Often there is no book or course to learn how to do what you want to do – so how artists and creatives overcome such challenges? How have some of the most talented artists and creatives in the community managed to learn their craft?

Dres Smuzic

I first learned to record in high school I was playing with this system called music maker. I had no idea what I was doing at the time I just knew I wanted to keep doing it. growing up I didn’t have access to a MacBook so I had to wait until after I was out of high school to at lease start using garage band. I eventually converted to Logic when I finally was able to start investing in my career. Read more>>

Chantel Hardison

For me learning the art of makeup is a lesson that will never be really complete. Due to changing trends and product innovation the makeup world is constantly evolving. This is a large reason why this medium keeps me inspired and engaged as an artist. I attended beauty school early in my career and thought that I was going to be ready to tackle everything once I graduated – boy was I wrong. Read more>>

Steve Mayone

I began my journey with the guitar and songwriting at the age of 12. I remember clearly the moment of epiphany: I already had a few guitar lessons and was writing a song in my bedroom when I thought to myself “I could collect the songs I’m writing and put them on an album…”. Sounds mundane but it was like a lighting bolt going through me. From that moment on I was committed to playing, learning and eventually teaching music. Read more>>

Donnie Jackson

I am primarily self taught. I started with an entry-level camera (Nikon D5600) and began researching every YouTube video I could find on photography. I purchased every manual that was recommended and attended as many local meetups that were available. Read more>>

David Lakin

I would fall under the category of “self-taught” but truly, I learned from the community. Especially in the beginning, I learned from reading how others created similar things and slowly built my skill through experimentation, practice, and research. Read more>>

Dj Chico Swav A

Trial-and-error ,I started producing music as A DJ Learning how to chop and screw back in 2009/2010 I knew there was always something different about the way that I heard music sonically, I would listen to songs on the radio and sort of remix them in my head. Read more>>

jeremy mcmahon

producing and constructing instrumentals took time, trial and error, and perseverance. For as long as I can remember, going on fourteen years, I practiced subconsciously and consciously learned under my father, my sister and any other inspirations that were around. When I first started out however, the tools and equipment I had were hurdles in my process on improving in the craft. Read more>>

Jeremiah Patterson

I am the son of an artist, William Patterson, who taught me how to draw starting at a very young age. Learning how to draw takes a great deal of time and effort, and I don’t believe there is any way to speed up the learning of this essential skill; the foundation of being an artist. My father’s lessons on drawing are absolutely essential to everything I do, whether it be planning a painting or executing a painting, drawing is at he heart of everything. Read more>>

Lara Padilla

I think that for an artist the most important thing is the work in the studio. To be good in any discipline you have to work hard and through practice and repetition you end up mastering the technique. In my case meeting other artists, their works, see exhibitions, travel, learn about other cultures and read a lot has helped me improve my technique. Read more>>

Maria Savchenko

For me learning is a day to day process even when I don´t touch a brush. Whenever I go to bed and close my eyes, I start to have myriad of pictures, shifting shapes, ideas of new paintings, to the extent that I want to scream, please stop, I need to remember, I need to jot it down. Or at least to have an idea of what I have seen, or what my mind has conjured. If I had a desire to invest in anything at all it would be a machine that records all the visuals from under my eyelids when I close my eyes. Read more>>

Michelle Stubbs

There are lots of skills required to run your own business in the hospitality industry. The majority of these skills I picked up outside the classroom during my part time jobs when I worked for hotels, restaurants and bars. The most important skills were communication, being able to multi task, attention to detail and using initiative!! There is a lot more that goes into operating and running a business not to mention all the legal aspects, compliance, financial reporting and analysing. Read more>>

Mario Obregon

My love for music started at a very young age. Ever since I can remember, my parents were always playing music around the house. A vivid memory I have as a kid (I don’t have many of these) was during Christmas time, the Carpenters was always being played. Little things like that sparked my love for music as young boy. Read more>>

Carjanae

I have been singing before I could talk, growing up I’d listen and sing along to many artist who inspired me. For example Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Selena Quintanilla, Hayley Williams to name a few. I love using chest voice and belting, these wonderful women are experts in that area. Also singing with so much passion and giving a show every time they perform. Read more>>

Shelley Abramson

I learned how to blow glass largely through trial and error. I am mostly self taught, but have had a few demonstrations from friends and fellow artists along the way. Knowing what I know now, I could have sped my learning process up by taking classes, working with others more often and asking more questions. Read more>>

Yessenia Perez

I honestly think I was just born to be a photographer. From Polaroids to waterproof Kodak cameras, I’ve been in love with the art in photography since I was little. Read more>>

Melisa Allen

I started taking cake decorating lessons at a local craft store because I wanted to make my daughter’s first birthday cake. As a self-professed control freak, I did not have any confidence that a grocery store was going to get my vision right. Read more>>

Nicole Renee Ryan

I learn best by playing. What I mean by that is that I dive right in. The process is the best teacher. What colors to use? What brushes do I like? Even what I want to say. For example, I have taken 0 classes in painting oils. If I have a problem, I will research it, but experience is for me, the greatest teacher. Read more>>

Ace Chan

Despite knowing this was made for me at a young age from the start, I’ve had to learn the industry. However, I’m still learning with my team but before I wish I would’ve took advantage of networking with people who have those connections. Read more>>

Milan Jilka

I suppose that my act of learning creatively has been in constant motion and progression since I was in middle school. In those years, I remember being enamored by album cover art, and I would dutifully attempt to recreate album covers (from bands like Duran Duran, Erasure, and Depeche Mode) as faithfully as I could. Read more>>

Elora Schrader

I spent two and a half years in my apprenticeship, trying to soak up as much information and experience as I could. I’ve always wanted to be a tattoo artist so having the opportunity present itself to me was a childhood dream coming true. But it didn’t happen overnight and it definitely did not come easily to me. Read more>>

Kaitlin Zies

I’ve always been drawn to art in many forms since I was a kid. Art classes, and the people that taught them, in my childhood/young adulthood were crucial when it came to the necessary pushes in the right direction. Read more>>

Madison Barnett

Printmaking is my main medium, specifically linocut, and I love it because it’s full of creative problem solving. There is a lot of beauty in spending hours carving something and slowly releasing an image from a medium. I learned relief printing as a kid, through carving small stamps out of erasers. It wasn’t until I took a printmaking class in high school that I understood that this was part of a greater artistic context. Read more>>

Jamie Chihuan

The way I learned to be persistent in my art and really anything in life was to find dedication in what I do. In simple terms love what you do and it will be easy to do it every day. Read more>>