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?

Emma Wood

I learned photography primarily on my own while growing up, and I continued to build on that foundation by going to school for photography and mentoring under other photographers. Much of my learning came from hands-on experience — practicing consistently, experimenting, and learning through both successes and mistakes. Read more>>

Bryan Murphy

I learned by being close to real travelers and real questions. Hawaii’s Best Travel actually started pretty simply in 2017 on Instagram and later in 2019 with the podcast as a way to share favorite spots and talk story about Hawaii trips we loved. Read more>>

Jose Patino Aguilar

I learned photography by chasing moments that felt real. What began as curiosity turned into a deep passion for capturing emotion, connection, and stories that words can’t always express. Over time, I realized photography wasn’t just about cameras or settings, it was about people. Learning how to make someone feel comfortable, seen, and confident became just as important as understanding light or composition. Read more>>

Justin Emord

While I built a foundational understanding of photography through college coursework, I feel that my work truly began to evolve during the COVID shutdown. Having the time to deeply explore post-processing allowed me to develop a stronger sense of my photographic identity, particularly through experimenting with advanced editing techniques. Read more>>

Kevin

Learning from my mistakes played a big factor during my learning process, time and time again looking back on what could I have done better and differently. Educating myself through YouTube videos to sharpen my skills especially with my editing on Adobe photoshop, I’m always spending hours on there trying to master the tools to make my work very effective. Read more>>

Zaneta Luna

I am a self taught artist who started drawing at the age of 5. I remember dumping out my sister’s drawing kit and got to work. In that moment I felt relaxed, occupied and intrigued how the colors on the paper showed beautiful shapes. Knowing what I know now, I would have took my gift more serious earlier than I did. Read more>>

Brent Estabrook

I learned by doing and I continue to learn by the act of creating. This sounds simple, however, speaking from a creative’s aspect, it is easy to endlessly think and think about projects and possibilities, but the real magic only happens in the act of creating. Read more>>

Jasmine Alexander

I learned the art of Acting early on I jumped into a 8 eight week beginner/business Acting Class and I felt like that really boosted my career. A lot of people jump right into Acting and have no training behind them. That was the start of me continuously being in Acting classes religiously. Read more>>

Langston Grant

In the Baptist Church where I grew up, I developed my singing abilities. My grandparents would take me to church, where we learned the significance of praising and worshiping God without limitations. If I had anticipated the challenges that lay ahead, I would have undoubtedly dedicated more effort to mastering the craft. Read more>>

Karel Curras

I have always been in the entertainment business since I was a young boy. I love making people laugh so I liked the spotlight despite that I was shy. I don’t believe that I could have sped up the learning process in acting/performing because it’s a never ending learning environment. You are constantly being molded by every aspect of your experience. Read more>>

Zane Frederick

The first time I was exposed to poetry was in the fourth grade and it captivated me. I learned of its intricacies throughout my education but it didn’t really make an impact until high school. I was an angsty teen who found poetry as an outlet for all the big feelings that were had. Read more>>

Yeeun Joo

I learned to do the things I need in the workplace through a combination of education during college and hands-on experience from diverse internships and projects. While I was in college, I was very confident about my technical skills because I thought I knew everything from my classes. Read more>>

Richard Torres

How did I learn what I know now? By staying curious honestly. I was always curious as a kid and still am. I grew up without online tutorials, so if I wanted to learn something I hunted down the information till I had an answer. I had to rely on books, tons of practice, and a lot of trial and error. I became a magician because it fell on my lap literally with magic kits. It wasn’t until years later I met a friend on a bus and literally had a magic battle, he introduced me to other magicians in that world. It introduced me to a whole other world of magic and my discovery of magic shops. Read more>>