Earning that first dollar is incredibly special and a moment many never forget. We asked some very talented creatives from the community to tell u s the story of the first dollar they earned from their creative works.

Breonn Lyons

My first paid photoshoot was a few summers ago with these two girls I went to high school with. We did it at my mom’s place in the dining area with a black sheet as the backdrop that I got from Target. I did the makeup for the girls, sprayed their hair down with water, trying to create a mood. I was using my camera’s flash with all the lights off and was having my mom stand by the light switch and turn them on every time I had to adjust the sheet or one of the girls. Read more>>

David Watkins

So the year is 2017 in Roanoke, Virginia and I had just purchased my first DLSR. The camera was originally bought to film a short film but I decided to practice some photography with one of my best friends. I posted the finished product on Facebook and one of my favorite co-workers of all time, Quiana Fields, asked me how much I charged. I was confused because I didn’t think that my work was that great to be charging. Read more>>

Michael Watson

Well our earned my first dollar back in the 6th grade me and my buddy Tom started our own but company where we were drawn comic books Miss slowly expanded out to our class where pretty much somebody from a classroom all the kids were doing something on the books and we had meetings during lunch period and then we were selling the books and my teacher noticed this and asked the principal if we could have extended lunch period once a week and an accident lunch. Read more>>

Roman Pastucha

In search of ‘El Dorado’ in Los Angeles I left a small railroad town in central prairie Canada driving a nondescript van straight out of ‘central casting’ . Packed beneath the plywood bed hidden from border agents were a crop of paintings. Best to plead ‘visitor’ status to immigration agents. Read more>>

Kj Bennett

The money I generated at the beginning of my creative journey came by way of hustling tee shirts with graphics I designed on them. Most of the things I started with at the beginning of my journey are still things I implement into my artistry/branding to this day. Stickers, buttons, hats/tee shirts. Things like that. At every new beginning or new thing I’m trying, it feels great. Like when I sold my first painting or my first print or my first tee shirt. It’s always dope to get ideas out and into people’s possession. Read more>>

Maredie Palmer

One of my dad’s friends came by the house one day, and after a series of questions and conversations, I had my first commissioned piece. He wanted something with the Falcon’s logo in the middle of the painting with a dose of my creative abilities with resin art. When I told him the price, he didn’t hesitate at all. He was more so looking forward to my work, and I was so excited to have someone have that much confidence in me. Read more>>

Rossa Skywalka

I learned from the perfect example trail and error. I just tried whatever I felt like could get people’s attention and minds. If I had a bigger income than what I had when I started I would have been more invested cause the money is there. As far as obstacles coming from a poverty stricken area and not a lot of resources it was tough for me but I did what I could. Read more>>

Toeknee Martian

The first time I ever got money for something I created was in 8th grade someone in my class told me to fill a page with my art and they paid me $10. It was weird honestly because I just drew in class because of adhd or whatever so it wasn’t my intention to ever generate any sort of revenue with my art but $10 seemed worth it at the time and I had no money because I was 14. Read more>>