Earning that first dollar is incredibly special and a moment many never forget. We asked some very talented creatives from the community to tell us the story of the first dollar they earned from their creative works.

Zhen Liu

During my second year in art school, I received an unusual commission. An older gentleman asked me to create a charcoal portrait based on a childhood photo of him surrounded by his classmates. His request came with a unique twist—he wanted me to use his face, but combine it with a female classmate’s hair and another female classmate’s dress. As he shared his story, he revealed a dream he had held onto for over seventy years: he had always longed to be a girl. It was my first project, and I poured my heart into it, spending many nights refining the drawing. I sought feedback from my life drawing instructor and went out of my way to show him the progress as the portrait unfolded. When I finally presented the finished piece—carefully framed and detailed—his reaction was something I’ll never forget. With tears in his eyes, he told me that I had done something profoundly meaningful for him. Read more>>

Kajal Vaghela

A friend of mine referred her friend to me. She was having a wedding and needed a henna artist for her guests. I was so nervous since it was My first time working on so many people. My henna designs weren’t that great but practice makes perfect. Before the event, I researched what other henna artist charge for parties and I found out they charge an hourly rate. I was charging less than most henna artists because I felt guilty of charging people. Read more>>

Bae Lee

I took a lash class four years ago in November. I posted on a local Craigslist site as soon as I received certification. Instantly I received my first client. She was my first yes. My first paid yes. That gave me the desire to keep it going. I decided at that moment I wanted to travel with my talents. A lot of people in this industry will travel? However in a certain radius. I will go where ever the booking is. Read more>>

Nicoleta Dumville

When I was 15, I experienced a pivotal moment in my artistic journey: I sold my very first piece of art, an oil pastel drawing of a toucan. It was showcased at a local public art exhibit for teens held at the science museum. When I sold it for $100, I felt an overwhelming sense of wealth—not just financially, but emotionally. That sale ignited something in me. It wasn’t just about the money; it was the recognition that people connected with my work. It gave me the confidence to embrace my identity as an artist and to share my creations with the world. Knowing that something I poured my heart into could resonate with others was a profound joy. Even today, with every piece I sell, I feel that same thrill. It’s a reminder that art has the power to connect, inspire, and bring happiness—not just to the artist, but to everyone who experiences it. Read more>>

Kyle Christian

I have been a designer in the advertising industry since 2007, and like a lot of graphic artists I always wanted to have my own clothing brand. Being born and raised in Las Vegas and having gone to UNLV, I was always a believer that Vegas could and would become a big time sports city, and thought one day if would be cool to create something centered the around that idea. I go to a lot of sporting events around town, and always noticed how everything looked the same. The same designs everywhere that was just the logo of the team slapped on the shirt. Nothing with any concept or thought that touched on the city’s history or connection with fans or the community. I always wanted to create a brand that would be unique and different to what you saw everywhere else, but was always busy with my career to devote the time to develop it. Then COVID happened and I was reminded about how quickly things can change, and I didn’t want to go through the rest of my life with the regret of never trying to do something I had always dreamed of. Read more>>