Often there is no book or course to learn how to do what you want to do – so how artists and creatives overcome such challenges? How have some of the most talented artists and creatives in the community managed to learn their craft?

Desmond Faison

I learned by doing. And failing, a lot. I didn’t come up through the most traditional path, but I have always been obsessed with craft. Whether it was storytelling, visual language, or understanding how to move people emotionally, I’ve been wired to figure it out, even if that meant working three jobs while teaching myself the tools at night. So, I asked questions, paid close attention to people who had something real to say, and consumed doctoral course level of content from the prestigious University of YouTube. Read more>>

Bri Betts

My path in my career never seemed to make much sense to me until recently. I tend to chase things that I have interest in until the end of their path. Typically when I have immersed myself and learned a new skill – a new path appears!
I recently pivoted from being just a business owner (Seed and Spirits) and am now also the Creative Director of an agency that I launched that specializes in hospitality, events, restaurants, etc. Read more>>

Dianne Miley

To write novels, I first subscribed to Writers Digest magazine. Reading the articles and buying books on writing taught me much about the craft of fiction writing. I took a continuing education class at our local community college and was referred to a local writers group. I joined the group and the authors there were instrumental in teaching me tips and tricks on writing novels. We read one another’s manuscripts and offered suggestions. I’ve also attended many writers conferences and online workshops. Read more>>

Derrick

As with learning anything, it takes dedication and discipline, and perhaps being fully immersed in what you’re wanting to learn. I primarily learned what I do by practicing and experimentation, all of which, for myself, are purely autodidactic motivational studies that is accompanied by child-like curiosity. I really don’t know what could have sped up my learning process, because it isn’t something that I was in a hurry to do; it was merely something that you just “did.” If one is wanting to know this answer from a “what-if” or “what-could-have-been” reflection, then my intuitive retrospection tells me that perhaps I could have experimented more, collaborated more and so on. Read more>>

Keri René Fuller

I think I started learning about what my eventual creative path would be far before I knew I was learning about it, actually. Part of being a creative is being able to live and be a human in front of other people onstage, and you can really only learn about that from doing it in real life. Some of my greatest inspirations speak about the most useful research for artists is actually being out there in the world and observing how people exist. How people respond to their environment and the people around them. Read more>>

Troy Johnson

I learned the art of visual storytelling first through serving others and putting myself in uncomfortable situations that made me ask good questions. All of this happened in the beginning of 2020. I became a student of the craft, took on mentors in the space, and honestly kept doing the hard thing until it became the easy thing with loads of passion and commitment to get better daily!​ Read more>>

Matt Blagg

My dad was a guitar player, and he was always in bands or playing music with other people. Growing up around that, I naturally absorbed a lot. I have many great memories of going with my when he played music with his music family (as he called them). I would sit in the corner of the room and watch until I fell asleep. Next thing I knew, my dad would be carrying me back into our house. It was a wonderful part of my childhood and it kept going! Read more>>

Caroline Amiguet (aka Sivertson)

I’m Caroline Amiguet—an actor with French, Swiss, and American roots. Born in Paris, I weave my life between San Diego’s golden light, Hollywood’s dreams, and the timeless romance of Paris and Switzerland.

My acting journey began in 2005, and let’s just say… I dove in headfirst and never looked back! Over the years, I’ve trained with a rich variety of studios and teachers: Read more>>

Cillian Cubstead

I often say I’ve been drawing my whole life, but drawing well for the last ten or fifteen years. I had good art teachers I sometimes ignored. They were great. But they didn’t want the same things I wanted from art at times. Going to conventions, like L.A. comic Con, WonderCon, or the different comic conventions and showing working professionals my portfolio was paramount to gaining skill. They would tell me what would never work and what was great. I mean, art teachers taught me a lot in school of course, but getting as many pointers and advice from as many sources as possible will make you a better artist. Read more>>

Brandon Kandé

How did you learn to do what you do?: So, I currently draw and do photography. I am self taught in drawing and learned how to draw through daily practice! I am also self taught in photography and I learned a lot during the gaps of time between my several photoshoots I’ve done so far. Observation, building and developing my taste by reading plenty of 00’s hip hop and fashion magazines across different eras (VIBE, Spin, XXL, Bibi, Replica man), the many photobooks I own and find in the library, and studying favorite visual artists such as Gabriel Moses, Renell Medrano, Cassia Agyeman, Obi Agwam. Read more>>

Eugeniia Gul

I remember my very first red carpet coverage like it was yesterday. It was 2020, and a friend called me last minute to cover interviews at the Hollywood Christmas Parade. At the time, it wasn’t something I’d done before but I had been on camera since I was five, so I couldn’t resist the opportunity. Watching the footage afterward, I realized how much I didn’t know: simple things like how to hold the mic properly while asking questions. That moment sparked a fire in me. I enrolled in Media Star TV School and took both private and group public speaking classes with SoniaMPower. I quickly fell in love with the art of short-format interviews at Los Angeles’ most extravagant events. Read more>>

Cynthia Flores

I started taking pattern and sewing classes during my teens but I saw those classes as a hobby and didn’t envision they could be the stepping stone of a career and business. So I took my classes without going beyond what was a mediocre finished product. I was still very young and could have used that time and energy to slowly master the craft of dressmaking to have a head start in my university years. During that time (university), I did have a head start on the first module but was easily outpaced by better focused peers. Read more>>

Renae “IIRONIC” Wootson

Photography was always my passion, but unfortunately I took a long route to get to working as a full time photographer. My degree and background is in Advertising and Design. Aside from a couple classes in college, I mostly learned to do what I do, honestly, by researching and applying. I learned a lot by spending many many many hours reading, researching, and watching videos online while I was working full time as a designer. And after work, I would shoot and apply everything I learned. I even invested in a studio space very early on because It was important to me to be a versatile photographer. Read more>>

Indira Prieto

Becoming an artist is all about passion, and everyone discovers that passion in their own time. But one thing you can’t skip if you truly want to grow and succeed is the hard work. If you’re just starting out and think it’s all about talent, let me stop you right there: it’s not. It’s the late nights, the constant research, the endless search for inspiration, and the hours spent creating, refining, and starting over. That’s where the real progress happens. Read more>>

Nitzia Garcia

I learned film photography through a lot of trial and error, countless YouTube videos, and by asking questions. I’ve found that I’ve learned the most by reaching out to people I look up to and learning from their experiences. Read more>>

Alexis St. John

I am mostly self-taught. At the beginning of my journey to become an artist, traditional paths were not open to me. Art school and art classes were not something my family supported. When I found a skill that I wanted to acquire, I would try the library first. I learned most of my basic drawing and painting skills from reading books and doing lots of practice. Read more>>

Mae Schuberth

Be like a SPONGE – is what we were all told by the Kent Gash on our very first day of freshman year at the New Studio on Broadway at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Taking this simple phrase to heart laid the groundwork for experience, creation, humility, pride, opportunity, growth, and connection. Starting with this message that inspired growth through observation allowed me to apply myself in all aspects of the world that I found/find myself in. I learned how to do almost all of what I do based on saying yes, showing up, and staying present and open – being a sponge. Read more>>

Manami Moriyama

I first learned technical design in my fashion design class. Learning technical design made me think of more realistic aspect of garment making such as production friendly and cost effective construction, maximizing fabric utilization, and most importantly how to communicate with factories to make sure the final products carries all design intentions while keeping the functionality. Read more>>

Aryeal Lands

As a creative with more than one medium, the development of each of my skills has its’ own story. From early childhood to present day, I have explored singing, writing, spoken word, costume design, and my personal favorite, dance. I was fortunate to grow up attending performing arts schools where I had teachers who fostered spaces for me to learn these skills. I took creative electives to understand the techniques behind these forms and I seized any opportunity that I could to participate in extra curricular activities that related to one or more of my artistic interests. Read more>>

Rocco Williams

My artistic journey has brought me to quite a few interesting stops with huge forks in the road. The first fork in the road that I encountered was the choice between continuing my education as a drummer or committing full-time to a career as a vibraphone player. I have so much respect for percussionists who can “do it all” but for me, I have continued to find myself choosing to primarily identify as a vibraphone-specialist. My first vibraphone instructor, Greg Tanner Harris absolutely amazed me with his mastery of multiple instruments and electronics, and Greg set me on a great path to study this instrument. Read more>>

Paige Michels

I taught myself photography through a lot of trial and error, honestly. I didn’t go to school for it — I just picked up a camera one day and couldn’t stop. I started by photographing anything and everything, but over time, I realized I was most drawn to capturing people in honest, in-between moments — the quiet glance, the belly laugh, the fleeting touch. That naturally led me to weddings and couples, where emotion runs deep and storytelling matters most. Read more>>

George Otieno

I started telling stories online during the Covid lockdown and I did not expect anyone to watch but I was pleasantly surprised when over 10k views were registered, I did it again the following weekend and the views almost doubled, and that is when I knew there was a niche here. Read more>>

Jamal Bates

I learned in multiple ways. I’d start with seeing my cousins doing music and YouTube videos and kind of being a fly on the wall and just getting a close up perspective at an early age then that evolved into trial and error repeatedly for nearly 10 straight years. My biggest artistic inspiration is Michael Jackson though. His brilliance in showmanship is what I strive for in my works. The most essential skills I’ve learned so far is persistence and self confidence. Believing in my own abilities has kept me going and keeps my inner flame alive. Read more>>

Artis TPT Edwards

I’ve loved creating for as long as I can remember. Growing up, we didn’t have much—after my mom made sure we had food on the table and a roof over our heads, there wasn’t much left for toys or other extras. I used to cut out pictures of toys I liked from magazines and ads, then tape them together, imagining I had them. I’ll never forget the time I sneakily brought those paper creations to school, only to get caught and scolded—looking back, it was kind of funny. That moment sparked something in me: I knew I had to find a way to improve my life. Read more>>

Alon Skuy

I learnt many aspects of the craft of photojournalism (an ever evolving process), in the photographic department of The Star Newspaper, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The department was run by Debbie Yazbek (Picture Editor), and the Chief Photographer was Thys Dullaart, both exceptional photographers and wonderful mentors. The environment was one of the most storied and dynamic in the country, with many passionate and experienced photographers on the team. Read more>>

Caitlyn Campbell

Most tattoo artists start off with an apprenticeship. At the time, I was halfway through a BFA at Watkins College of Art and Design and just finished portfolio review for the semester That same day, I packed up my portfolio and headed to Golden Yeti Art Collective that had just opened a couple of months prior. I showed the owner, Jeff, my portfolio and 30 mins later I got my Blood Bourne Pathogens certification and started learning all the cleaning protocols. For the first few months, I focused on cleaning, observing and drawing. Read more>>

Alyssa Ingram

After graduating from the Hartford Art School, I was looking for ways to frame my artwork for displaying in galleries. I applied for my first picture framing job with no prior experience and quickly discovered that the frame becomes an integral part of the artwork. When chosen thoughtfully, the colors and textures of a frame can beautifully compliment and enhance the piece itself. Read more>>

Adiv

I won’t give you the typical response about the technical skills of a creative professional—because you can find that anywhere. YouTube. Paid and free courses. Books. Other artists on Instagram. Workshops. The list itself could probably wrap around Earth. So I’ll give you something that might be a bit harder to come by: a more philosophical response. Since I didn’t have much of a formal education in art or design, the philosophies I’m about to share were essential to my growth and overcoming mental obstacles. I discovered some of these things sooner than others, often in deep reflection, and if I’d applied them sooner, they would have notably sped up my learning process. Read more>>

Kelly Sooter

The journey to learn any craft is highly individual – yet there are common skills and practices that yield solid results. My journey, like many artists before me, began before I could read. At age five I scoured pictorial books with images of vast Midwest fields and at age of ten begged to accompany my mother to her friend’s home that had hand painted Nordic art sitting in every nook and cranny. They had tea while I wandered room to room trying to figure out how a brush could make certain marks with multiple colors in one stroke. Read more>>

Lenny Emery

I learned everything by doing. I am not the best at learning via research and reading, I learn by trying, failing, trying again, failing again, and then MAYBE succeeding. I think the best way I could have sped up my learning process is by failing early and failing often. I had to put myself out there many times before anyone actually realized I was there, Persistence is the most important skill set I have found in my art. Usually the only obstacles are your ego, and the idea that failing won’t allow you to continue, which is not true. Read more>>