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.

Alexis Seminario

I have been performing since I was twelve, but I didn’t start singing opera until I was about 17 (which believe it or not made me feel quite behind some of my peers who had been studying opera since they were children.) When I entered my undergrad I had no idea how to learn music in any efficient way, which is extremely important to our jobs as singers. Not knowing how to properly learn music made me feel deeply insecure and frightened every time I had to sing a new piece for peers or teachers. This insecurity made growth a lot harder for me at first. Instead of asking the questions I needed to ask in order to learn and grow, I went further and further into my shell of shame, not wanting people I looked up to or respected to see my softness. Read more>>

Katja Ramirez

I was self taught , although I had always been drawing, there was a pretty steep learning curve for me with putting ink in skin . It was really getting tattooed that taught me the most about the craft, and working with other tattooers that taught me about drawing for tattoos. Read more>>

Barbara V. Evers

I love this question because I’ve met many writers who think they should not pursue learning the craft of writing until they finish writing their book. They tell me, “I’ll go to a conference (workshop, critique group) once I’ve finished the story. That’s a big mistake. I’ve created stories all of my life, so you would think I know something about writing. Just like any other industry, writing norms shift over time. If you read a lot of books, you can, and should, learn from those books. However, if you’re reading older books or books outside your genre, you might learn a technique that’s no longer acceptable. Read more>>

Honeymoon Aljabri

As a writer, I cherished crafting characters and breathing life into my stories. Initially, I had no plans to learn book creation or illustration. However, when my page maker and illustrator abandoned the project, I had no choice but to learn. I sought guidance from YouTube and online courses, eventually finding solace in Canva. With Canva’s help, I now write, illustrate, create, and publish independently, embracing the creative process with newfound confidence and self-reliance. The unexpected challenges transformed into a blessing, empowering me to share my stories on my terms—a rewarding journey of growth and accomplishment. Read more>>

Ashley DeFrees

The internet is an everchanging resource for learning. The trouble is distinguishing what is true and what may be a great marketing ploy. Nevertheless, I have taught myself the essentials of SEO and keyword research, which is the central concept needed for blogging; you know, the not-so-fun part of being a travel blogger. If my budget was endless, I could have taken classes from other bloggers who have gone through the wringer and created an accessible format to learn how to set up a WordPress website and start attracting an audience. However, I chose the cheaper, longer, and more complex route to learn the skills, but I am proud of my choice, even if it took me longer to get there. Being a travel blogger isn’t something you can quit your day job for right away. I am a year in and am still waiting to see a penny for the work. That’s not to say others will be in the same boat as me, and I am just going at my own pace. Read more>>

James A Norkawich

I am a pianist and organist by trade, started playing at the age of 3 and then asked my parents if i could take lessons. My grandfather Albert Kaufman played by ear and had 13 organs in his home so music was surrounding me. I then took private lessons in my home where i played and honed in my skills till i had reached high school. When in high school i was accepted in a program after school in the arts called the regional center for the arts where i learned from music professionals and professors and that helped to get me not only a 4 year scholarship for my undergraduate degree, but i also recieved my masters degree and also recieved a scholarship to the university of bridgeport, in bridgeport connecticut. Read more>>

Recondo King

I’ve been singing ever since I was a child and use to mimic my favorite artist and the sounds they made . Back in 2020 I took a lot of time to understand the physical techniques singers would use to produce the sounds they made And the type of resonance placements they would use to make certain singing styles easier and less strenuous. Read more>>

Greg Lee

There are a lot of people in the music and marketing business, but not all have the relationships or experience to navigate the current landscape. While many in today’s world are busy looking for artist’s with huge streaming or social media numbers… while that data is important, it’s not as important as having a GREAT song. It all begins with having a GREAT SONG…I am very blessed and grateful to have worked and learned ‘the craft’ of making hit records from my years heading up Promotion and Marketing at Warner Brothers Records. Working and learning from iconic players in the business like Mo Ostin, Lenny Waronker, Prince, Quincy Jones helped to form the way I think, create strategy and and market my client’s projects. Read more>>

Keith Stone

Learning the Craft of Music wasn’t much Challenging. Growing up in my household music was always amongst me. And At the age of 8 years old I was able to attend a Buster Rhymes Concert at The House of Blues, Backstage thanks to my mothers ex boyfriend who was also an artist that designed one of his latest album covers. Experiencing that show was the start of something! That was the day that I found my Love for Music! And from then growing up, Writing was always a big passion for me! So much that my teachers would always tell me back in elementary school that I was going to become something successful in the future from it. Read more>>

Jcrux Tilson

I learned to create art through my Therapist she helped me Is channel my creativity through my emotions Which had gave me the ability to create Beautiful paintings and express myself through art The biggest obstacle I feel that I had when learning this was that it takes a lot to project your emotions into your work. And sometimes you just don’t want to do it But in the end the results are beautiful and life changing. Read more>>

Saul Flores

The way that I learned to do things in photography was to constantly research what others were doing and gather bits and pieces of information from various sources. I found that applying this knowledge to my current work, or in this case, my photography, was a crucial aspect of improving my skills. When I became deeply involved in learning about Street photography, I sought out other street photographers who were producing the kind of work I aspired to create. Reflecting on my learning journey, I now realize that to speed up my learning process, I could have actively sought out mentors or taken photography workshops. Learning directly from experienced individuals would have provided invaluable insights and practical tips. I could have engaged in more collaborative projects with fellow photographers to share experiences and learn from each other. Read more>>

Nakera Lee

I wish I knew I wanted to be a Brand Strategist or that I’d land the role of Digital Campaign Specialist for one of the leading black-owned digital services integrators in the Baltimore area, Fearless, but that was not always my story. When I graduated from Western High School in 2009, I’ll date myself; I initially thought my path would lead to a career in education. I loved working with the youth and helping them tap into their undiscovered potential, but my calling was much more profound. Read more>>

Jordan Geddis

I learned how to take pictures from a friend of mine, I was always interested in cameras but I didn’t know the technicalities of it like the iso and aperture etc. She would really break things down to me and we took pictures of random things for hours just to get practice in and it really helped me and I’ll always be appreciate the help she gave me. To speed up that process I would’ve honestly watched more videos of YouTube and I would’ve picked up the camera a little sooner than I did. The most important skill needed when taking pictures is having patient, having a creative eye, knowing how position the talent/ how to angle the camera for the best shots. I’ve faced many obstacles when learning how to take pictures, for a while I didn’t have a camera to practice and I couldn’t afford one to practice at the time so I had to really save up and work for one. Read more>>

Ramon Rivas II

I don’t think you can know something before you’re ready. You could get all the best advice before you started and most of it would just wash over you. The most essential skills are LISTENING and MAKING ADJUSTMENTS and SEEKING CONSISTENCY. Obstacles that can impede folks from learning more can run the gamut from TIME – stuff like day jobs or other obligations leaving folks not much time to pursue the craft, EGO – thinking they’re better than they are and not learning from the errors their ego blocks out. Read more>>

Alex Hall

It’s amazing what failure can teach you. Trial and error, over and over. Knowing little about leather and the tools of the craft forced me to start small and work my way up. Most tools and material are expensive and take time to pay themselves off. A cutting mat, hole punch and rivets allowed me to start creating things that i’ve always wanted to make. Hand-stitching came next. I have always loved the detail of stitches in any material. Read more>>

Andrea Misja

Everything I know about cement is self taught. I did an incredible amount of research, but everything I wanted to do with it, the way to color it, the way to finish it, I unfortunately just couldn’t find any information or tutorials on how to achieve those things, so it was just time to play. This was both aggravating and incredibly freeing at the same time. I would say I made a lot of mistakes within that first year, but the truth was I was making so many discoveries for myself. Each failure, each crumble of a piece, gave me more information to then make my pieces better the next time around. Read more>>

Rosemary Ajoseh

“Expression of heart is not only found in words, it is exude by the passion of Art… allow me to show you a Piece of my heart.”-Rosemary Ajoseh . Music and Artistry is a craft that is unique and peculiar to each and every singer, songwriter and producer. For me as a musician I am evolving in my craft everyday. I have learned the importance of becoming one with your sound and embracing your voice, your lyrics and your story. Learning the craft of music and songwriting is a Forever Journey because each day there is always something new that comes to mind and heart. I am grateful to become the artist that I am and will become. Read more>>

Raven Viceral

Learning the craft of voice over was a long process that I gained through years of experience, online resources, the support of peers, and classes. Initially, when I began my voice over journey I didn’t know anything about the field other than the fact that it used a microphone. I jumped the gun and bought a USB microphone on Amazon without doing much research at all which was a rookie mistake. At the time, I had no idea what I was signing up for and how much time and dedication it would take to gain proficiency enough to start my career. I quickly realized that I was in over my head and began watching YouTube videos on the topic. I watched videos from all different sorts of voice actors in the field who made start up guides and began talking with like minded peers over Skype for insight. I took notes and began building up my equipment and making informed decisions from then on. Read more>>

Mandy Hess

There are so many ways to learn in 2023. When I started in the floral industry my sophomore year of college in 2005, I was so excited to be working at a retail flower shop; delivering flowers, cleaning buckets, processing flowers, taking orders… it all led to Prom season – “here’s how to create a boutonniere and wrist corsage.” Then Valentine’s Day – “here’s how to design a dozen roses.” There was a lot of hands on learning, (having an art degree has helped with that as well!) Now anyone who is interested in floral design can watch a video, buy a course from another design or freelance with their local designer. There are so many options in learning how to create a flower arrangement. Read more>>

Jenna Cunningham

I am first and foremost a storyteller. I love to weave stories in my lyrics cinematically and poetically. My melody writing sometimes feels intuitive, and I hope to create earworms that stay in your bones for a long time. My goal is to pull you in with the story, and have you press repeat for the melodies and dedicated emotion in my voice. Music has been a part of me since I was a little kid, I was always enchanted by my mom’s piano and would bang away at it gleefully until I finally started taking lessons in 2nd grade. The first definitive song I remember writing was in 3rd grade, called “What Should We Do?” about being bored with my friends. Read more>>

Rachel Shanle

I am a self-taught calligrapher, however I have always had a passion for writing words. In elementary/middle/high school, I couldn’t get enough of writing everything in bubble letters. In fact, fellow classmates would always ask me to write their names on folders, or write words on white boards. I was always so happy to do it. My passion grew bigger & bigger, which led me to learning how to do calligraphy and really perfect my lettering style. Read more>>

Scotty Hendrixx

Learning The Craft Was a journey not knowing where to start or how to even begin. But I was so dedicated and disciplined to learn and understand my craft until I got to a comfortable place to release music. But I’m still learning daily on bettering my craft and how it can sound more amazing and how lyrically I can be inclined. Read more>>

Caleb Bogenschutz

YouTube has been my most valuable resource for learning how to build furniture and cabinetry. It’s truly amazing what information you can get and all of the skills you can learn from it. I’m not sure I would have had the level of success I’ve had if not for YouTube. While the vast array of information on YouTube is a blessing, it can also be a curse. It can be difficult to filter through the advice and techniques that might not be best practices. I have since learned to identify issues with certain techniques and that’s something I wish I would have been better at in the past. Read more>>

Spaceport

During the couple of years leading up to the release of our first record, I needed to redirect my thoughts and feelings into instrumental practice and writing. I was constantly flushing my brain of musical ideas by recording them into GarageBand at any and every hour of the day. I’ve never kept a diary, and I don’t journal, so this process was essentially that for me. It led to a lot of rag tag demos and raw, fragmented projects, and at some point I needed to clean up my desktop. I put my mind to sorting lots of bits and pieces into what I imagined had potential to converge and evolve into songs. Read more>>

Andrew Clark

Growing up, I didn’t have anyone close to me that I was able to learn anything too creative from. Everyone in my immediate family were either white collar or blue collar work-minded, and even though I had some creative friends, I didn’t have any friends that took anything creative serious enough to influence me to do anything more. My mother freelanced as a photographer throughout my adolescence, but never pushed me in front of one and never pursued it any further. Read more>>

Devin Kraft

When talking to people interested in becoming artists, the things I try to stress most are as follows: 1) You have to be willing to practice your craft often. Repetition leads to breakthroughs – it’s the one in a thousand chance your line will slip and lead to an epiphany on how to tweak what you’re trying to convey that becomes your new normal that you have to chase. It’s drawing something, comparing the result to what you want to convey, making mental notes, and trying again and again and again until you’ve not only achieved your goal, you’ve surpassed it. Read more>>

Joi Conti

I learned how to become a professional photographer by experimenting, getting a BFA, and continuing my education by working for professional photographers after I graduated. In high school, I learned by experimenting with self-portraits since I didn’t have models available and it helped me get creative with themes and clothing. I took inspiration from DeviantArt at the time and shared my early work from a point-and-shoot camera on that platform. From there, I decided to study photography in college where I learned a lot of technical skills and lighting using studio strobes. We had projects due every week and gave each other constructive criticism in class and that really helped me produce not only technically-sound images but also lean into the artistry of photography. Read more>>

Chad Rea

Put simply, I learn from doing. One can think and research their way into paralysis and start to believe they’re not ready yet. Or they can get to it. We’re all ready already. The more I try out new ideas, experiment with different techniques or mediums, and push myself past my comfort zone, the more I learn and grow. It’s part of the reason my collections differ, sometimes dramatically, from one another. Going that extra step past “finished” often leads me to an unexpected path that I explore until the next one appears. Also, you’ve got to put in the hours. As an advertising copywriter and Creative Director, I was trained to generate hundreds of simple, surprising ideas on demand every day. Read more>>

Brandi Bosworth

My “craft” is public relations, marketing, and graphic design. I would say I learned this trade over time, by playing and experimenting, but also by learning a few “hard” skills behind the computer. I feel this realm changes quickly, and now I rely on a younger generation to teach me tips and tricks for social media and such! I’ve always had an “eye” for design, color, graphics, how things flow, look and feel, and so when I put it into practice, I really just feel like I’m playing. One of my favorite sayings is “Creativity is intelligence having fun!” Read more>>