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.

Demetrius Dumas

I learned film photography a lot by just trial and error of going out and taking pictures of what I felt like was interesting. As this cycle went on, I just started to take notice of certain things in a frame that I did and did not like to create and would just try to keep a consistent idea of what a good picture consists of and doesn’t. Whenever I would be free at the crib I would just look up composition techniques within photos that make the art itself more attractive. Read more>>

Claire Bernstein

I find myself at a very interesting point in my artistic journey where I am finally learning my craft through the lens of my authentic self, and not learning it in a way others expect of me. It’s ironic that it took me going to Graduate School for dramatic writing to find this within myself, but being surrounded by amazing artists has inspired my craft immensely. Read more>>

Aimee Escanio

I have always been a creative person. As a kid I loved arts and crafts, scrapbooking, making bracelets. During the pandemic, I actually made jewelry and opened an Etsy shop. There was alot that went on behind the scenes such as taking photos and creating captivating posts that will get people to buy your product. Social media is a powerful tool for marketing! I learned alot.

Kiara Aguillon

I started in television, which gave me the experience of navigating a fast paced business along with working alongside talent. I quickly realized a myriad of soft skill were needed on the job. Diplomacy, adaptation, and flexibility are considered essential in this business. Additionally, understanding the legal and business structure of tv appearances, logistics and organization are additional skills I acquired on the job. If I could go back to college I would have taken a class in contract law or negotiation but I was a quick learner and picked this up on the job. Read more>>

Zoey Jenkins

It has taken me months and years to perfect certain areas of my craft! There are still some insecurities that I have while flipping furniture and I’m sure that there will always be a little part of me that will have to face that. I hope to one day come to the point where I can be fully immersed in furniture and be fully confident in what I am doing. But, I have learned to be a better problem solver because there are so many issues and unexpected things that come up while refinishing! I am learning to becoming more confident in my abilities and to trust myself in the creative process. Read more>>

Paul Bivens

I learned what I know now through the great and powerful YouTube University haha, My father was a hobbyist photographer competing in photo contest in Charlotte, North Carolina. I grew watching him take photos and seeing his prints on our walls at home, I took photography class in high school but I truly learned the skill years later. From using YouTube videos to learn the technical accepts of photography and shooting every chance I got to learn the art and honing in on my particular style. Read more>>

George Simpson

I began podcasting in 2018. I had no clue how to do it. I thought it was just talking. Ah man I was wrong. I had to learn to project my voice. When to speak and when to be quiet. Don’t over share to the point of you run out of things to say. The right equipment to use. Everyone mimics the shows that are out before them. I was no different. Then I found out it’s all environmental. What room you’re in and how sound bounces. Read more>>

Stephen Voyce

I was born into a household for which music was one of its pillar stones, and so it’s always been a part of who I am. My mum was such a massive fan of Michael Jackson, and so naturally I gravitated towards his craft. I was compelled by the way he could evoke such powerful emotions, the way he could make people feel so deeply. And so I started to emulate him, to sing like him. Read more>>

Vicky Warwick

College isn’t a ‘must’ for someone in the arts, but I am very glad I attended a music college in London. It was a small contemporary school with courses in vocals, guitar, drums, bass, and keyboards—I earned my Bachelor of Music in Popular Music Performance on my first instrument, bass guitar. Studying there made me hone in on my technical skills and learn new ones, such as music production and arranging. Read more>>

Lucas Lockwood

Embarking on a career as an actor and producer for TV and film entails a comprehensive journey that requires innate talent, education, strategic networking, and unwavering dedication, full of enduring perseverance. Read more>>

Anton Clifford

Well, I first started taking acting classes back in 2019 at this place called Nick Conti located in Buckhead Atlanta my friend Michelle who is like my sister was taking classes there and she talked me into auditing one of the beginners acting classes And honestly, I just fell in love with it and I saw the bigger picture which is using my disability to show people That if you really stay focused and put your mind to something you can achieve it And also I Wanted people that are disabled to see themselves represented on television as well, so that really motivated me to stick with the craft and learn as much as I could at the time. Read more>>

Deja Lawson

Growing up I’ve always admired the arts and had a particular love for creating. Whether it was drawing comics, building with Legos, or making stop motion films on my DS, I would spend hours experimenting with the constant flow of ideas that I could devise. A majority of my learning experience was purely experimental but with keeping an open mind and always exercising my vivid imagination, my passion for creating was endless. Read more>>

Salem Hoff

In the summer of 2022, I decided that I wanted to learn to read the tarot in a deeper way than I ever had before. I’d been dabbling in reading the cards for a couple of years, but had never really put in the effort to really get to know them depth. A wonderful friend and mentor of mine, Julian Crosson-Hill, was offering an in-depth tarot class at The Temple of the Rebel Goddess. I knew from the moment I heard about this offering that it was something I had to be a part of. Read more>>

Scott Kuza

I work in a few different mediums. Each has its own sets of technique and craft. What I enjoy in lets say acting is that it’s so nuanced and evolving for each character you play. For example breath work in acting can fall into craft and that is so important for an actor weather on stage or in front of a camera because it can help inform the actor on their choices. Read more>>

Ian Taylor

I grew up in a working class family in South Portland, Maine. I am the youngest in a family of 6 and as a child I was highly influenced by the music my sibling were listening to. My oldest sister was really into Gun”s and Roses and hair metal of the late 80’s and my brothers seemed to idolize grunge and older music from the 60’s and 70’s… all rock. I remember when Oliver Stone released The Doors and we all practiced an abiding devotion to Jim Morrison and the music of The Doors. They were big for all of us. Read more>>

Bree O’Connor

Most people are mystified by people who make a career out of their arts practice. I’ve had curious relatives grill me; “So, does someone give you time in a theater? How do you make money? What happens if you don’t sell enough tickets?” and after I answer all of these questions, they are often shocked to find out that the barrier to entry is fairly low. “You mean, ANYONE who comes up with some money can rent a theater and put on a show?”. Read more>>

Sue Schlabach

I’ve spent my lifetime (at this writing 56 years) learning to make art: sketching, manipulating color, cutting and building, stitching, photographing and painting. But in the past 12 months I’ve put what I learned to the test. I was laid off, without warning in January 2023. I was scared, confused and angry at first. And then, quite magically, I felt set free of the Monday to Friday constraints of a desk job.  Read more>>

Sarah Brown

I loved learning to paint. I started taking art classes my freshman year of high school, but I never picked up a paint brush until my junior year. I remember only caring about drawing and thinking that painting just wasn’t going to be for me. Once I started painting in that art class I instantly fell in love. I started with acrylics and got pretty good at them, and then when I decided to continue my art practice into college I was moved to oil. It was very challenging and it took me awhile to adjust to the new process. Read more>>

Gabriel Pacheco

I started doing art when I was seven years old. At that age I did not know that it was art. In my life started full of challenges, Being in and out of foster homes did not have a consistency of learning things the normal way. At age 9 I went back to foster care for four years. One of the ways that I was able to survive was having the ability to do art. Soon after we got to the foster home we noticed that the kids had so many toys they had a hard time sharing, But when I had the chance I would copy some of the hot wheel cars back front top and bottom by drawing them and then having something of my own. Read more>>

Doug Stevenson

For many years, I studied acting and acted in plays, including GREASE, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Of mice and Men. I played leading roles, supporting roles and Shakespeare clowns. I learned the craft of acting, how to be present in a role and how to make my character come alive. Read more>>

Aly Modleski

As an artist, my journey began much like many others in the field of artistry – self-taught and driven by a deep-rooted passion for creation. From my earliest memories, I was always drawn to painting and crafting, exploring the endless possibilities that a blank canvas offered. Despite this natural inclination towards art, I initially pursued a more conventional career path, earning a degree in Banking & Finance. This decision was fueled by the common fear of becoming a “starving artist.” Nevertheless, art remained a constant in my life, a leisurely pursuit that provided a creative outlet amidst my formal education and career. Read more>>

Darren James Hackey

I was extremely fortunate to have not one, but two, separate apprenticeships with two master hatters. Both of these hatters I apprenticed with have over 40 years of experience making western felt hats and running their own respective businesses. I owe them a debt of gratitude because hat making is a very guarded trade and I was able to learn without having to work for them. These experiences significantly expedited the learning process by having near constant access to their expertise. Read more>>

Laura Medeiros

While film school equipped me with essential tools, becoming a respected film producer requires venturing beyond academic safety nets. The film industry’s unpredictability demands stepping out of the comfort zone and sharing projects with the world. After my MFA program, I honed crucial personal skills by engaging with a diverse range of individuals outside the academic space. Navigating the industry involves more than classroom learning, particularly in dealing with investors and networking at festivals. Read more>>

Jeffrey Czum

I’d like to think that I have always been a creative individual. For as long as I can remember, I was always drawn to the arts and never felt fully fulfilled unless I was creating something. I spent my 20s creating music and kind of dabbing into the photography here and there but never really let myself become fully immersed until I hit 30. Read more>>

Robert O’Banner

I’ve always been creative, since I was a kid. My dad has an old wallet of his that has a really good drawing of The Ninja Turtles that I drew when I was in elementary. But that’s far removed from what I do now. I’ve never taken an art class, preferring to stay as unencumbered by the expectations of others and to stay as true to my vision as possible. I could’ve definitely used the skills, But the learning through exploration is half the fun. Read more>>

Natalie Del Carmen

I started writing songs at 12 years old and it was definitely a casual, curious beginning, as I think many passions are. I had been taking some lessons for piano and voice for 4 years, but picking up guitar on my own felt more like something I was really passionate about learning on a daily basis. My brother was an avid guitarist too at the time, so I’m sure that played a part in the exposure aspect of it. Read more>>

Brendan Rothwell

Music started for me aged 2 with the piano, then singing as part of a cathedral choir, adding violin and joining the county youth orchestra. In my mid-teens I discovered the album “Tutu” by Miles Davis, heard Marcus Miller for the first time and then it was bass all the way! Read more>>

El G.Nie

As a professional creative, the most important thing you can do is study and learn your craft. Whatever your discipline – whether it’s music, visual art, performance art, or even business – studying your respective field and developing your skill set will bring infinite value to you as an individual and a professional brand. Practicing and honing your craft is the basis of a strong, creative foundation which will allow you to build a business and eventually monetize your art. It allows you to stand out by displaying excellence and professionalism, whereas others who may not give their all to their craft will fall short. Read more>>

Serron Green

Learning the “craft” if you want to call it that, is a never ending process. As a self taught artist with no formal schooling or training, learning is a must. Most of what I’ve learned has been through trial and era. Or from other artist, specifically graffiti artist. That’s where I gained most of the techniques that I use now. I’m not exactly sure how, but I once learned that if you took apart an old speed stick, removing the deodorant part, that you could fill it with ink, stuff a sponge inside of it, and it would function like a marker with a super wide head. Funny when I think back to that, I must’ve been high or something. Lol. Read more>>

Keilyn Davis

I honestly believe you’re always learning when you’re being an artist, I will forever be a student. When I first started making music I had to buy my own equipment and learn how to record myself because I didn’t have access to a studio. Read more>>

Beetle Moses

Committing to making comics full time has given me more awareness of my individuality as an artist then a lifetime of drawing as a hobby. It took me so many years to stop trying to emulate what other artists were doing, and start leaning into my own thing. I realize now that “visual arts” as a career is an infinitely vast field. Despite what a lot of people will tell you, I believe there is a path for every type of artist to make a living off their craft with enough dedication and sense of self. Read more>>

Amanda Angelucci

Photography has been an interest of mine from a very young age. It started off with me as a child using my mom’s point-and-shoot camera to take pictures of just about anything and everything. I remember when I got my very first camera and being ecstatic about it. Something about holding a camera in my hands got me all excited to take photos. Then when I was a freshman in high school, I had the opportunity to take a beginner photography course. Read more>>

Brianna Zielinski

I grew up in a stitching family. Both my grandmothers sewed and my mom is a seamstress, so I knew my way around a needle and thread from a very young age. After learning how to sew by hand and also with a sewing machine as a child, I didn’t really use these skills much through my teen/young adult years. Read more>>

Zach Ambroise

For me, delving into the craft of filmmaking involves a profound journey through the works of legendary filmmakers preceding our time. Studying their masterpieces offers a glimpse into the essence of storytelling, technique, and innovation. However, my approach doesn’t end there; it extends to exploring international cinema, allowing me to immerse myself in diverse cultures and varied storytelling approaches. Read more>>

Ren Anan

I had a late start in art, and even later in fine arts. It all started when I dropped out of engineering school in Brazil and I was completely lost about what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be in life. I was 18 and I decided to take some drawing and painting classes in a local art school, nothing serious or with too much commitment. That’s when I first fell in love with art. Read more>>

John Hannibal

I’m happy to speak on this because this is something I don’t believe I’ve shared in depth in an interview before. I’ll tell you this – learning to sing, produce, and songwrite didn’t happen overnight, and I’m still not finished learning, I probably never will be & sort of hope I don’t stop learning. It takes countless hours of time by yourself, and if you have them around other likeminded people, to figure out what sound you want to create for yourself – as well as if you’re outsourcing any of those skills, an understanding of the depth / vibe of your collaborators to make things work for their sound. Read more>>

Marielle Divino

I feel like I’m always trying to find my footing when it comes to songwriting, producing, and being comfortable with performing live. Learning the craft definitely started subconsciously from home. My parents would play 90s and early 2000s R&B, ballads, pop songs, and OPM (Original Pilipino Music) around the house when I was really young. Read more>>

Carolina Dulanto

My mom took a piñata making class when she was pregnant with me. True story. My family is from Peru but my parents were living in Venezuela at the time and she had little to do. Our family moved back to Peru after my brother was born, and there my mom made a few memorable piñatas for my birthdays- Snoopy on his dog house, a pink ice cream cone. We immigrated to the US when I was 9, my brother 7 and our little sister a few months old. Read more>>

Jessica Tursky

I first started watercolor when I started homeschooling in the 5th grade after being in public school. I wanted to branch out in what I had learned from my art teacher in school. In the beginning of my journey to learning watercolor, I mainly focused on just learning by practicing, just seeing how it flows and moves without me painting a specific subject. Layering is the next step I practiced in watercolor, it’s one of the most important things to learn so you can create depth and variations of colors. Read more>>

Gary Taber

I am self taught as a stone sculptor, using tips learnt from videos and print. Taking some classes and learning the different attributes of stone varieties would have definitely sped up the learning curve, but I am very happy with my progress I’ve made especially with moving on to other materials. Read more>>

Aktuğ Yılmaz

At first i learn photography from analysing other photographer’s work of art. Also practice every single day back in the day. After some time i worked as a assistant for various notable photographer’s that i admire. I think most essential skill is exacuting the process smoothly, communication wise and also photography wise. Time is the problem of learing more because to learn something someone need to have patience so that they can learn and more.  Read more>>