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.
Connor Bracken
I knew before I even had a guitar that I wanted to be in a band. I never had any interest in playing music on my own or in my bedroom. I wanted to immediately be in a band. Ever since I first saw bands I loved, I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It seemed so much fun. It seemed like a place I could be myself. I really didn’t know who I was until I discovered this love for music. Read More>>
Kwyet Storhm
I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally while in high school. I would join different creative avenues such as theater and choir. Obtaining my first job while in high school kind of sealed the deal for me. Read More>>
LARRY COTHRAN
Man, the first time I knew I wanted to take this content thing seriously was when I started documenting my journey from being a company driver to becoming an owner-operator. I wasn’t trying to go viral—I was just telling my story. I uploaded a couple of videos on YouTube, and after like my first or second video, a company hit me up. Read More>>
DeShanna Hampton
I never set out to be a photographer or a filmmaker—those dreams found me later in life. What started as a simple hobby behind the camera turned into a passion I didn’t see coming. Filmmaking? That was a beautiful fluke. Read More>>
Andie Knudson
On February 5th, 2020, I was enjoying a day off on a café patio in Jackson, Mississippi. I was nine months away from graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, navigating the uncertainty of what would come next. I was trying to establish creative rituals of my own—outside the scaffolding of arts education—and found myself sitting with a notebook in hand, writing what could only be described as amusingly bad poetry. Read More>>
Chrisianie Pacheco
Since I was a little girl in Venezuela, I was fascinated by cameras, fashion, and storytelling. I remember setting up my first digital camera to film YouTube videos, doing my own makeup tutorials, and doing DIY projects in my room. I didn’t realize it then, but I was already building the foundation for a future in content creation and digital personal branding. Read More>>
StarR Logan
I began my journey into music at a very young age, singing as early as 3 years old. Growing up in a musically inclined family, I was surrounded by melodies and rhythms that influenced my passion. By the time I was 7, I started learning to read and write music, which laid the foundation for my artistic expression. Read More>>
Tim Kreis
Oddly enough, the moment I knew I had to be an artist was whenI finished a book. I was 14 years old and had just finished reading “A Farewell to Arms” for a high school book report. I was sitting on my parents couch, it was during fall break, and, as the end of the book came upon me, I was suddenly drawn to tears. Read More>>
Josh Beeman
Growing up, I was constantly exposed to a wide range of genres and diverse types of music. Whether it was Mumford & Sons, U2, Switchfoot, Lenny Kravitz, John Mayer, CCM, or simply hearing rehearsals in the garage through my bedroom wall as my dad and his team prepared for church services that week, it gradually went from being a large part of my life to becoming my life! Read More>>
Kayleigh Deeks
I have always been drawn to art and how wonderful it feels to create something with your own hands and imagination. I remember making crafts at a very young age and loving every second of it. Read More>>
“Rockette” Fox Smith
Honestly, I always figured I’d pursue some sort of creative/artistic path professionally, as that was just what I was good at–but I never really had a direction beyond that. Read More>>
Dora Tomulic
I was very young when my mother first took me to a museum to see an exhibition, and I still remember the feeling—it was like stepping into another world. I was completely captivated and did not want to leave. Museums quickly became my happy place: sanctuaries full of magic, mystery, and a kind of quiet that felt far removed from everyday life. Read More>>
Nicholas
I first knew I wanted to pursue an artistic path when I was 6 years old. My first grade teacher gave everyone a daily journal and wanted us to write a few sentences and make use of the rest of the page however we wanted. It was 1999 so of course I had to draw Pokémon. Read More>>
Tink
I grew up in a house full of art. My dad (Uncle Bob himself) is a pencil and oil realism artist, and I’ve been learning from him for as long as I can remember. He had me drawing before I could even write my name, and some of my earliest memories are of watching him work at the easel. Then in 1996, when I was six years old, he opened Uncle Bob’s Tattoos. Read More>>
Wendolyn Lozano Tovar
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been deeply connected to nature. Born and raised in Mexico City, I loved spending hours in solitude contemplating the garden, the insects and rocks, the flowers and stars. Everything I thought and felt back then was something I could touch and articulate with my hands. I loved collecting leaves, rocks, feathers, paper, and my curiosity was not very different from what it looks like now. For me, science, art, and poetry are one same expression. Read More>>
Allie Reece
I grew up making pieces out of model magic and fell in love with sculpting at a young age. When I got to high school, I immediately signed up for a ceramics class and I got so lucky to have the best teacher I could have possibly had for those classes. After taking ceramics one, Mr Waggle pulled me aside and said that I should sign up for advanced 3d sculpture rather than ceramics two. I went from a prerequisite to an ap ceramic course in just one semester. Read More>>
Bert James
For as long as I can remember. Growing up in Alabama in the middle of the country. Not really many other kids to play with, so I remember having to really dwell into my imagination. I used to create all of these worlds with superheroes and magical creatures to keep myself entertained. So even back, then, I knew that being able to play and act and perform was crucial. Read More>>
Kortny Miller
I remember in 3rd grade when my teacher told my parents they should get me a sketchbook, cause I doodled all the time at school and she saw potential. I filled up books throughout grade school through middle school, I share this with the thought that I think my soul has always been drawn to being creative and thrives best when I’m creating. Read More>>
Dannon Everett
I auditioned for a local community play and ending up getting the lead role
opening night.,All the actors were behind the curtains and that’s when I realize I could do this for the rest of my life. Read More>>
Lindsey Hance
Ever since I can remember, I have loved making food look pretty. I’ve always said, you eat with your eyes, before you eat with your belly, and there is just something about making every meal look visually appealing first!
I had posted to my instagram stories about a snack plate I had made for a football game, and a family friend messaged me saying she wanted me to make her one for an upcoming party. So I happily obligued. Read More>>
Bee Lysko
The short answer: Forever— but I wasn’t really sure how.
I’ve always been creative and enjoyed making art. Whether it was being the only student in the hallway in 2nd grade making a life-size paper maché statue, learning drawing techniques from my dad and local art teacher, altering thrifted clothes at the dining room table, or designing tattoos for people— I’ve never not been involved in one art medium or another over the last three decades. Read More>>
Zitong Wang
I think it happened gradually, then all at once. Throughout high school, I was always sketching – not because I thought I was particularly good at it, but because I had to. It was how I processed things. Read More>>
VERN NICKERSON
I was always a loner as a child. I spent a lot of time in my room listening to records on my Mickey Mouse record player. I would often put a towel on my neck, like a cape. I would pretend to be Elvis. I would sing into my hair brush and pretend to be the one singing when I listened to the Live from Hawaii album. Read More>>
Dexter Conlin
Great question – I didn’t really know I was an artist until much later than most. It sort of revealed itself to me, and found me right when I needed it most. My sophomore year of high school, I was going through a lot in my personal life. I spent a lot of that time wondering why, and searching for answers that seemed more elusive the harder I looked for them. Read More>>
Tawanna Cullen
My love for art was sparked in childhood, watching my older sister sketch effortlessly during her high school years. She’s five years older than me, and little me was completely mesmerized by her older—and much cooler—sister’s talent. I loved drawing and creating at home, but I didn’t take it seriously. It wasn’t until high school that I chose art as an elective to explore it more deeply—and to my surprise, I didn’t just belong there; I was right where I needed to be. Read More>>
Nancy Cook
I would have to say when I designed my first set in sewing class my junior year of high school. It was something I felt incredibly proud of. The same year is when I gave up my lunch period so that I could add art class into my schedule. I had about 5 minutes to eat that year between classes! Read More>>
Qiwei Zhang
The first time I knew I wanted to pursue creative professionally was when I studied at art school. Before that, my goal was to be a fine artist since I had more experience with traditional drawings. I became interested in console games and wondered about developing visually stunning game art, Since that time, next-generation console games like Bloodborne, the concepts and effects are stunning. Read More>>
Tsun Yi Lam
My pursuit of architecture didn’t begin with a single, defining moment. It was assembled subtlety in the background. Growing up in Hong Kong, the city constantly impressed itself upon me through robust, everyday moments: the hectic construction of modern skyscrapers juxtaposing the neo-classical nostalgia, with a handful of traditional Chinese temples squeezed between rugged concrete buildings. Read More>>
Esra Sakar
My first encounter with art was not marked by a date, but by a feeling. As a child, I would see the light streaming through the curtains as a stage; not my toys, but the scenes I imagined would come to life in the corners of our home. The real world felt like a rehearsal for something imagined. Read More>>
Catherine Wilfong
I think I learned to draw before I learned to write. I have always been artistically inclined. For as long as I can remember, I have created pictures from whatever tool was at my disposal-markers, pencils, pens, paint, oil pastel…anything I could get my hands on! In school, art class was my favorite time of day. Outside of school art teachers, I have no formal education in painting or drawing. I am a self taught artist, and for a long time that gave me quite a bit of “imposter syndrome”. Read More>>
Tiny Humans
So, I can’t speak for the rest of the band since we’re a 4 piece but my name is Chris and I play guitar and I sing in this band. When I first knew I wanted to play music, write songs and be in a band I was like 12 years old. I’m queer and I stutter so I didn’t really have an outlet and got bullied for who I was and how I talked. So, finding bands like Nirvana, Bad Brains, Bikini Kill, Hole, Sonic Youth and all that? It showed me there was a way I could express myself in more ways than just having a normal conversation. Read More>>
Jennifer Taylor
It all started in 7th grade, though not by choice. I was placed in an art class I hadn’t asked for, and to my surprise, something clicked. That class opened a door I didn’t even know existed. I discovered I had artistic talent. Throughout my teenage years, I created constantly. Art was a source of joy, expression, and comfort, but I never considered it could be anything more than a hobby. Making a living from it felt like a fantasy, something reserved for other people. Read More>>
Annika
I grew up in a creative, performance-loving family, but I never really thought music or being an artist could be an actual career. To me, that kind of thing seemed like it was only for famous people or those already in the industry. It wasn’t until I had an accident that really changed my perspective on life. That experience gave me a strong feeling—almost a calling—that music was something I needed to pursue. Read More>>
I AM
I first knew when I was between 5-7, it the first time I saw professional wrestling and I had this brief feeling of belonging and purpose but just as fast as it came, my mom changed the channel and simply told me “don’t watch that”. Growing up sheltered and not really knowing any better I just said “ok” and went on with life. Read More>>
Andrew Tainter
The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was during the early days of the Hot 16s podcast. I started it as a way to connect with independent artists and highlight voices that weren’t getting mainstream attention. At the time, I was just experimenting — I didn’t have a full vision yet. But once I started sitting down with these incredibly talented underground artists, hearing their stories, and capturing that raw energy, something clicked. Read More>>
Shauvik Sharan
I think the moment I knew I wanted to pursue music professionally was when I transitioned from being just a guitar player to becoming a songwriter. I picked up the guitar at 14 and started playing in a bunch of bands in my hometown of Pune, India. At the time, it was more of a hobby, something I loved doing, but never saw as a career. Still, our band started winning a lot of “Battle of the Bands” competitions, and those early wins gave me a huge confidence boost. Read More>>
Precious Folawe
Although I’ve always wanted to be an artist since childhood I was always drawing, crafting, and expressing myself visually the moment I knew I wanted to pursue art professionally came after my secondary school graduation. Read More>>
Cameron (DJ Name KHROME) Taylor
I first knew I wanted to pursue this path after spending time at underground raves in LA. I wasn’t trying to be a DJ at first—I was just obsessed with the music. I was deep into house, then I started leaning into techno, then hard techno, and eventually found my sound in trance and bounce. That scene showed me something real. It was the first place I really felt unity and togetherness amidst this chaotic world. It became home. Read More>>