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

Amelia Ray

As a design student in architecture, I had the space to design a flower ring and 3D print it. I had always imagined the petals peeling away with as much detail as possible and did not see any jewelry that captured what I saw in reality. My first sale was online. A little daisy ring that I have redesigned so many times since. That moment gave me confidence. That sale meant so much then and now. Each piece I send out into the world renews that feeling of confidence in my creativity and myself. Read more>>

Sydney Rose Wray

I started my first job and business ownership when I was 12 years old with my best friend and musical theater buddy. We started a character entertainment company where we would dress up as Elsa and Anna and go to little girls birthday parties and sing for them. We also volunteered at Make-a-Wish events. It was the perfect job for us because we loved theater, dressing up, singing and entertaining children. It is the best job ever to make little children happy. We still own Once Upon a Fairtytale Parties and the business expanded and we play most of the Disney princesses. Primarily, I play Anna, Ariel, Cinderella, and Snow White. Read more>>

Marissa Hitt

I received my first dollar when I least expected it. When I was five, my parents hosted an unrelated event at our local library, & I wanted to show the paintings I had created to their friends. After the meeting was over, I happily laid out my canvases, proud to present my work in front of a small audience. A couple who attended the meeting wanted one of my pieces & insisted on compensating me for it. My parents, always allowing me to make my own decisions, when possible, asked me what I wanted the painting’s price to be. Knowing the value of a dollar, I suggested just that. Read more>>

ManiqKen

One of the first times that I remember generating revenue from my creative work was in 2005/6 when I did work as an extra for the Baltimore based show “The Wire”. Prior to this ive done many plays & productions locally, in school & at church but never where I received a payment for my creativity. If I can remember correctly my childhood friend and current working actress Shakira mentioned to me that I should look into doing some extra work on sets. Long story short I mentioned the interest to my mother then called to set up a meet next thing I know they were telling me what clothes I should wear for the part as the get away driver during a street transaction. Read more>>

Neko Lynn

I believe I was still in high school when I sold my first piece of artwork. It was a really exciting time because I had been illustrating religiously for years prior to this moment with no real intent on selling anything. It all started with a local hot rodder, Eric Myers, who would later become one of my great friends. Eric had reached out to me about being a part of the art gallery at the annual Greaserama car show. Talk about a milestone moment for me. I grew up looking up to Eric and Los Punk Rods Car Club, so being a part of their car show was like a dream come true. Read more>>

Mackenzie Hendrock

My first client seems like a lifetime ago, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I was sitting at a small table at Oporto in Midtown with a friend of a friend who was spilling every detail of her destination wedding in Italy – this was the first time we had ever met! I didn’t even have a business or a company name when I took on this project. I had been making greeting cards for friends and family as I practiced my calligraphy each and every day for months on end. I liked my style and was confident to take on clients, but hadn’t pulled together anything except for a few Instagram posts. Read more>>

Hannah Bladh

It wasn’t the first time I ever got paid for my art, but it was the first time I got paid by someone I didn’t really know! I’ve been painting and drawing for a long time, so growing up I gave away a lot of paintings to friends or family, or maybe a relative would give me a little money for a painting, but never anything super official. But in December of 2018 I made an instagram account for my art, and I started calling myself an artist and telling people I could paint things for them for a price! Read more>>