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.

Nisha Melvani

The first dollar I earned as a creative was during the initial US Covid outbreak in 2020 when I signed a contract with Penguin Random House to write a cookbook, ‘Practically Vegan’. The book was published on March 29, 2022, and it was one of the most memorable days of my life. Read more>>

Lindsey Wittstruck

It was the fall of 2020 and people were still trying to figure out how to navigate the pandemic. We wanted to stay safe, but we also needed to try normal things even in different ways. I had been designing cards for a while, but I didn’t have an outlet for them other than trying, unsuccessfully, to sell them on Etsy. Read more>>

Lamar Mathurin

This is a rather challenging for me. Initially, I didn’t even consider my first payment as a payment; it was a beer. A Lone-star specifically, back when I drank beer. I’d rather tequila these days, as that was many years ago. I even remember the location being at Halcyon on 4th st. Read more>>

Lawrence Oleary Jr

My dad and grandfather were amateur part time artist most of their lives. From a very early age my dad would paint with me at the kitchen table and my grandfather would visit and draw creative portraits in pencil. From a young child we would travel to Cape Cod for our summer vacations where I would sit for hours and watch a painter known to me as Ralf Shephard. Read more>>

Hannah Neshyba

The first commission piece I was asked to do (outside of my family) is a fun story to tell. I was getting my undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University. It was my sophomore year, pre-covid, My friend from high school and I were at a Starbucks in Bryan working on our homework and, at the time, stickers on computer cases was very common. Read more>>

Emily Grim

Blisters, sweat, tears, and wool on a hot stage in the middle of a Midwestern July for three months of 5 day-a-week, 4 hour-a-day rehearsals for a two hundred dollar check. I considered framing it, I was so proud of it. But, then I remembered I had made myself almost into the negative that summer opting for less shifts at my cafe so I could be in my first semi-professional play: Pride and Prejudice. Read more>>

KeShawn Sensei

So my first dollar as a creative came from selling pieces of my own artwork. As of now I am focused on creating music, with that being said, my first dollar as a musician, actually came from a private party performance. There were a few people I came across that were very interested in my music, and respected it for what it was. Read more>>

Natasha Muniz

When I think back, my first dollar earned as a creative was in high school. It wasn’t much and it was short lived but when i was in high school i got my hands on some fabric puff paint and tried ton start a clothing line called “Closet Wear.” I was still trying to find myself and dealing with the feelings i had towards women while still trying to fit into the “norm” of society at that time. Read more>>

Lina Zinecker

The first big acting job I got right after having finished acting school was for CVS! It was a Christmas commercial that was shot both in New York City and New Jersey. I still remember that time very vividly, because the audition process had been very lengthy and with every round that I made it through I wanted the job more. Read more>>

Nacir The Younger

The first real money I received as an Artist came about in 2022. I was introduced to someone by a close friend of mine and got a request for a studio tour (I was making art in my apartment and had no studio at all). With some help from another friend I converted my entire apartment into an impromptu studio/gallery space and displayed all my works throughout the apartment. Read more>>

Mollie Mason

I started painting as a hobby about 8 years ago. In 2021, I was asked to paint my first commission. It was a 20″ x 24″ painting of a dog. When I put myself out there that I was accepting commissions, I was overwhelmed with the amount of support from family and friends. I have even been asked by strangers to paint or sketch something, and I have even shipped my artwork out of state. Read more>>

Grant Goodwine

When I was in art school, I really started cutting my teeth with doing t shirt and poster designs for punk bands and shows. I cant specifically remember which show or design was my absolute first though. Around the same time I briefly was a caricature artist at the Indianapolis zoo. I didn’t enjoy that job as much but I still apply the training from that into my work today. Read more>>

Justin Francis aka Justin Martyr

I first began earning money as a creative around the age of 10 years old as a drummer. While other people’s first job was cutting grass or working for a grocery store; my first job was playing the drums. Read more>>

Irene Neyman

I remember it so vividly, as if it was yesterday. I was still in the self-learning phase at that time but eager to start working with clients because I understood that the fear wouldn’t go away unless I just started. And then one day, a woman reached out to me with a request for several character illustrations. Read more>>