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.

Ike Adibe

I’ve been drawing my whole life, though my path to professional art wasn’t straightforward. Coming from a staunchly (small c) conservative immigrant family where creative careers weren’t encouraged, I had to be resourceful and self-directed in developing my skills. I learned primarily through independent study and persistent practice, and later, online resources. Read More>>

Amrithavarshini Muralikrishnan

I didn’t learn what I do in a classroom. I learned it by building, experimenting, and evolving in real time. I was raised in a home where music was not a hobby. It was a life force. My parents performed on world stages and taught music to thousands of students around the globe. I began training in classical Indian music at the age of two. Read More>>

Sebastian Diaz

From a purely technical level, I learned music through school band, having played saxophone from the 6th grade up into my late college years. I picked up guitar when I was about 13 and I cultivated my skills through playing at a local church every week. Read More>>

Margery Gosnell-Qua

After completing a BFA in Painting at Syracuse University, I decided to diversify my background and balance it out by studying biology at Stony Brook University. That led to a job as a naturalist, teaching children about ecology at Caumsett State Park. As a naturalist, I learned to see diversity in plants, birds, and animals and the seasons. That has informed my artwork ever since. Read More>>

Lea Cybelle

I learned the art of pattern making and design from couturier and fashion designer, Colleen Quen. In addition to learning from Quen, I hold a master’s degree in Fashion Communication from the American University of Paris and I’ve recently become certified in Technical Design. Pattern-making is the most essential skill that contributes to my current success as an emerging designer. Read More>>

Tana Quincy Arcega

I learned to sew garments from my mom, who grew up milking cows, baking pies, and making all her own clothes. She made sure that my sisters and I had that skill. Simultaneously, my mom opened a fabric store and I began drawing the fashion models in her pattern books and other fashion magazines she carried. Read More>>

Michael Mims

As cliché as it sounds, I learned what I do by doing it. Over time, I began to realize that I’m actually a tactile learner. Growing up, I assumed I was primarily a visual learner because I was creative. Read More>>

Giorgos Labiris

The only way to learn a craft is by actually doing it again and again. Filmmaking is no different. And you have to have a certain authority and audacity about it. Don’t wait for permission or peer aproval. Just do the thing. Even if you ‘re not ready… You ‘re never gonna be anyway. Read More>>

Kirby Harden

I began my content creation journey in 2019, during my ninth-grade year. Before I ever touched 2K content, I was inspired by creators like PrettyBoyFredo and Chris Smoove. What drew me to them wasn’t just the gameplay; it was their authenticity. Every video felt alive. Read More>>

Areya Walker

I learned my craft — spanning videography, photo/video editing, digital content creation, social media marketing, production, and building/running an entire e-commerce brand solo — through a powerful combination of formal training and pure, relentless self-immersion. Read More>>

Jesse Sperling

Cinematography, like all art forms, is a process of life-long learning. You learn the fundamentals, the essential tools of your craft, and allow your art to evolve as you change throughout your life. There’s a real beauty to that kind of life! The craft of cinematography, like filmmaking in general, is a combination of other arts and sciences. Read More>>

Em Lubbers

I’ve been acting in school musicals and community theaters for as long as I could remember. I achieved my bachelor of fine arts degree at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy for musical theater where I worked on singing, acting and dance in both New York and Los Angeles. Read More>>

Coco LaFousfous

Like many Aerialists before me, I was lucky enough to find a community oriented aerial dance studio, called Aeriform Arts. I studied the craft but also my instructors and how they helped others understand these different movements. I think most essential for me was my note taking. Read More>>

Edgar Jerins

I grew up surrounded by art. My grandfather was an artist and my mother Rita was also an artist, though most of her work was before me and my brothers were born and after we grew up. So my brothers and I were always drawing. In school, we were always the best in our class. Read More>>

Chef Joseph Andrade

It has taken over 20 + years to get where I’m at. It all starts learning from Mentors before. You have to be skillful , learning techniques by practice & listening. Taking notes for future references. Patience & wisdom. Never rushing thru a task cause the consistency might be inconsistent. Taste & flavor. Read More>>

Kate Eingorn

I love crafting so much that some of my earliest memories surround being bribed to leave the house with a new craft project (or Pokemon cards). Fiber in particular showed up early and often: a quilt-making project in first grade, a babysitter with a sewing machine, and making pajama bottoms in Girl Scouts. Read More>>

David Rawlinson

Back in the late 60’s, I lived with my mother in the French Quarter of New Orleans. She was a portrait artist on Jackson Square. I worked in a picture frame shop across from the square, and met many artist during that time. Read More>>

Shandra Ward

* How did you learn to do what you do? The Art of writing is a beautiful, but tedious process. I began writing through my love of books and a unique fascination for movies. However, I would pen my stories like stage-plays or movie scripts. This is how I wrote for awhile until I got in middle school. Read More>>