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

Kook Music

I knew that I wanted to be a creator of any sort when I joined an art class with my teacher Mr. Wright. That class had a huge impact on me. He taught me so much about how to unlock your creative self and ever since I took that class I knew that I wanted to create something as well. The main thing I learned in that class was that to be creative is to fully release yourself and be as ridiculous and explorative as possible and I have done that as much as possible. Read more>>

Q Pittman

I was somewhat forced to pursue it professionally, to be honest. After years of working in Press Relations at MTV, I was laid off and I had to figure out what was going to be my next move. Luckily, I was also teaching classes and doing dance jobs here and there on the side while working at MTV so getting laid off convinced me to turn my side hustle into the main hustle. It was definitely scary leaving the comforts and security of guaranteed income at MTV and transitioning to a profession where finding work was, in part, going to be left to luck and timing. The payoff, ultimately, was that I got to finally pursue a profession of passion rather than practicality. Read more>>

Alicia Ethridge

From a young age I could feel the threads leading me towards my path as an artist. My upbringing in an artistic family helped me understand the fluid relationship between art and lived experience. Surrounded by my father’s otherworldly oil paintings and my mother’s novel and lush mixed media work they exemplified the importance of maintaining an art practice to transport one beyond day to day activities into a sacred space of creative exploration. Read more>>

Delora Green

Hmmmmm This question is very interesting lol . I would say working dead end jobs was the motivation I needed to bet on myself by taking the risk and turning my hobby into a business. My passion for fashion is something I was born with ,It was something that made me feel ALIVE ,It was something I was blessed with from a early age of 6 designing became my go to to keep myself entertained as the youngest person in the house my siblings all started lives of their own. Many times all I had was my barbie dolls and mix matched socks to keep me company lol. So I would cut them up and create dresses out of them for my dolls and have fashion shows with them & this is something that NEVER left me so this is how I knew God blessed me with the skills to design! It was inevitable that I became the successful custom designer that I am today. Read more>>

Bela Fidel

I always loved music and literature. So it was natural to get a B.A. in English and Spanish Literature from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Painting or the visual arts were not in my radar. I, therefore, was very surprised to one day find myself painting a small 5×7 that came out of nowhere. I did not reflect on this happenstance nor did I take it seriously. A couple of years later, back in Brazil, I decided to take art classes. No plan, no ambition – I just wanted to learn how to paint. By a series of synchronicities I found the right instructor and took regular classes for 3 years. A couple of paintings were sold fresh off the easel by guests to the school. More paintings were sold when the instructor organized a small gallery show for the students. I was pleased but still no plans, no ambitions. This went on for about 10 years. I was now living in Los Angeles, showing my work at Beverly Hills Fairs and other galleries in town. Read more>>

Benjamin Bergey

I had always loved music, especially playing it myself. I started violin at age 5 and piano at age 6. When I was in middle school, I asked for a conductor’s baton and orchestral score to conduct along to my favorite symphony in my bedroom. I loved the idea of being able to facilitate a large group of people toward the common goal of performed music. This stayed with me through high school, where I was given the opportunity to conduct our touring choir for a semester in my senior year. Then in college I had several opportunities to conduct our orchestra or smaller chamber ensembles. Although I went into college trying to decide between a professional career in music or going into premed, I ended up with music as that’s really where my passion was and where my childhood was propelling me toward. I’ve never looked back since! Read more>>

Jalesa Jessie

I knew I wanted to purse a professional career in music when I was about 19. I was a drummer in different bands while living in Corsicana. The last one I was in, Sound Roulette, showed alot of promise, but we ended up breaking up after some personal issues within the group. That was the last band I played drums in before eventually moving to Austin to take a more serious approach towards a solo career. From there, I dabbled in more bands between San Marcos and Austin before eventually taking my turn as a front woman. I haven’t looked back since Read more>>

Ahmad Fielder

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative and artistic path professionally was during my adolescence. I was fascinated with sneakers and learning about developing and designing silhouettes, particularly Nikes. Eventually, I discovered that you could color shoes for a living, and that opened a whole new world for me. Studying color and materials opened my eyes to what it is like to be a color designer in the footwear industry. From building color palettes to creating meaningful stories/narratives for the consumer to developing a rapport with the footwear designers, these moments made me realize that this is the path I should take and continue to follow my intuition. Another moment I wanted to pursue other creative endeavors was when I had a love and passion for music at a younger age. I’ve always been curious about making music and wanting to know the ins and outs of the process. In the middle of my sophomore year, I took the courage to create my first beat on the software Fruity Loops, and the rest is history. Since then, I’ve thirsted for knowledge to develop and share my sound with the world. Read more>>

Roger Apollon Jr.

I’ve always loved to sing! My Haitian-born parents filled the house with music and we all sang (or hummed) along to whatever they put on the record player. If I loved a song, I would imagine myself singing that song to thousands of my imaginary fans at my sold-out concert. That is to say, I’ve ALWAYS wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally! It wasn’t until years later at the beginning of my senior year at Rutgers University that I thought it might happen. Read more>>

Kayleen Berry

I’ve always known art was going to be something I pursued on a professional level, and I’ve only ever been to art school, starting at the High School of Art and Design and then the California College of the Arts for textiles. Before I decided to pursue art full time, I was working as a print and pattern designer, where I got to paint and draw all day, so even my 9-5 was artistic. Read more>>

Ben Taylor

I grew up wanting to be an actor, but coming from a small town in Alabama I had no real understanding of what acting was or how to get into it. That being said, the military was a really easy thing to get into since the recruiters came to my school every week. So, I joined the military and in my last year I tried out for special operations. I had already tried out a few years before but didn’t make it. Read more>>

Jazzy Kash

Growing up I have always been inspired by singers, dancers, actors, and models and I always looked up to creative people in my family wishing I could be like that one day. I had trouble finding my place in the creative world simply because I didn’t know what my talents were and had trouble believing that I was an artist. I remember telling artists I wish I could be creative and confident like them. I would play around behind the scenes with graphic design, poetry, sewing, and styling but I wanted to become an innovator and someone who could birth something from nothing. I realized that I had birthed a creative journey in my pursuit to finding my outlet. Read more>>

Amber & Edson Delgado

Our names are Amber and Edson Delgado. We are the women, man, driving forces, founders, dreamers behind “The Creative Blend”. Our stories on when we first knew we wanted to pursue hair professionally are very different but that’s what we love about our paths. After graduating high school Amber chose a career path that she heard about growing up, Nursing (the acceptable, reliable, always in demand). Her parents did it so why shouldn’t she, all she knew was she really just wanted to help people. Through the start of nursing school things in Amber’s life all felt like it was falling apart. She started to have issues in love, in knowing herself, financially, wrong career path, in what felt like all aspects of her life. In those moments she was lost. During her hardships, the best advice she got was “your parents don’t live your life you do” That realization helped her take a risk, quite nursing school and start cosmetology school in San Diego California. The moment she stepped foot into the school for a tour, she felt an overwhelming sense of peace and knowing that this is where she was suppose to be, the path she was meant for. From then on it’s been the best decision she’s ever made for herself, no regrets on pursuing her passion for HAIR.  Read more>>

Kevin Mirsky

I am fifty-seven years old as of this writing. I became a professional creative about seven or eight years ago, give or take. It was about that time that I began sharing my work with the world, and the world, or rather a very tiny portion of the world, started to take some notice. But I have been a creative for as long as I can remember. Read more>>

Roy Vocals

The first time I knew for sure I wanted to pursue my artistic path professionally was after my first surgery. I suffered from AVN (Avascular Necrosis) for years unchecked until it get too much to handle without thorough treatment. I had a lot of time to reflect over my life and the decisions and circumstances that led me to this point in life. My father always told me to use all of my talents and don’t hold back on the world because it won’t hold back on you. That kept replaying in my head as I laid in my bed in pain during those years of recovery from full hip replacement and knee surgery at 30 years old. I had worn my body down working multiple jobs and that’s when I knew that I had to use all of my talents and find my way back to my artistry. It was all I loved and I was a natural at piano, singing, and music production. I toured multiple states across the U.S. Read more>>

Jocelyn Banks

Drawing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories is coming home with a rough sketch of a fairy on an index card, nervous yet excited to show my mom. Her unwavering support and encouragement sparked a love for art that would shape my future. I spent countless weekends at the bookstore, immersing myself in art books, practicing, and learning. Drawing became my sanctuary—a way to express emotions and escape the world around me. Read more>>

Junior Luna

I’ve always had a deep interest in music since I was a little kid, but sports was always the top priority, especially soccer. However I can pinpoint the exact moment where I knew music was what I wanted to pursue. After high school I ended up going to UCR along with a pretty good amount of my friends and we’d always hang out at the dorms where one of my friends lived. One day she was giving us a tour of the whole building and we came across this music room that had a piano and was open for anyone to use. For whatever reason I decided to mess around with the piano right then and there and it hit me that I truly wanted to learn how to play it. From that moment on I spent hours in that room, often times missing class, just teaching myself how to play and it’s been a nonstop journey since then of improving as a musician every day. Read more>>

Jaede Bayala

I’ve known for most of my life that I wanted to be an artist. As a kid, I was always creating—drawing, painting, acting, singing—exploring any art form I could get my hands on. Growing up, I would tell everyone I wanted to be an illustrator. It wasn’t until later that I truly understood what being an illustrator meant, and I realized I was drawn more to the freedom of being a painter. I studied art an an arts highschool, and now I am studying paint at the Kansas City Art Institute. Read more>>

Ryan Boey

Music just kind of happened. I was a shy kid growing up and didn’t really talk much in grade school. One day, some friends wanted to form a band because they wanted to be cool. They asked me to join and write the songs for the band. I had never even picked up an instrument at that point, but I fumbled my way through writing some. Right then and there, I was hooked. I started going to songwriting camps. My mom and I would take trips to Nashville to do workshops through NSAI. The goal became to make it to Nashville and pursue the dream. Been doing it ever since. Read more>>

Rayleigh Vendt

Before I ever dreamed of becoming a ballerina, I wanted to be a professional baseball player. I grew up as a big St. Louis Cardinals fan, and I wanted to be the first female player in the MLB. However, that wish quickly changed after I ran the bases on my toes at my Little League games, and my mom decided to let me try a ballet class. I immediately fell in love with the art of dance at 6 years old and have never looked back. Read more>>

Talia Dudley

I was always drawn to art when I was a very small child, so I’ve always known. I remember the first time my interest was sparked, I was probably about 4 or 5 and was at a restaurant with my family where my dad drew a horse on a napkin. I was intrigued by how the lines and shapes came together to create an image. Since then, I couldn’t stop drawing. I did not excel in school unless it was in art class, and because of that, I knew I had different skills from the rest of my peers. The rest of the class huffed and puffed when it was time for art, but I knew it was my time to shine. I stuck with it until high school, where I took AP Studio Art and received a four on the AP exam. My high school art teacher, Mr. Szeto, encouraged me to continue studying art in college, so I did. After that, I received a scholarship to study art at UofA, and hopefully, the rest will be history! Read more>>

Cavasee-a

I wanted to pursue a artistic path at the age of 5 . My mother recognizing this spark, and enrolled me in choir while attending kindergarten. She had the privilege of witnessing my solo performance. I began playing violin in third grade and quit playing after my 78-year-old instructor passed away. A new interest for the bass guitar started while remaining in choir throughout high school. After Graduating In 1996 , Aims Community College offered a free semester to high school students with a 3.5 grade average or higher. So I seized the opportunity to study Music Theory and Audio production. Read more>>

Walyaira Irizarry

I was always involved in every artistic program that existed at school. Since I was little I was involved in music, whether it was in the choir, a dance group, a talent show or musical theater. But I never saw myself making a living from music. That was forged along the way. I believe that the love I feel for this career does not allow me to work in anything else but this. There is nothing on this planet that makes me happier than doing what I do. For me, this creative stage of composing and writing my thoughts and turning them into songs is the most beautiful stage I have experienced in my entire professional career in this art called music. Read more>>

Katie Adams

I’ve always been creative, but when I went to Auburn, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I thought, perhaps, it might be something in teaching. I was in the College of Education for about two quarters when I realized that was not where I needed to be. Then, I started to dabble in all the things. Somehow I landed in an accounting class, and to my surprise, I was good at it. The teacher was a female. and out of a class with 250 students, she pulled me aside, and told me to consider majoring in accounting, as the field needed more women. Well, being 19 and easily persuaded, I agreed. Read more>>

Sara Escobedo

It wasn’t until after college, as I started my career as a graphic designer, that I had the desire to embrace that artistic side of myself. The job that I had at the time, bought a drawing pad for me to use on projects where I had more creative freedom, such as designing cover art for albums and singles for some of the bands and artists we worked with. This was some of my favorite work I had gotten to do so far (and my favorite still to this day). This discovery of digital art was a game changer. Read more>>

Christine Barger

I realized I wanted to dedicate my life to bringing joy to others when I was a young child. My baby brother was very ill and he passed at the young age of three years. There was much sadness at that time in my life and I found using my stuffed animals and eventually puppets to talk both helped me cope but made other smile and laugh. That was when I decided to become an entertainer. I felt helpful bringing a moment of joy to those around me when everything felt heavy and dark. Most of my job choices and ultimately my career reflect that desire to bring smiles to those around me. I started as a ventriloquist and then actor, content creator and now also escape room owner. It all aligns with helping others forget their stress for a moment and replace it with joy. Read more>>

Sidney Riley

A few years back, me and a few friends had the opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center Honors back home in Washington DC honoring Quincy Jones alongside the Eastern High School Choir, Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder. The introduction to Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder opened my eyes to what an artist can look like in music. They were so unique, talented, and confident in who they were, and it was genuinely a mind blowing experience. It was immediately inspiring, and motivated me to find my true self and use music, performing and songwriting as the path to do that and I haven’t looked back since. Read more>>

Wenlu Guo

I initially decided to enter the fashion industry during my senior year internship. At that time, I interned for six months with a luxury jewelry brand under the Kering Group, working on aspects of fashion marketing. Though I got rich experience during this work, I still realized that this type of work wasn’t something I truly enjoyed. I discovered that I need a job where I could create something and fully unleash my imagination. After that internship, I clarified my goals. I realized that I wanted to work in the fashion photography industry. I started to follow more and more fashion photographers, stylists, and art directors. study from their works and continuously learning. I also begin searching for the right job opportunities. Shortly after graduation, I was fortunate to land a great job in the field. Read more>>