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.

Shawn Frambach

If I remember correctly, it was a commercial for Taco Bueno. I did a few for them. It was shot at this elite secret pool (as in swimming) club in Dallas. It was weird at the time. Read more>>

Carmynn Bradley

Before I actually got a job as a singer, I would perform weekly at Don’t Tell Mama, a local piano/open mic bar. My first dollar ever earned as a singer was a five dollar bill given to me by a man in the audience who had cried and told me that my song touched him. He told me a bit about his life at the time, and gave me five dollars as an expression of gratitude for my voice. It was this gesture, among others, that motivated me to pursue a creative career. I still have that five dollars inside of a “manifestation box.” Read more>>

Brenden Sanborn

Absolutely, it’s a memory I cherish. During my college years at SCAD, I had an opportunity one summer that marked the start of my professional artistic journey. A neighbor of mine, an artist specializing in woodworking, needed help painting several pieces with motifs of lighthouses, seagulls, and ocean vistas. It began with just a couple of pieces, but my enthusiasm and dedication quickly turned it into a much larger project. Read more>>

Nikol Wikman

Back in 2012 I had a friend that was posting her paintings on Facebook and I had seen people asking to buy them. It got me wondering if I were to post some of mine if maybe someone might buy them. I was on maternity leave and needed a little extra cash so one Friday I decided to just do it. I posted pictures of 8 paintings along with prices. I priced them pretty low, only $50-$75 each for pretty large paintings. By Sunday every piece had sold. I couldn’t believe it! It got me thinking that maybe I could earn a living as an artist. Read more>>

Spencer Patrick

My initial earnings as a creative stemmed from a commissioned painting. It all began when a family friend noticed my interest in painting and extended a small opportunity to me. This first commission came with a tight deadline, which added a sense of pressure to ensure its timely completion while maintaining the high standards I had set for my work. Read more>>