early age, but I never expected to have a career in the arts. I didn’t really know it was possible for me. I did a number of jobs after college, and learned that I REALLY do not like to sit around and be paid when I have nothing to do. I think we learn by trying and doing things so much more than we learn by watching, and sometimes trying and failing can be crucial in helping direct us where we need to go next. I have always loved painting and did it consistently through high school and college, but never considered that I could do it for a career. In my first years out of college, Read more>>

Rose

My first excursion into music began when i was seven years old, and my mom gave me a set of drums. Before and after school, Rose would play the drums. Even though he had no prior training, the church instantly recognized his drum talent and offered him an opportunity to play for them every Sunday at the age of 15. Read more>>

KMO SHAMAAL

Ever since i was young i always knew i wanted to be an artist. I always wanted to perform in front of millions and so i been grinding hard daily since i knew thats the dream i wanted to pursue. Read more>>

Richie Allyn

The first time I realized that I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally was in 2021 after I left my 9-5. I have been involved in the creative arts since elementary school. I stayed in school plays, poetry contests, talent shows, literally anything to express my creativity. I then went to a performing arts high school, where I majored in vocals. Read more>>

Alejandro Lopez

I started to realize I had a passion for hair when I started growing my own hair out in high school. I didn’t know how to take care of it so I would watch hair care videos. I thought it was so interesting so I then started watching color videos and braid videos, cutting videos etc it all was so interesting to me and my passion for hair started at that point and time Read more>>

Jorge Cocco

I believe that the idea that I wanted to be an artist did not come to me at a specific moment, but rather it manifested itself more and more strongly together with my physical and intellectual growth. If I could clarify, I knew from my earliest childhood what was the direction or the destiny that I had to take because the gifts and the easiness to express myself graphically was obvious. Read more>>

Juan Rosiles

The first time I realized I wanted to pursue art was after I discovered the unknown passion I had for the field. I was never a creative until I took an introductory art class in 10th grade. I did a couple of doodles here and there as most kids do but never anything major. That class was some of the earliest moments of me drawing seriously. It turned out to be my favorite time of school days. Just to go and make something out of nothing. My teacher encouraged my interest and I saw my growth as time went on. Eventually I spent more and more of my days just creating and learning everything I could. Read more>>

Marissa Gonzalez

I knew I wanted to pursue my path as an artist once I understood the impact I made just by letting out all that I had held back for so long due to the lack of confidence within myself and how alive I felt knowing I didn’t get tired by pouring into it the way I was. I have always worked for someone through out my life and knew I was destined for more I just didn’t know exactly what it was or how to put it out into the world. Read more>>

Amelia Felix

The first time I realized I wanted to pursue my passion professionally was around the time I started learning to make myself own beats. I realized how powerful music is and how it impacts society as whole. You can do so much and convey good messages to society and I think in our world that is very needed right now. Read more>>

Kelly Green

It’s likely that I knew forever, as I was deeply in tune to the fact that writing was the way I made sense of being alive in the world. From early on, I was able to spin the difficulty and the beauty of living into something tangible – like a sculpted object – that I could stand back and observe. In that process, I found an ability to both accept and celebrate the complexity of the human condition. Read more>>

Ryan Henry Knight

Man. I think it hit me when I was around five years old. My mom and dad were always showing me cool movies. My mom got me into horror movies, specifically the 2004 Van Helsing. I remember watching the behind the scenes DVD special for that movie on repeat, constantly trying to learn what exactly it was they were doing to make the film. It showed me that its possible to take your imagination and show it to everyone else. I always had images and stories popping in and out of my head just aching to see the light of day. Read more>>

Sarah Larsen

My artistic journey begins from a place I believe we are all familiar with, but society tends to shove under the rug— which is loss. After an 18 year long hiatus, what brought me back to art was the untimely passing of my parents. When my father passed, I engrossed myself into my career (therapist) which didn’t allow me to properly grieve. Then, my mother passed unexpectedly which was like losing both parents all at once. Read more>>

Jessica Lara

I knew I wanted to pursue my makeup artistry professionally when I booked my first wedding from an OfferUp ad in 2017. I have had the desire for doing makeup on youtube and on clients for a couple of years but never had the courage to start. The 2 years prior to starting I was testing the waters with family and friends. They would always encourage me, but I was never willing to put the kit together. The day I posted the ad on OfferUp the first reply I received was from a bride and a bridal party of 5. Read more>>

Jai’koa Parham

I was in my late teens I had just moved to Los Angeles, California from Anchorage, Alaska when I first got introduced to the entertainment industry. It definitely opened my eyes to the endless possibilities as a creative individual. This was around the time social media platforms like instagram, vine and twitter were still fairly new. I was at the time homeless and a street dance performer chasing my dreams. By some random act of blessing I did my first skit with Hip-Hop Icon Drake on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show. That one skit changed my life by going viral with millions of views. I later signed to my first talent agency being able to express my creative talents as a dancer. Read more>>

Cori Derfus

I’ve always been drawn to visual arts. When I was little I spent many hours drawing cartoons and horses over and over. So many horses! My mother was a single mom and didn’t have much time to pursue art herself. In the past, she had done some watercolors and worked in an art department of a local major printer. She valued art and supported my interests. When I was little she signed me up for art classes at a local art museum and I had such a blast. I went to a very small middle and high school, so we didn’t have a lot of art classes. I took what was available. Read more>>

David DeGrand

I never gave cartooning much thought until I was in the fifth grade. My art teacher assigned the class to write and draw a comic strip, and the combination of coming up with a funny idea and then drawing it just immediately clicked with me. The teacher thought it was really funny and encouraged me to do more. I then become obsessed with cartooning. I filled up sketchbooks with whatever weird art I felt like drawing, Read more>>

Jessica Woodring

Yes, I have always dreamed of a life where I could be at home with my family enjoying the things I love while providing for my family’s needs. When I was 16 years old I started cosmetology school & became a licensed Cosmetologist before even graduating high school. I knew from a young age that I wanted a flexible job where I could express my creativity. I’ve been truly grateful for the opportunity to spend time at work connecting with clients & getting lost in the meditation of the art. Read more>>

Chanel Cooper

2016 is when I took the first step at my career in the beauty industry. I attended Paul Mitchell the school Esani and graduated that following year. Being a creative, even when it came to hair, has come so natural to me since a very young age. It wasn’t until my mom mentioned cosmetology school that the seed was planted in my head that I could make a living doing hair. Prior to that, I had been considering school for fashion design. Read more>>

Brooke Siprell

I don’t know if I pursued a creative career or if a creative career pursued me! However, it definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. I have always been a creative soul & art takes form in so many ways. My life has been so heavily influenced by art and imagination ever since I can remember. With imagination, the possibilities are endless. Read more>>

Cristian Gomez

I was in a my best friends’ bedroom, the summer of 8th grade. He took some guitar in middle school and had learned to play a couple of songs. He played, “Otherside” by the Chili Peppers, I started singing it. We did the whole song and when we finished, he looked at me and said “that was really good”. From that day forward I knew I was going to make music, and immediately started looking for bands. Read more>>

Zheng Lu

I started pencil sketching at a young age and knew early on that my professional path would be in the creative industry with my love for art. I have full childhood memories of taking painting trips and spending days painting outdoors. I did not end up with a fine art degree or becoming a full-time artist after graduating from school, but I did work in digital product design where I could leverage my artistic background and use my sketching skills to visualize solutions. Read more>>

Alex S

I picked up the craft of djing through my uncle at the age of 13. With time and practice, I started getting better and creative leading me to work on my very first events. After being exposed to the scene at a young age, I knew that this was something I wanted to pursue full time but I did not know how. One horrible experience at one event forced me to stay away for almost 6 years. During that time without realizing it, I was being influenced by my closest friends when they would have me in charge of the music for their family gatherings until I finally broke out of my shell in 2012. Read more>>

Mitchell ‘BonafYde’ Butts

When I first started dancing it was a hobby only because I wasn’t able so I took the challenge to learn how to. I lived in a tough environment so because of dance it stopped me from getting into trouble and not long after began to be a healing tool for me. Then I began to fall in love with the art form, and at that point it was natural that dance became serious for me. Read more>>

GRACE NAPOLEON

The first time I knew I wanted to be a “Makeup Artist” was when I started working full time at Victoria Secret as a cashier. I’ve met so many gorgeous faces, all the girls I worked with was so beautiful and always have on a flawless full face of makeup. That was when I knew I needed to learn how to do my own makeup. Read more>>

Michauli

I’ve been creating music since I was in middle school. I always had a love for it, but didn’t take it serious until I went to college. I was always afraid to take myself serious as an artist due to me being a gay man from the South. Society has put so much pressure on us which can create fear within yourself to push yourself like a straight person would. I made a vow to myself, my junior year of undergrad, that I would never allow any one to undermine my art based off my sexuality. Honestly, my sexuality actually helps my art become more authentic and vulnerable. Read more>>

George Staib

In my youth and still in my wildest fantasies, I had always been drawn to acting. I don’t know if I was ever good at it, but I always knew I was good at copying behaviors, accents and mannerisms. Maybe that was an adaptive tool since I moved to the States at the age of 11 – so it all could have been a product of wanting to fit in. Read more>>