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. 

Bri Viglianco

I definitely wish I would have started sooner. My entire photography journey began when my oldest son was three. I couldn’t afford to pay a professional to take our family photos as often as I wanted to have them. I was gifted my first camera by a kind soul and everything really took off from there. Read More>>

Tammy Wampler

I didn’t start pursuing a career as an artist until I became a stay at home mother in my early thirties. I sometimes regret not starting earlier, like right out of high school or college. I went down many winding paths to get to where I am now. I pursued a degree in Antiquities in college, with a particular interest in archaeology and mythological studies. Read More>>

Rudy Garcia

Creative,’ a label I’m still trying to wrap my head around, and probably would be easier to attach to myself if I had started sooner. I always had writing as an outlet, but those never aspired to be anything more than a few pages stuffed in a drawer, untitled google docs, and notes on my phone I’d be terrified for anyone to read! Read More>>

Deandra James

When I started creating, I was in my junior year of college. For those who know, I started my blog, The Black Princess Diaries, in 2018 as a way to share my poetry in a more professional setting than Tumblr. Since then, it has grown into the ‘The Black Princess Diaries’ brand. I now have a blog, social media platforms, and a podcast. Read More>>

Andrea Lane Ainsworth

I’ve been creative since I was young, and I was fortunate to have family members who encouraged that side of me. My grandma always had a cabinet filled with huge stacks of paper for me to draw and color on, and I was constantly drawn to creative things, designing my own spaces, and even drawing on my bedroom walls. Read More>>

Jamecka Lindsey

If I’m being honest, I don’t think I would change when I started, but I do recognize that my relationship with my creativity has evolved so much over time. I started a few years ago, in a season where I was already feeling this pull to create space for real conversations, especially through what became Coffee, Curves, ’n Conversation. Read More>>

Julz Laforest

If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change the timeline at all. I honestly think your creative career happens when it’s supposed to, when you’re actually ready for it. For me, I really dove into my art after my divorce. Read More>>