Wanting to be an artist or creative is step one. Following through means investing in learning your craft, but we’ve heard from so many aspiring artists and creatives who feel unsure about where to start and so we’re incredibly grateful to the artists and creatives who’ve agreed to share their stories of how they learned their craft.

Maghara DePaoli

Like many interior designers, I learned most of what I know on the job! I always had an interest in Interior Design and would create mood boards and rearrange my bedroom furniture for fun as a kid. This allowed me to get my foot in the door with a small design firm and learn the basics about running an interior design business that way. Read More>>

Fa Fa

I’ve primarily been self taught, learning through online resources and engaging in conversations with others. I believe everyone has their own way of learning, and it’s important to find an approach that works best for you. Read More>>

Abra Britnell

I learned everything I know from one of two ways: Theme parks or friends. I started working in the theme park industry in 2011, where I started as a Cosmetologist at Walt Disney World. From there I kept exploring my options and found myself in scenic painting, set construction, and special effects and makeup applications. Read More>>

Claire Lim

My journey into music technology — and music at large — began with a thirst for exploring new creative fields. Though no one in my family was a professional musician, I grew up surrounded by music: jazz, pop, rock, classical, and more, thanks to both sides of my family. Read More>>

Jacksun

I learned to do mural work mainly through teaching myself and doing my own research. Then I began honing my skills based on what I learned. My creative roots are in illustration and small scale painting. I’ve taken art classes here and there growing up, but large scale painting was something I pretty much taught myself. Read More>>

Lynne Sarnoff-Christensen

About 10 years ago, I found myself creatively repetitive with my ceramic work. I wanted to create with a mindset that pushed me outside of my comfort zone, giving me new perspectives and processes. I began taking workshops in encaustic painting, which I knew little about. I felt that diving into a medium with no experience or knowledge about it, would make me uncomfortable enough to foster processes differently. Read More>>

Derek Keaton

I learned my craft by perseverance and mistakes. Now, I try to focus on one thing at a time and use what I have, which in the past created barriers Read More>>

Olivia Wells

My first introduction to art outside of the usual finger-painting and doodling in which all children engage — human beings are inherently artistic creatures! — was learning to oil paint from an elderly neighbor, Miss Freida, when I was 7 or 8 years old. It was my first time being given structure around art, rules to follow, or principles to adhere to. Read More>>

Craig Stidham

I started photography and Art in High school like most. I went to collage and received a degree in Art/ Photography. while I was finishing college I interned for a brilliant fashion photographer who gave me a difficult time. This was a GREAT thing because I was taught that the details are everything. I did a bunch of practice shoots to help me see light, and put my knowledge to the test. Read More>>

Haley Amos

When I first started posting, I didn’t have a plan. I was just sharing real moments of my life as a mom, dealing with pregnancy and postpartum. But after a few viral videos, I realized that growing on social media wasn’t just luck — it’s a craft, and I wanted to learn it – because I enjoyed it, and because it was a way for me to make a living while staying at home with my soon to be daughter full time. Read More>>

Aldyn Richmond

My journey as an artist has always been deeply intuitive, though I didn’t have the language for that at first. It really started to emerge when I was working with ceramics—before my work became consistently abstract. Even then, there was always some deeper experience I felt compelled to express. Read More>>

Roxanne Van Der Westhuizen

Learning the craft
When i decided to chase my acting dream, i knew nothing about the industry, theater history, all the different acting techniques, or old movies that movie nerds swear is a must for any cynophile. I only knew i loved story telling and acting. So, I went on Facebook and combed through every acting page in North Carolina (and the surrounding areas) and auditioned to every project i could. I spend hours going through the lines, begging people to read for me, and self taping. Read More>>

Abby Becker

What I bring to my role as the Director of the Station North Arts District comes from my own experience as a working artist. I know what the hustle is like. I know what it means to get paid this week instead of next week, and to be able to pay your people. Baltimore is a city that is driven by relationship and by community. Read More>>

Lisa Serrato, Amanda Hampton

Amanda and I (Lisa) both were introduced by the idea of crafting from a long time friend of ours. Soon after, our interest were peaked and we just starting doing research on how to craft and practiced a lot. I don’t think there is anyway we could have sped up the learning process since our type of crafting takes time and has different steps to make sure everything is done correctly and efficiently. Read More>>

Milo Lawrence

I started working small when I was a kid: I loved painting miniatures and making maps for Dungeons and Dragons, and when I went into school for scenic design I learned how to make models as part of the design process. That process is by nature very flexible and disposable, and I wanted to lean more into making architectural miniatures with real materials and processes, including stained glass. 2020 afforded me some time and space to start exploring stained glass, which I learned mostly through online research and trial-and-error: Read More>>

Dylan O’Bryan

Ever since I was a freshman in college, when I first started learning how to write my own songs, having a growth / beginner’s mindset has helped me learn to do so many things in my goal towards self-sufficiency as a recording artist. Timing of worldly events had a lot to do with it at the start. In fall and winter of 2019 I became obsessed with writing songs. Read More>>

Dayna Collins

My art and life have been an evolution of color and represent a rise out of darkness. Twenty-five years ago, after entering recovery for addiction, I discovered I was an artist while taking a 12-week course on creative recovery. My first art was collage – on bowling pins. A whole new world opened for me, and I knew I wanted to paint, explore texture, and experiment with putting bold, vibrant colors together. Initially, I didn’t know how or where to start. Read More>>

Kira Stansberry

I acquired knowledge through a combination of formal training, self-study, and hands-on experience. I took professional makeup courses to understand the fundamentals—skin types, color theory, hygiene, and technique. However, a huge part of my growth came from constant practice, working with different faces, and staying up to date with new techniques. Read More>>

Darrion Woodard

I’ve learned most of what I know through a combination of Mentorships, YouTube videos, and Trial and Error. It started with me picking up a camera because I wanted to get higher-quality videos of myself playing piano for my Instagram. Then it blossomed into me exploring different styles and techniques, and studying the greats such as Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Peter Lindbergh, and Lillian Bassman. Read More>>

Rebecca Clarke

I fell in love with jewelry making after seeing a TikTok of how to make a wire wrapped ring. It was with cheap craft wire and beads from Walmart, but seeing that I could make my own ring intrigued me. I’ve always been someone who could not find rings my size in stores. Seeing that I could make my own had me so excited. It was sloppy, scratched, and eventually turned my finger green, but it was handmade by me and it fit perfectly! I immediately started learning the craft of wire wrapping through TikTok, Insta Reels, and YouTube videos. Read More>>

ADRIANA PASCUAL

I was innately a performer from the moment I could basically walk! As a child, I grew up with parents that loved playing music, loved to dance and sign in our living room. Any chance he could get, my dad would take out his guitar and play songs that my sisters and I would memorize so we could sing along. So during family gatherings, my sisters and I would put on shows and perform. Read More>>

Jennifer Beam

I took many art courses growing up so i was able to have a basic understanding with painting and drawing. When I had a clearer image of what I’d like to do with those basic skills I was able to focus even more on the skills that what would be required to work as a background artis for animation and illustrator for books. One thing I could’ve done sooner was look at portfolios of people who are doing the work in the jobs or projects I’d like to be in and learn from their portfolios. Read More>>

Felicia McDermott

I started my food account as a creative outlet and a way to promote local restaurants. It began on X (formerly Twitter), where I shared food photos, and then I created an Instagram account to expand my reach. I immediately loved how easy it was to connect with other food enthusiasts. To grow my following, I experimented with different strategies—such as following a set number of accounts each day and consistently engaging with others’ content. Read More>>

Mikell Johnson

As a kid I was always into art. But in the pre-internet times it wasn’t as easy to find ways to learn new skills and finding pathways to careers in art wasn’t something you could do without some real guidance. I didn’t really have a clue how to turn that into something I could do for a living until we got a new teacher, Scott Schaller, who turned the printing class (silk screen and offset) into a real graphic design class. This was the early 1990’s. God I am old. Read More>>

Aaron Ehalt

My now wife was photographing as a side hustle when we first met. I wanted to spend more time with her and I always loved photography, so when one of her clients asked for a video, I jumped at the opportunity to learn something new. I spent hundreds of hours on blogs, YouTube, and testing various camera settings on my own, along with help on proper exposure from my then girlfriend. Read More>>

Olivia Smith

The beautiful part about working in brand identity and telling stories that stick is that it requires a blend of disciplines. Over the last six years, I’ve worn many hats: graphic designer, writer, PR manager, content creator, social media strategist, digital marketing manager, video editor, and advertising specialist. That’s a lot of titles, but the common thread running through every role is the ability to listen. Not just hearing—truly listening. Read More>>

Rob Sandberg

My journey into photography began during my career as an Arson Investigator with the fire department, where I proudly served for over 30 years before retiring. Early on, I was tasked with documenting training exercises on video—a responsibility that led the department to send me to school for video production. That opportunity sparked a true passion for visual storytelling and inspired me to co-found a small production company with a fellow retired firefighter. Read More>>

Kai Mattson

I’ve always loved storytelling. It’s been the one constant in my life—the thing that grounds me, challenges me, and keeps me curious. I discovered my passion for acting when I was nine years old, during a summer camp at the Jewish Community Center. That first experience sparked something in me that hasn’t gone away. In fact, it’s only grown stronger with time. Read More>>

Matt Stewart

it started very young for me . As a kid i would remix songs on the fly , kind of like weird all style. Then i had a teacher in grade 3 and 4 who was really into different styles of poetry, so this was my first glimpse at creating! it easily became fun for me and i enjoyed helping with the poems we would write as a class. I was aslo into rap at a very early age, around the same time the poetry stuff was happening. Read More>>

Laura Mazon Franqui

I started playing classical guitar in Havana when I was just ten years old. From the beginning, it felt like more than an instrument—it was a voice, a way to connect with something deeper. My journey began in Cuba’s rich musical landscape, and I learned from incredible musicians and pedagogues, including Maestro Leo Brouwer, who conducted the guitar orchestra that I was part of when in elementary school. Read More>>

TRISHA SCHUMAKER

I started by soaking up everything — online courses, mentorships, YouTube videos, late nights editing, and simply shooting as much as I could. Real-life sessions taught me more than any textbook ever could. Read More>>

Delancey Stewart

I believe that the craft of writing – like any other art form – isn’t something you learn once to then apply forever. Learning an art is an ongoing process, and even if there are specific skills you’ve learned to apply, most creatives will find that their understanding of those skills evolves over time. Read More>>

Mike Bartoszek

I’ve always had a love for visual media and music. I started as a stagehand working concerts, which flowed into theatre and eventually ended up placing me at a local PBS station as a production assistant for several TV shows. I learned most of my current skills through hands on trial and error paired with on the job training from countless stagehands and roadies. Read More>>

Greg Carroll

I learned how to play guitar when I was 15, in the 10th grade. A friend of mine had a black Squier Strat covered in stickers—he was really into punk and ska bands like Sublime. He handed it to me and taught me the power chords to Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. I picked it up so quickly he encouraged me to start learning more songs. Looking back, I think the years of piano lessons from my grandma helped develop my musical ear. Read More>>

Nathaniel Ramirez

I was fortunate to be in high school at a time when professional film and video gear was becoming more accessible to everyday people. The barrier to entry was finally lifting, and I took a creative video class where I learned the fundamentals of filmmaking. I followed the traditional path of college—which, while valuable to my journey—didn’t teach me nearly as much as simply doing the work. Trial and error, making mistakes, and figuring out how to improve—that’s where the real learning happened. Read More>>

 Anne-Marie

I learned to produce films through trial, error, and a lot of resilience. There’s no formal manual for producers; the job requires you to master legal, financial, artistic, and human aspects all at once.
In hindsight, what could have accelerated my learning? Finding women mentors earlier. Learning from the mistakes of others would have helped me avoid a few painful (and sometimes expensive) lessons. Read More>>