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.

Thomas Boucher

I didn’t start out by making locks. I started by forging the things that interested me. Mostly tools to help me get started. I think early on I was curious about making a lock, but I knew nothing about them. After forging for a few years, I learned about a smith, named Seth Gould, who was making some really neat padlocks and posting progress pictures on instagram. Read more>>

Peter & Grace Assad

While neither of us have had a ton of formal training, per se, we’ve both been very involved in honing our craft since childhood. Peter would spend hours sketching in his drawing pad as a kid, everything ranging from cars to Dragonball Z. At 16, he began teaching himself the piano because he felt a song was inside him itching to make its way out. In college, he set aside art in order to pursue music more, only to pick up a watercolor paintbrush 12 years later when the pandemic hit. Read more>>

Shaina Pherigo

Stories connect humanity. A good story can have a hold on people, connect people from across the world and it has potential to have everlasting change on communities. Architecture itself is a story: with a cast of characters, project challenges to overcome – and after much toil, deliberation and problem solving, you’re left with something new and beautiful in the world: a brand new building or project that can serve as a place for others to make new memories. Read more>>

Laura Till Barton

I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design and graduated with a B.F.A. in interior design in 2011. I am currently a professional fine artist with gallery representation and a working studio/gallery in Savannah’s historic City Market Art Center. It was a long journey to transition from interior design to a full-time fine artist, and I am so glad that I took the plunge! In college, Read more>>

Moving City

Constantly. Always. When we met our current guitar player, Chris Johnson in 2020 we were presented with an opportunity to learn from and build a relationship with someone that had been through some of the rigours of the music industry, and also just a multi dimensional and talented musician. He really opened our minds to approaching music from multiple angles as song writers, and musicians who want to get better at their specific craft. Read more>>

Sloane Skylar

I first started pursuing music at the age of 12, posting covers and original songs on my YouTube channel. This was a great learning experience for me, as it allowed me to develop my skills as a singer and songwriter, as well as learn the ins and outs of promoting my music online. Read more>>

Sara Beth Yurow

So I started singing and dancing when I was 3, but I think 10 was when several things happened that caused me to fall in love with performing pop & rock. My first solo performance came about when a girl in my performing arts center got sick and asked me to sing her Christmas solo. It was so last minute there was no time to get nervous, and I just fell in love with owning the stage. I just remember everyone clapping and not wanting to get off. Read more>>

Cherry Mo

I was first recommended by a fellow author-illustrator to join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. I remember attending my first virtual conference, and it shed so much light on how the industry works! It was so inspiring and motivating. Afterwards, my next goal was to land an agent. There were trials and errors; Read more>>

Skaie Knox

Songwriting is often considered something one does by way of inspiration. That may be true to some degree, but this past year and a half, I’ve done a deep dive into the craft of intentional songwriting, discovering there are many angles and approaches one can take. Read more>>

Melissa O’Gara

In all honesty, I’ve been learning photography all my life. As a little kid, I used to love studying the photographs in National Geographic Magazines my parents kept in our home. The vibrant colors, and most importantly, the stories and emotions conveyed in those photos from around the globe really struck me, and I was mesmerized by them. In my travels, Read more>>

Takeisha Hardaway

Learning my craft has took hard work and dedication and perseverance. Once I knew of what I wanted to do and having a talent for it, I went school and studied very hard. Then in addition, I also learned by doing hands to gain experience and as well as experimenting to see what results are being produced which is a way I learn my craft. Then also reading books and buying the equipment that I needed is another secondary way to learn my craft. Read more>>

Eric Horowitz

I watched a lot of cartoons and figured out how to make my voice sound like baby animal from muppet babies. I never thought of myself as an actor or ever really wanted to take an acting class. I was very interested in how films and tv were shot. So I went to school for behind the scenes work and did that for a few years. I was a PA/Grip/Gaffer in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Read more>>

Misty Chaviers

When I started podcasting I honestly just wanted to tell my story I really had no plans at that time for a huge fan base or awards and I didn’t even think that I would have guests.I created the platform because I wanted my voice and my story to be heard. Read more>>

Justice Love

I always loved storytelling through the medium of standup comedy. I started writing when I was around 13 years old and that was my plan for most of my teenage years. I planned on doing open mics in in the summer of 2020 but of course that’s when the pandemic happened. During this all I did was watch movies and switch from standup to film. Falling in love with screenwriting and cinematography. Read more>>

Edgar Guajardo

When I was 14 years old I began my career in theater. I was a rail tech for a dance recital at my local high school P-SJ-A North Highschool and got paid $60 bucks. I was hooked after that. I took every theater job that my high school had to offer. Which led me to find a college theater program that would be a good fit for me. Read more>>

Yuzeli Quiroz

Photography was first a hobby for me which then turned to be an outlet for unexplainable creativity. Knowing what I know now, I would not have spent a lot of money on unnecessary equipment. Having a single light (ie: speedlight), a decent camera, 2 128gb SD cards, 2 camera batteries, are enough to create beautiful photos. Read more>>

Marc Cunningham

Learning to be a filmmaker was a process that took place over a lifetime. Film has always been something that I connected with as an art form and as a language. So in effect, I’m learning to speak that language every day. For me, it begins with simply watching films. All kinds of films. I try to watch 5-6 films a week. Read more>>

Patrick Hawkins

I was a very artistic child growing up, and my parents always supported us in every endeavor we wanted. When I was around ten or eleven, I decided that I wanted to draw and become an artist. I had the most amazing art teacher in Augusta, GA. He was a black artist that worked downtown and promoted the beauty of being black. His art was part of our culture, making it even more of a safe space for me. Read more>>

Karrington Sneed

Learning my craft has been the best part of my journey. Trust me, it’s way more that I would love to learn pertaining to vocally. The most important thing I have taken away from learning my craft is I have to love what I do. My grandmother use to tell me, “If you take care of your car, it will take care of you.” I can confidently say that all the hard work and training is currently paying off. Read more>>

Jeffrey Thomas

Learning photography NEVER stops. It is something that you need to continue to practice, learn, and research constantly. I starting taking photos when I was a young child… maybe 5 years old? I had a film camera that was just a touch above a disposable. I loved to send film off to get processed, When I went out of town for vacations I would ALWAYS take my camera. Read more>>

Christie Daly

Hi! Some of my earliest memories of childhood are the hours I spent playing in my mother’s jewelry box. The intricate details of the designs and the shine of the silver, gold, and diamonds captivated me. I loved the smoothness of the metals and the way each piece was unique when compared to another. Years later when I was traveling through South America, I came across a small jewelry shop that had its lapidary artist working in the front of the store. Read more>>

Justin F Hollins

I began acting classes in a guys living room with a few other actors wanting to learn, I also took any workshops that came to town, my first year and a half. I paid for my acting lessons by donating plasma, because I didn’t have money to pay for it I wouldn’t have speed up the process , somethings take time and when you have time and you put in full dedication like I did, you can only do nothing but grow, so no. I wouldn’t speed things up. Read more>>

Cody Brown

I enjoy learning from other people, which has helped me a lot through the years. I was an assistant editor under a bunch of great editors at a post house, I worked on projects with a lot of great directors and followed them on set and I’ve been watching and hanging around great musicians for years. In any situation, being in the room with people that are farther along than you is like skipping the line. Be a sponge. Read more>>

Ida Y. Robles

As an artist, I didn’t know that I had the talent to create art until 2003. I drew a lot only for myself and I did that for several years. I stopped around 2007-08. Fast forward to 2014, one time my husband and I were walking down the strip in Fort Lauderdale called Las Olas and we came across one of many art stores and I said to him “I can paint that” and he said to me “well why don’t you”. Read more>>

Mercedes Bazan

I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina and I studied graphic design at the University of Buenos Aires. At first, I wasn’t sure if graphic design was for me, but since I didn’t have any other option in mind I decided to take a chance. I am glad I did, because I loved the process of learning and creating things from scratch. Read more>>

Paul Pate

I’ve found that drawing at the level you want simply takes time and practice. Of course, you’ll always want to improve and level up. I think it is the nature of artists never to quite be satisfied. We’re always exploring new things. So, I also think it is important to take some moments to enjoy where you’re at skill wise and try to enjoy the process of creating art. Read more>>

Kathleen Riggs

So I grew up in a VERY musical entertainment family right smack in the middle of Hollywood. My father was a vocal coach who created a vocal technique that’s been used all around the world. I grew up around legends, not only singers but dancers, actors, boxers, and regular budding singers. It was loud, it was fun personalities, it was fast paced and really colorful. He taught my mom how to teach and together they both taught me. I started training with my father when I was around 8 years old. I didn’t think I would ever be a teacher, I just knew I loved to sing. Read more>>

Mario A. Campanaro

I always believed that talent is a very precious gift that can only take us as far as we are willing to cultivate it, nurture it, invest in it, and put it to good use. Because of the creative mentors I was surrounded by in my formidable years, I adopted the philosophy that the artist’s talent can only take him/her/them as far as the professional accountability he/she/they maintain to do something remarkable with it. Read more>>

Mark Navarro

I remember in my early teens begging my mom for a guitar. At first, she wasn’t convinced that it would be a wise investment for me. After years of putting me through private piano lessons as a child, I had given up on it. I understand why she was hesitant at first, but I kept bringing it up and talking about it for a week straight until she caved in and, with the help of my grandma, got me my first guitar. The only stipulation was that they wouldn’t invest any further, and if I wanted to get better, I had to figure it out on my own. Read more>>

Edsger Studio

Photography is a competitive field to be in. Everyone of us has all the tools they need to take great photos, just like everyone has all the tools they need to write Pulitzer-prize winning stories. What it takes to be great though is what far fewer of us have, and that is determination and the never-ending quest to learn more and more about the craft. You can take two images in the studio seconds apart and one immediately strikes you as amazing, Read more>>

Karim Mowatt

I’m self taught. I learned by watching others, reading books and watching YouTube tutorials. As a child of 6 or 7yrs old I fell in love with pictures and art. The first picture that captured my attention was the infamous Saigon Execution from 1968. It was in a Playboy magazine. I sat in my grandfather’s home in Jamaica and drew the picture almost to the exact (as a 7yo) and from then on, Read more>>

Rachel Johnson

I learned my craft by just starting out as a DIY party planner for my kids birthdays and friends baby showers. I have always loved to be crafty but I didn’t have the time or true confidence to start a business until people started to seek my help for their events and paid me. Once I realized the people loved my craft I started to seek out information on how to become greater. Read more>>

Mike Price

For my career side of things, I’m in the replenishment/supply chain side of things for a vendor to a major retailer. My degree was in Marketing Management with a lot of courses in business management, business math, etc. Today, the biggest thing I wish I had learned earlier was how to use of Excel and Power Point. I have become very proficient in both but it wasn’t really taught or pushed back in the early 1990s when I was in college. Read more>>

Rene “PoetKing” Rodriguez JR

I first learned How to take a picture when I was in high school I took a photography class and that sparked an interesting way of expressing my arte I did as a graffiti artist. I could have Taken more photography classes in a university setting to learn more ways about expressing my interest in being a more professional photographer. I believe everyone Learning how to develop my professional skills as a photographer who is essential and crucial to be able to explain the Arte, Read more>>