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.

Genevieve Castro

The unique style that I have curated comes from a combination of self education and research. If you want to learn something new the tools and information is out there. You just need to look for it! Read more>>

Natalie Davey

I’ve always been an observer. I learned photography and videography, in addition to writing and music making through constant curiosity, experimentation, and observation. I am mostly self-taught, but I owe so much to my community. While my academic experience was focused on Environmental Studies, I have also taken a few classes to become intimate with the art of story in any medium, and a technical lighting class to boost my portrait work. Read more>>

Bryan Luna

Learning the craft requires a big scope to see and an industrious attitude. I believe the most essential skill is to know what you don’t know and head in that direction. Read more>>

Sabi Gutierrez

I think i had a natural talent for marketing. Since i was younger. I enjoyed posting and sharing information with purpose.I’ve always been great with people and aiding them in providing resources for what they needed. After a career in real estate, i felt natural to transition into marketing. Read more>>

Ciarra DeBritto

Cooking & food was a part of my life since I was a kid – my mom was always cooking, experimenting, and even having some of her own recipes published to major food outlets. Although I was young & rebellious and not immediately appreciative of those fundamentals at first, I learned to appreciate the bits I learned as I got older and began cooking my own meals. Read more>>

Brittany Schall

Learning the Craft: Luckily enough, Schall was artistically inclined from a young age thanks to her creative family. However, she truly learned how to hone her fine art skills when she first arrived to New York. Schall managed to connect with artist in NYC by using her Denver art gallery internship as platform to start a blog. She primarily featured artists who were working in the city that had a Colorado connection in an attempt to help cultivate community between the two locations. Read more>>

The Hazy Chambers

J.M. : I started learning my craft by teaching myself guitar in ninth grade and playing along to Beatles songs for hours on end. Once I got to college I finally began to write my own material and learn more about the process of music production and theory. In retrospect I think I could have sped up the learning process by jamming with other people more rather than playing by myself in my room. I could have learned some useful skills earlier on if I played with other people more. Read more>>

Sheldon Johnson

Writing, producing, and visualizing musical concepts is no easy task. I began this musical journey in 2015 starting with writing songs and learning how to be charismatic on a microphone. Because I did not have direct instruction for how to go about my creative process, I started studying what other artist did by listening to their music intently. Read more>>

Cassidy Taylor

I’m mostly a self-taught musician and songwriter. As a kid, I was very stubborn and always preferred to figure things out on my own and when I started writing songs around age 8, there was so much I wanted to explore freely. I think this is what made me fall in love with music. There were no ‘rules’ when I was creating. I eventually picked up my dad’s acoustic guitar he kept around the house and this gave me the means to perform and start accompanying myself. Read more>>

Taylor Jiles

I am an artist whose chosen medium is paint, specifically oil paint even though I dabble in acrylic paint and more recently house paint. Painting started as a hobby, and with acrylic paint which I would say is infinitely more commercialized than oil paint, you don’t need to learn to much to manipulate it. I started with acrylic paint and found that it dried to fast and thin for my liking so I researched different types of paint and that’s when I discovered oil paint. Read more>>

Marissa Davis

My love for makeup and all things beauty started at a very young age. It began in my mother’s bathroom playing through her makeup bag. Eventually it grew as a teenager when I was able to purchase makeup on my own. My friends and family would allow me to practice on them and it got to a point where they would ask me to do their makeup for special occasions. Being in the industry and know what I know now, I would have worked on more faces sooner. It is a scary thing working on new faces in the beginning, but with more practice, comes more confidence. Read more>>

Patty Pancakes

Over the course of my lifespan, I’ve tended to utilize pigments as a form of creativity. My journey to where I am now isn’t exactly what I’d suggest to other artists, but I would like to enlighten some of the things I’ve picked up over the years. Being a creative is like having an itch inside one’s brain that cannot be scratched. Creative people tend to be more observant of their surroundings than the average person; and observations are what usually influence the individual. Read more>> 

Greg Edmondson

I started college as a biology student, and was raised by a pair of musicians. It might at first sound strange to say that an interest in the natural world and its patterns of organic growth and decay – or melody, harmony, tonal structure and discord could form a basis for what I do as a visual artist, but it’s true. I’d been drawing pictures since before I could remember, but knew almost nothing about Art with a capital “A”. Read more>>

James Rao

When I was in high school I was lucky enough to be offered a graphic design class and that really helped push me in the right direction. I learned what I know now by using free resources like youtube and old fashion trial and error, I would watch tutorials and use the techniques shown and make it personal. I don’t think there is anything that I could have done to speed up the learning process because it is a process and it’s ever going. The learning process I started helped me grow as an artist and evolved into the new things I’m learning now. Read more>>

Michael Chavez

I’ve always had a creative side throughout my life. Growing up I would sketch out ideas I had for skateboard graphics, band merch, and even some short cartoons and stories. During highschool I took a computer graphics course and then a screen printing course after, however I was still lacking the fundamentals for art and illustration. I didn’t begin to draw seriously or even progress at all until college. Miramar College is where I learned all the fundamentals of 2D Design and Freehand Drawing. Read more>>

Mallary Denson

Learning the art of photography has been an ongoing uphill thrill. I began my learning process like most people, through YouTube (what I call YouTube University). I studied each part of photography from the exposure triangle, understanding natural lighting, strobe lighting, posing to communicating with clients and understanding photography gear. Read more>>

Robert Leslie Meek

To say I’ve always known I would be working with music and audio would be a lie. I’ve always been drawn to it for sure, I’ve long been obsessed with early foley artists and grew up listening to film scores, but pursuing it professionally was something that only happened in the last 5 or so years. Read more>>

Jacob Richards

My first spark from music came when I was 9 years old and I was watching my brother create music. Watching him create with Reze and others became a pivotal part in my journey. I would sit and watch them record for hours and I would soak up things like rhythm, melodic pockets and how to create a unique rhyme scheme. After they would finish recording I would use my brothers laptop to listen to beats he made and I would start jotting the things I was thinking. Read more>>

Amiel de La galerie de l’Amour

In art, it’s not about learning the craft. It’s about knowing that you are meant for something and that thing is your mission… Art is more than a craft, it starts with a dream, it becomes a vision that you feed with love, hope, endless effort and sacrifice until it becomes for you CLEARLY VITAL. Art is the highest level of research and personal development. Read more>>

Robert Stewart

I write, illustrate and publish a science fiction themed graphic novel. That’s a lot of hats to wear and a lot of skill sets to incorporate! Luckily, art and graphic design are skills that come naturally to me. However, I did have to hone those skills through lots of reading and through study at San Francisco Academy of Art. Along the way, I developed a fondness for film noir which greatly assisted me in learning to visualize how to frame a scene and how to craft a sequential narrative. Read more>>

Gail Gallagher

My journey as a composer started with the piano in the basement of my college dorm at University Nebraska-Lincoln. I was a freshman theater major and had taken piano lessons since I was 5 years old. When I moved to college I knew I was going to focus on theater but I kept music as my creative outlet. Read more>>

Doressa Cobb

As a teenager I dealt with low self-esteem issues. I was never told I was pretty or any type of positive affirmation for me to believe in myself. Looking back, I am not sure if I even looked in the mirror to know it for myself. Unfortunately, the first person to give me any type of attention turned out to be an abuser. I spent six out of 12 months being with a person that abused me. When I graduated high school, I went into the Army. Read more>>

Melody Kiser

It honestly seems like a completely different lifetime when I asked for a guitar for my ninth birthday. Everyone in my immediate family had a gift for music. Although I had tried my hand at a few instruments during my childhood, like mandolin, violin, and piano, nothing seemed to really speak to me, and I felt like I didn’t really fit into my family unit that was characterized so strongly by inherent musical talent. Read more>>

Tanner Puzio

I started learning music from a young age. When I was 8 I took guitar lessons, not because I necessarily was interested in playing guitar, but because my parents felt it would be good for me. Plus, I wasn’t particularly sport-inclined. I had always enjoyed music so it was great learning more about it. I took lessons until high school, learning how to play and write music. I joined a band in middle school playing the bass, and played the flute for 6 or so years. Read more>>

Carl White

Becoming a Professional Santa Claus is a lifelong process. I had no idea at the time, but growing up with parents who embraced and celebrated many Christmas traditions was the beginning of my journey. They were children of the Great Depression and had been all too familiar with lean times. My brother and I were generously gifted within their modest means, the house was well decorated, the season always included a visit (or two) to Santa Claus. Read more>>

Tosin Akinkunmi

It’s a cliché, but I’ve always been drawing. My mother noticed that I gravitated towards art as a child, and made it her mission to help me pursue that interest however I could. The first set of art supplies I remember recieving was Christmas when I was six, and I walked in on my parents wrapping an easel, canvas, paintbrushes and acryclic paint for me. Read more>>

Kristie Brumit

I learned a lot of what I call Youtube University, aka Youtube. The baking part was easy, but decorating was no easy task. I found what I thought were simple designs on Pinterest, only to find out that they were not as easy as they looked. I had no prior knowledge or experience with royal icing so I was starting from ground zero. After spending countless hours on Youtube and reading blog posts found on Pinterest, I learned the basics of decorating with royal icing. I learned the key to royal icing is consistency. Finding the right consistency is crucial to getting those pinterest perfect cookies. Read more>>

Nicole Dikon

I have been an artist my entire life. My grandfather was a landscape painter, so my earliest memories of time spent with him was in his studio or in our family garden painting watercolors. He also had a wood shop where he would let my brother and I paint the wooden toys he would build for us. My mother and father are also both creatives. So my brother and I were raised to try different things, learn new skills and I have been going to art museums for as long as I can remember. Read more>>

Josie Elysia

Learning how to operate in a medium that is still developing has been quite the learning process. The one thing that has helped immensely is just putting in time. The more time I spend on social media is the more I understand it. As a content creator this is incredibly important because I need to know what’s on the cutting edge in terms of trending audios, dances, stories and so forth. Read more>>

Lindsay Dorn

I learned photography in high school with the start of film and transitioning to digital photography. I then continued studying photography when I attended Northern Arizona University. Knowing everything I know now in photography, what I wish I could have done to speed up my learning process is by spending more time collaborating with other photographers to learn more tips and tricks of the industry and utilizing the tutorials on youtube, instagram or even TikTok. Read more>>

Regina Leigh

The archetype divination practitioner was given a gift to read illistrations and interpret psycic insights. Often times psycic readers were born from family lineage. Today, tarot is becoming widely accessible and it’s truley exciting to see the masses tapping into their own abilities. Practice, open interpretation and study truley helped me hone into tarot effectively. It not only became a practice but a lifestyle. The challenging aspect is keeping the generational influence of the spiritual aspect of tarot, knowing tarot cannot be taught -it can only be revealed. Read more>>

Kirill Miniaev

In 2013, my wife and I moved back to Kansas City from the East Coast. I had lived almost my entire life in Kansas City, but after 4 years away (and no longer living with parents), I was ready to experience the city in a new light. So, one weekend, my wife and I were invited by friends to a Latin/South American Culture Appreciation Festival at the Johnson County Library. Read more>>

Jonah Steuer

Learning anything takes both commitment and passion. There’s no way to speed up the learning process – the most rewarding part of learning is the excitement over slow and steady progress. Read more>>

Steven Blackett

I will say I always had a natural talent and feel for music and business. I’m quite the social butterfly as well so with that mixture along with observation I honed my skills to where they are today. I still have a long way to go, and I am excited for the journey and what awaits me. I don’t think I could have done anything to speed up the process. Everything is in God’s timing. He laughs at our plans, so I am happy with my journey. I believe in staying true to myself, remaining humble and a high work ethic were very essential in my journey. Read more>>

Ariella Elkobi

As many incoming freshman do at the age of 17, I enrolled for an undecided degree program at Florida Atlantic University. Upon finding out the College of Arts and Letters offered a Media Studies degree, I focused my course work in video and media production. Although I learned the basic fundamentals of creative tools and storytelling in University, looking back I can confidentially say college was not where I learned my trade. While the pandemic greatly impacted my resources and course work, I believe hands on jobs to be where I learned the most. Read more>>

Katie Cummings

Disability Theater was never on my radar until 2012. At that time, I was the Academy Director at First Stage Children’s Theater in Milwaukee, WI. My colleague, Jennifer Adams, created a program for eight teenagers on the autism spectrum. We had a series of trainings with Mary Stone, owner of Stepping Stones Educational Services, who trained us in disability, special ed and autism. That week of acting classes changed my trajectory for the better. Read more>>

Alvin Phillips

I learned how to bartend from my mother, learned the skill as a way to earn money through college. I learned quickly that waiters and servers will always be employed so I learned as much as I could in the field and moved my way up a couple times. From waiter to barback then to bartender. Transitioning up to bar manager then beverage supervisor. Read more>>

Leah Wiedemer

After the last class of an eight week watercolor course I naively stopped on my way home to apply for a job painting leather gifts. For some reason the boss agreed to take me on. This was the first of a series of on the job training positions. A year or so later I began work with a muralist, learning everything I could about the business as well as painting murals. It wasn’t too long before I was able to start my own mural business. Read more>>

Amy Buckley

When I left school and college where I studied art and textile design, I went on to study Printed Textile Design at the University of Leeds, this is where I learnt a lot of technical digital design skills, how to work towards a brief and where I really fell in love with making repeat printed patterns. Read more>>

Bonnie Boatright

Like most tattooers, I was “taught” through an apprenticeship. Which is basically an internship. No pay, no days off, 12 hour days, hazing, and a lot of “bitch-work”. Thankfully most apprenticeships nowadays aren’t nearly as harsh, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I do wish the artists I was working with, at the time, were more involved in the industry, but now I have the determination to be a better influence to the newcomers that I teach. Read more>>

Brian Hopkins & Ronnie Marmo

RONNIE: I am fairly new to the audio side of music and production so learning how to create, prepare, produce and execute a podcast was rather challenging. I spent A LOT of time on YouTube and Google and even listening to other “similar” successful podcasts. It’s also safe to say that we’re still learning new things every week. Read more>>