Everyday, somewhere, there is an aspiring artist or creative daydreaming about pursing their creative career full time. Everyday, there are countless creatives thinking about whether to pursue their passion more seriously and so we wanted to hear from folks who’ve made the leap. We asked them to reflect on if they wish they had started sooner or if they feel they would have been better off if they had waited a bit longer.

Misha Venegoni

I used to wish I had started sooner. Like many artists, I’ve had those moments where I wondered how different my life might be if I had taken myself seriously earlier—if I had seen my creativity not just as a form of personal therapy or escape, but as something worth building a life around. Read More>>

Salaam Green

As a child I was imaginative and lived creativity. I could be found in solitude writing and a book in my hand reading Golden books. However, I did not begin a writing until later in life after a mental health crisis I found writing and journaling as a way to support my healing process. In my late 40’s I applied for my cities inaugural poet laureate position and was nominated and have served for the last year in the capacity of advocate for poetry and creatives. Read More>>

Virginia Lago

In the early 90s I used to watch a show named “Welcome to my studio” with Helen Van Wyk. She became my mentor and I even traveled to Rockport MS to learn with her on a week long workshop. I studied portraiture and kept practicing until my children started demanding more from me and my apinting waited until I turned 56. I am now 62 and have a reasanable presence on social media but I wish I had never put the panting on the back burner. Read More>>

Diana Woody

I started doing art projects when I was a child as soon as I could pick up a pencil or paintbrush. My parents wanted me to pursue a medical career and I ended up in Physics. Although I pursued a scientific career, I always took art classes and worked on my art pieces. I have accumulated many works of art over the years and now that I have moved from the scientific career to an artistic career I have quite a collection of my art. Read More>>

Tyler McLaughlin

If I could go back in time, I don’t think I’d change when I started. but I might change how I approached it. I actually did start early. Music was a huge part of my life growing up in North Carolina. I was involved in the music scene there but I wanted more. Read More>>

Jac Dazzo

If I could go back in time, I do wish I would have started my music career sooner. However, I am a firm believer that everything is in divine timing. I started modeling and acting professionally at age 21, but I didn’t start taking my music seriously until I was 31. I’ve been singing since I was a little kid and started writing songs when I was 9 in my bedroom and at recess during school. Read More>>

Michael Coulombe

If I could go back in time I definitely would start my career sooner. I have always wanted to be a writer and I started writing at the age of ten. I worked at my writing all the way up into my twenties. I had self published a book of poetry and even had a play produced at a theater here in Los Angeles back in 2011. I never thought about working in film. Not to say that I didn’t want to write films I just never thought of being a screenwriter, let alone working in film itself. Read More>>

Cayman Cardiff

This is a fascinating topic for me because I have actually done a lot of thinking on the subject. I started around 30 as an actor and while getting into it initially I thought it would have been so great had I gotten a head start earlier in my 20’s and how much further ahead I might be. As I gained a little success in the acting field and quickly became a full time working actor I realized that maybe the timing was meant to be. I realized that I have a wealth of life experience from school and college all the way to trips, language, communication skills, and other crazy backstory that makes me so much better of an actor. Read More>>

Nada Fakhreddine

I wish I had started my creative career sooner.
I’ve always had a passion for art, but for a long time, I thought it would remain a hobby rather
than evolve into a career. During my undergraduate studies, I majored in journalism, not art. Read More>>