Are artists born or made? To help answer this question, we asked some of the most artistic folks we know to tell us about how they knew they were going to pursue an artistic or creative path. We’ve shared highlights below.

Suzanne Shea

Listening to a variety of music at home (influenced by mother and father’s love of music and my older siblings bringing in their “records” to play on the Hi Fi are some of my best memories. Read more>>

Alicia Gomez Rodriguez

All started as a child, collecting films and recreating certain scenes. Sometimes I didn’t know what I was doing but felt happy for myself on what I was practicing. We can say taking notes hahaha. I was around 9 or 10 when I realized what path I wanted to take. When I go back and think about my past, I feel more than excited of what I had accomplished lately, it makes more sense now. Read more>>

Kendra Preston Leonard

I always knew I would write, but for a very long time I assumed that writing would be an avocation or a part-time activity. I trained to be a professional musician–I played the cello and specialized in new music–but when I developed a condition that limited my playing, I became a music scholar instead. Read more>>

AriaKai

It’s Crazy Because I Have Wanted To Sing Ever Since I Was Three Years Old. I Sang “I Will Always Love You” By The Great Whitney Houston At Only Three Years Old, It Was His Birthday. Now I Wasn’t The Best, But At The Moment I Knew It Was Something I Had To Master. Singing Became Very Therapeutic For Me. I Knew It Was A Gift From God & I Could Not Take It For Granted! I Knew That I Would Touch A Lot Of People Bu Just Being Real To Myself & With My Supporters. Read more>>

Christopher Newland

I’ve been a visual maker for as long as I can remember. From being a young child, drawing the figures I found in the comics pages of the newspaper, to studying drawing, painting and photography in high school, I have been an artist in pursuit of a vision. While I deferred ideas of becoming a full time artist for a great portion of my adult life, there came a time when I knew I wanted to devote my life to making art. Read more>>

Brandon Nash

I was probably about 19 years old when I knew that wanted to pursue a creative career. I was a sophomore in college kind of just wandering aimlessly, not really knowing what I wanted to do. I started shooting fun little music videos and promo videos for my friends that created music or had clothing brands. From then on I just fell in love with creating videos. I was shooting something almost every weekend, juggling college and creating; it was a lot but I loved every second of it. Read more>>

Jasmine Legree

It was in my early adult years that I learned that I loved to help people. By learning how to tattoo in my own time and applying what I learned to customers gave me excitement. Not only was it something unfamiliar but the way that I could reach people through body art is meaningful. I cherish being able to make others feel good about themselves and their stories. Read more>>

Ben Ivey

I grew up around music my entire life. My mother is a concert pianist and teacher. A melody has always been running through my head. My dad was the audio guy at my church growing up. He was the one who first sparked my interest in audio. Back then though, I had no clue I could have a career in it. It wasn’t until several years later while working on my debut record with my mentor, Mike O Brien, did I realize I had a shot. Read more>>

Sunja Dannette

I grew up singing in church since the age of five years old. It started as something I had to do. I was extremely nervous and shy in front of others as a child. I would say that singing changed from something I had to do into something I wanted to do between the ages of 12 and 13. At the age of 12 I became the first child on the adult praise team in my church. This was on of the larger churches in the city and I started to get a lot more recognition for my gift and talent for singing. Read more>>

Marty Manous

I was 15 years old when I was hired for my first professional gig. I knew then that playing guitar and performing was what I wanted to do for living. I tell people I was ruined the moment I found out they would pay me to sing and play guitar for a living. Read more>>

Ronnie Andrade

I have always been surrounded by music. My parents came here from Honduras and El Salvador, so my first language was Spanish and after being in school I became bilingual. I remember my father always playing his guitar in the house, listening to rock and roll, while my mom would play classic romantic Spanish, i.e. Julio Iglesias. Read more>>

Rico V. Baylor

The first time that I knew I wanted to pursue an artistic path I was in elementary school playing every instrument that I could find. I began singing around the age of 6 and by the age of 8 I was writing and arranging songs. Read more>>

Jaime Dee

Ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment industry. What really solidified the deal was when I became a child Actor on Nickelodeon’s “Slime Time Live.” Read more>>

Joy Lola

I have always loved music, I was born into music. I grew up singing in the church where I better developed my singing voice. Through that route, I was able to venture to sing in other local churches. Never thought I would become an artist myself because I never took it seriously. Read more>>

Emily Malin

I was 15 or so, and House of 1000 Corpses (Rob Zombies directorial debut) had just come out. It was the first “slasher” horror flick Id seen where I was rooting for the killers. It totally flipped the genre on its head for me and sparked a deep love of cinema that I share with so many people. From that moment I wanted to work in movies, initially as a special effects makeup artist. Read more>>

Madeline Jackson

I have known since I was a child I wanted to be in a creative industry. I was always interested in music, entertainment and fashion. I was raised listening to soul and rock n roll. Some of the first artist I was exposed to were artist Elvis, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Tina Turner and many others. Read more>>

Davii Adeleke

I dont know if I could really pinpoint the exact moment I wanted to pursue my art. I’ve always been a go with the flow type of person, so because of that the paths I lead myself is always the furthest path. I think just being not fulfilled in my work outside of my art more-so pushed me to pursue my art. Read more>>

Luanna Montes

Ever since I was little, I was a very creatively inclined child. My parents were supportors of the arts and having a creative outlet growing up. I would participate in dance, acting, fine art and modeling early on in my life which I think was what really sparked something in me to want to be in the creative industry. Read more>>

Greta Olivas

I have known since I was a small child that I was an artist, I used to draw for hours, so throughout my adult life all I wanted to do is be a professional artist. Life happened, so my dreams of becoming an artist had to wait. I got married and had kids, so working a “regular” job got in the way. Read more>>

Marcus Samuel

I was raised In a small city called Pensacola, Florida. I honestly never thought I’d be acting. Being that I was from such a small place… it was kinda far fetched in my mind, and I never thought about it. It wasn’t until I moved to Atlanta, GA after high school that I could expand my mind from such a small city like Pensacola , and see the endless possibilities in Atlanta, GA.. Read more>>

Davon Miller

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally was at a time in my life where I didn’t know that my hobby could be made as an occupation. I started writing and illustrating stories at a young age and what inspired me was seeing these different stories be told with the characters I adored on television. I adored what I viewed on television so much that I desired to draw them and write stories about them. Read more>>

DaRealBandup

It was around the time of graduating high school. I’ve always enjoyed listening to music that love for the art lead me to want to create my own. With a little push from some close friends I went ahead and started by posting snippets on Instagram and quickly earning some recognition for this. I went from that, Read more>>

Kimberly Kelly Santini

Knowing I wanted to be an artist and actually doing it were two different things. You see, I’ve known since my earliest memories that I experienced the world differently. I was always aware of how unique my perspective was, my desire to constantly make things and simply the way I approached problem solving. I was wired creatively. I was an artist. Read more>>

Maria Lima

I was a teacher for about 20 years and I always liked to use different types of papers in projects with my students and in the decoration of my classrooms. At school, they always looked for me to do party favor projects for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and other parties. I believe that’s where my passion came from. Read more>>

Vanessa Charlot

I stumbled into my photographic practice very young. I was 12 years old when I first picked up a camera. A disposable camera to be exact, because my mother wanted me to go to a better school than what was in our neighborhood. Read more>>

Julio Petersen III

As a child I knew that music and performing was something that I loved to do. Growing up in St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands I was always surrounded by music. Music & Food plays a huge role in our culture. My cousin and I used to put together little Shows for my family and as I grew older I started performing in Youth Steel Bands. Because of this, Read more>>

Khylee Almond

So back in high school I remember as a freshman always hearing about the talent shows. Now I would sing sound the house as a kid for my mom and siblings all the time but never have I don’t it infront of a crowd. Read more>>

Julia Brochéy

I developed a love for language and wordplay as a toddler; the interest grew wildly! When I was about 7-years-old, my mother, encouraging this interest, allowed me to stay home from school to watch Romeo and Juliet. It had an enormous impact and I became fascinated with Shakespeare. Read more>>

Ken’Nadi Broussard

The first time I knew that I wanted to pursue creative arts through modeling was when I was about 7 years old. I had an interest in fashion and loved the way clothing and accessories could be used to express oneself. As I grew older, I understood that fashion and modeling could be further used to boost confidence, presence, and your overall essence. After that realization, I was hooked. Read more>>