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.

Scott Williams

I didn’t come to photography until later in life. Up to that point I was kind of a free spirit, trying different jobs, starting a few various businesses and going to college. It took me 10 years to graduate college because I would take time off and I kept changing my major. After graduating, I talked myself into going back to school to be a doctor, once again, starting along a new path. Read more>>

David Khasar

My creative career started right on time. From the time that I was in elementary school to me going to art school seeking higher education, I’ve always been creative but I didn’t tap into it until I started going to college. Not only did I learn how to become a music producer, I learned how to write scripts, I learned how to be a better actor. Most importantly, I found a way to tap into my creativity and inspriration and act on it. Read more>>

Kelsi Ziemann

I wish I would have started my creative career sooner. 20 years ago being a makeup artist wasn’t viewed as a career. I waited to go on my own for almost 13 years because I was afraid of failing. I was afraid to let go of the security of working for someone else. My biggest piece of advice is to start doing what you are passionate about in whatever capacity you can as soon as you can! Read more>>

Steve McCormick

This band is a unique mix of older world travelled seasoned pros, and a younger newly starting out artist. On purpose! Playing and performing music itself is a hard craft. Most of the band have truly travelled around the world using their time and talents pursuing a career in the music industry, all the while learning many lessons, (some, the “fall-on-your-face” type!) Read more>>

Lori Ann Alger

I wish I had started making my products when I was back in my late 20s. I had always wanted to try to make and sell soaps, lip balm and bath products. As usual, as many people find, fear of failure was a deterrent. Happy Bee started when my niece was getting married and I thought personalized lip balm favors would be a nice touch at her wedding. Read more>>

Amber McDonough

I wish I would’ve started my creative career sooner! Growing up I was always under the assumption that you couldn’t turn art into a career. I loved art but I needed money to you know… live. I worked in a few sales jobs and then ended up in corporate banking. While I was climbing the corporate ladder, I was still designing and drawing on the side and eventually set up my Etsy shop. Read more>

Jenna Denèe

I always wish I would have started sooner because of how much fun I’m having in my life! I Am Never Bored! There is always work to do, something to draw Inspiration from & people we can help! You were born with gifts into this life that are meant to be further developed! So start as soon as you identify them! Your path is lit for you & you were meant to follow what makes you feel best… Read more>>

Michael Rochelle

I have been “involved” with music in one way or another, since I was a kid. Choirs, school bands, etc. But I never really got into playing in bands and making my own music and recording until I was in my mid to late twenties and living in New York. I wish I had started out writing songs even before that so my music would already be out in the world. I could’ve been already established and maybe I would have connected with some of the people I’ve been influenced by. Read more>>

Nick Nidositko

In some ways yes, and in some ways no. I think if I would have started it earlier I would be farther along now. However that would mean it wouldn’t have started here in Colorado but rather my home state of Texas. I have a lot of love for Texas, but I cannot express enough how welcoming the music scene around Denver has been. So I am glad I waited to pursue this passion professionally here. Read more>>

Euge Leung

When I first introduced Puglie in 2014 and witnessed the overwhelming love this little pug received, I couldn’t help but kick myself in not creating him earlier. I could’ve avoided all those frustrating art blocks, started the growth of my business earlier, and established Puglie sooner! Ugh! Read more>>

Arianna Urban

Yes and no, writing has always been something that I have done for myself and deciding to share that with the world was a big jump. The first writing job that I had was in college, and I wrote 75 articles about s*x, love, and relationships in college. I wrote under a pseudonym so it took some of the excitement of having my name on something away. Even though I was sharing my stories, along with my friends in a very personal way, and using an alias was protecting everyone’s privacy, Read more>>

Scott Hale

Honestly, I think it depends on who you ask in our little production company! This year, Kristen, our sister, officially joined Halehouse Productions as a partner,. While Kristen has worked with us in some form or fashion across all of our features, her heart always been in Special Effects. You don’t have to watch out films for very long to notice the high quality of her work, but for her, that doesn’t change the fact she wished she could’ve gotten started with creative career sooner to hone her craft and learn from her mistakes, as well as her impressive accomplishments. Read more>>

Indigene Theresa Gaskin

I truly wish I had started my creative career sooner, instead of listening to naysayers. I remember as a much younger person speaking about being an artist and being told, that you would not be able to make a living, especially as a Black Woman Artist. I would be best suited taking up a career that I would be able to take care of myself. Read more>>

Nell Tryst

I started painting at eight years old when I was diagnosed with a rare heart disease. I spent the past 30 years painting anatomical hearts to process the heart I was born with. I called myself an artist but it wasn’t my profession for my entire early adult life. It wasn’t until 2020 that I realized in isolation that being an artist was about taking the risk to dedicate your life to the expressional and vulnerability through my work. Instead of spending all my energy as a retail manager making other small businesses be successful it was time to focus on my own dreams. Read more>>

Suzette Ferretti

I often find myself in a neverending teeter-totter of the belief that if I had begun my foray into a creative career earlier in my life I’d be more “successful”, whatever that means. Simultaneously, I recognize that knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have had the emotional capacity or discipline to properly channel my artsy angst. It’s one of those, “hindsight is 20/20” situations and I don’t know if I’m ever going to let myself fall entirely in one direction, Read more>>

Frank Bonanno

Sooner. I moved to Hollywood when I was 27. By then I had already accumulated so much student debt, borrowed so much money from my parents, and generally wasted so much time that eventually my time out there trying just sort of ran out due to life’s many realities. Had I instead skipped college and gone right out of high school and done exactly what I did, I feel very confident I’d have found my way into full time permanent career. Read more>>

Susan Jackson

I started my career as an art educator. I knew art was my passion but I also knew I needed a more concrete income. Being an art educator was a way to combine art with a definite career. I received my Bachelor of Secondary Education with an emphasis of art in 2015 and taught for four years and then went back for my Master of Art in Curriculum Instruction in 2021 and then left teaching full time that same year. I hadn’t done my own art for years; since college. Read more>>

Mary Rogas

I feel that my art has always been part of my journey in life. It has been a way to make sense of the world around me. I don’t regret having gone in the direction I did in life as I am now retired and fully immersed in my art. The experiences I’ve had in life have given me much that I incorporate into my artwork such that it makes for a richer and deeper level work. Read more>>

 Xuan Huang

I definitely wish I had started my creative career sooner. When I see young artists posting their work online, I can’t help but wonder what my work would look like if I had started at a younger age. I feel a bit envious of their ability to explore their passions with so much energy and enthusiasm. Read more>>

Kenna Flores

That’s an interesting question and one that I’ve pondered upon from time to time. There’s a part of me that wonders about the opportunities I may have had if I had started my creative career earlier. The thought of the experiences and growth that might have come with an early start can be quite intriguing. But truth be told, I don’t dwell on regrets or wish for things to have been different. Read more>>

 Jevaugn Fleming

I wish I had started my music as a career sooner. I mostly started creating music as a necessity for myself. It became my free time… my inner voice vocalized in harsh melodies, maniacal drumming, stank bass grooves, and djenty guitar rhythms. Any moment that wasn’t involved with school, was invested into my music and instruments. However, at the time I never saw it as something to pursue. Read more>>

Wendy Hoy

I have loved being creative from as far back as I can remember spending hours as a child designing fashions and drawing landscapes with colored pencils and crayons. As a young adult though when deciding what to pursue as a career, my mind got in the way of my passion, and I did not pursue my love of art for fear that I was not good enough and I would be unable to support myself. Read more>>

George Simpson

I totally wish I didn’t let my imposter syndrome tell me I couldn’t be a creative. I have always been a creative since I was a kid. But back then the older generations were blue collar hard working people that didn’t see the potential of being a creative especially in the space we are in today. Read more>>

Josh Bauer

There are times I wish I would have started sooner. I wish someone would have sat me down and told me what I could have done with my talent when I was in high school. I did pretty well in all my art classes, as well as my computer design classes, but know one ever showed me how I could make a career out of all of it. Read more>>