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.

Rachel Morrissey

I always knew I wanted to be doing something creative for a living. It was my nature, I needed to find a career path that I could use my imagination everyday. At first, I thought I could solve that by becoming a graphic designer, I had anticipated it being a wonderful way to blend my need for a creative life with something that could earn me a reliable income. Read more>>

Vanity Zo

I was introduced to the arts and industry through my parents and their colleagues. They came from the Broadway and music world . My mom being a dancer/choreographer and father a recording artist /actor/songwriter I never knew a world without art. I began ballet & tap combo classes at the age of 1 1/2 & by the time I was 10 my mother started sending me away to dance sleep away camps for the summer out of state. Read more>>

Megan Allen

I think that I first knew I wanted to pursue social media when I was a little kid. I was often spending my time watching Youtube videos, and from a young age made silly little videos of my own. Social Media and content creation was always the main goal, and I feel incredibly blessed that I have not only been able to find personal success, but professional success in this field as well. Read more>>

JaToya Lanisha

I knew that I wanted to be a photographer when I was the friend that enjoyed getting the best shots of my friends from my cell phone. I decided that I wanted to get a “real” camera. So I did and started shooting family and friends. Read more>>

Troy Foss

I was the kid that banged on the pots and pans and drummed on everything from the counter to the steering wheel. From a young age I was a drummer, even making my parents drive through a blizzard to buy, used, my first drum set! From drumming, I was introduced to multi track recording on a 4-track tape machine. At that point I was hooked. Read more>>

Alexis Walker

Growing up, I’ve always loved music. I started my journey singing in church and talent shows like many other artists have as well and I was never afraid of the crowd; I’d say it’s always kept me energized honestly. When my family and I moved to Texas, my mother put me in an acting conservatory in Dallas around the age of 7 and I absolutely loved it, Read more>>

Randall Twins

We first knew we wanted to be professional dancers or dancers in general when we used to watch dance videos of Aliya Janel, Nicole Kirkland, Shemeka Ann, and Cisco on YouTube and Instagram. We knew little to nothing about dance. All we wanted to do was be like them. From there, we trained with different people along the way and then made the big leap and started teaching our own classes called Pair of Feels. Read more>>

Edward Platt

From the moment I set foot in highschool, I knew that I wanted to earn my money as a career artist. I just didn’t know what that was going to look like. I spent most of my extra curricular credits in highschool studying fine art. At the time, digital art was not easily accessible to me to study, but I was able to take plenty of classes studying painting techniques, drawing techniques, and clay working. Read more>>

Jessieka Martinez-Soto

I was 8 years old and my favorite pass time was watching music videos, art, recording my favorite songs on cassettes and making up choreography with my friends. When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would tell them with certainty “a singer!” Of course, they would laugh. One thing about me is, I don’t give up on my dreams that easily. Years passed and I stayed active in the arts singing but mostly dancing . Read more>>

Carole Alpert

While in college, I wanted to major in communications/radio. This was pre internet/Facebook/Instagram etc. So radio was a big deal. Due to my chronic hoarseness, it wasn’t meant to be. Turns out I had polyps on my vocal chords which were removed but I had moved on to a different course of study. (speech communications and French) I had a long career in the Airline industry in customer service, Read more>>

Karen Swartz

I’ve always made stuff. My mother was an amazing seamstress and knitted and crocheted as well. I learned how to sew from watching her and made my first article of clothing which was a dress at about age 11. My dad was also very handy and took up photography and carving later in life. From watching my mother sew I learned to make clothing, from watching my dad I learned to make furniture (albeit kind of ugly) but I have a fascination with tools and how they can help me. Read more>>

Ann Miller Smith

As I approached my last year as a high school student and I was faced with the decision of where to go to college and what I wanted to do with my life, I was torn between my two loves – art and fashion. I ultimately decided to go to North Carolina State University where I received my BS in Fashion and Textile Management and I worked as an apparel designer for several years following graduation. My love for art never ceased throughout these years and without even realizing it, I found myself beginning my career as an artist working out of my freshman dorm. Read more>>

Cristiano & Sheena Savage

We both found our love for music as children, Sheena began signing at the age of 6, entering national competitions at the age of 10 and studying at a prestigious music school at the age of 12. Cristiano began playing guitar at the age of 7, forming his first band at the age of 10 and performing in bars and clubs as young as 14. The desire to pursue music as a career was always there but more of a dream then a reality. Read more>>

GOcean

The first time I knew when I was ready to pursue a music career when I directed my first music video for my friend Manny. After getting a sense of what it feels to be the man behind the camera, it really spoke to me. Read more>>

Virginia Graciano

I realized I wanted to take up makeup professionally my junior year of college. I know what you all are thinking why did I realize so late? Honestly this was the perfect timing in my opinion. I was majoring in Criminal Justice at the time and during my studies I couldn’t visualize myself within that field like I used to. As time progressed I began to experience anxiety attacks during lectures. Read more>>

Lee Carter

Since I was a kid, creativity has always been a part of my life. I’d sketch, draw, and create short stories inspired by my environment. I’d bury my imagination in music & movies on television. As early as grade 4, I became passionate about filmmaking and purchased a camcorder. Though I don’t have a college degree, life and personal experiences have been my university. I’ve worked many jobs but never regretted the decision to pursue the creative path. Read more>>

Taya Hawkins

I use to work at Forever 21. Hated my job but knew I was talented in something. So, I bought all my supplies and practiced really hard and noticed that , nails was something I wanted to do full time. Read more>>

Cass Penegor

I’ve always been a very creative person, and my family and friends have always been very supportive and encouraging, and I’m grateful to them for that. I grew up with a mother who is a music director and has a background in theater, and a father who was always tinkering with things, building weird things in our basement, making huge messes at our kitchen table with eater egg dye and chocolate syrup, things like that. Read more>>

Jerry Dean Ungraceful Jay

After watching a ton of old dance movies as a kid and seeing how much fun they had is where my interest for dance began to grow. I would spent an entire day just daydreaming about what it would be like to be able to dance alongside other amazing dancers and on big stages in front of large crowds. When I was in 7th grade I took my first dance class, which was a huge influence of my love for dance. We did different activities to be more creative and also learned the history of different types of dance. Read more>>

Ally Morgan

I received my MFA in painting and drawing from Arizona State University in 2014 and immediately started looking for work teaching in higher education. With the experience I gained in graduate school teaching several undergrad courses, I hoped having a few adjunct classes would help me balance my career goals with finding financial security. Read more>>

Ronald Martin

At the age of 4 years old I was fascinated with superheroes and so my love for superheroes is what introduced me me to the arts. Because when I was old enough to comprehend and realize that actual people make these characters and stories then that’s when I knew I wanted to do the same. My first character I was ever exposed to was Spider-Man and from there I was being biten by the comic book art bug, pun intended. Read more>>

Aelisha Cade

I’ve been drawing and doodling since I was a child. It was always something I enjoyed but rarely something I saw anyone around me using for profit. Whenever I saw professional artwork, it was in a textbook or a museum or on television. However, anytime I saw artwork in the hands of anyone I knew, it was in a sketchbook or a folder that a select few were allowed to see. Read more>>

Katelyn Toone

I knew I wanted to pursue this professionally ever since I was about 6 years old playing with my mothers makeup. I was always the kid that stood out / never fit in . My outfits were wacky, my hair was every colour you can think of and I had a new makeup look on everyday. I started to discover YouTube where my passion for creating took off . There I learned how to do creative makeup/body painting as well as so many amazing eyeshadow looks etc everyday I practiced and practiced. Read more>>

Jake Romano

One of the most important times for my art was in high school, right before I graduated. Being a teenager was a turbulent time for me but I found a lot of clarity and comfort in my sketchbook. I’d get lost for hours working on illustrations in my room, sometimes pulling all-nighters to finish a piece. At some point I realized the role that art was playing in my life: it was an escape, an adventure, a puzzle I could keep coming back to and chipping away at. I needed something consistent in my life at that time and art was that thing for me. After I had that realization it was easy to choose a creative career. Read more>>

Valerie Hartman

Ever since I was a child, I was good at art, but would never draw like the other kids. I was never able to recreate the house, the flowers or the trees the others would. I was different. My tree was always without leaves! It’s when I was around 10 that I realized I was more into creating shapes and mixing colors. Of course, I did not know what abstract art was. It’s when I was in my late teens that I really started to take more seriously. Read more>>