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?

Kevin Davis

I learned how to produce by relentlessly studying the work of my peers. When I first moved to LA I lived with my friend who I’ve known since 5th grade who is a rapper and 2 other producers. Read more>>

Starlette

My journey to learning more about Drag and the history of Drag began in 2020 during COVID. Looks aside, Drag Queens are such an important pillar to the LGBTQIA+ community and in the entertainment industry. Read more>>

Cole Berliner

My father, who was a bass player, showed me how to play the guitar when I was about 6 or 7. I soon after started taking lessons at a local music organization through which I began playing live shows as well. Read more>>

Rachel Escoe

Before learning glassblowing, I had already dived into any creative medium I could get my hands on! Ceramics, photography, drawing, painting, etc. Read more>>

Signe Ariel Sampou

I was introduced to ceramics in a serious setting during my freshman year of undergrad at Green Mountain College. Read more>>

Carson Beyer

Learning my craft is my favorite part of the process because It’s ever-changing and always challenging. Figuring out what you’re not too bad at, what you might suck at, and seeing how far you are from where you want to be is the coolest thing to me. Read more>>

Stephanie Morgan

Although I have been acting and entertaining for over ten years, I didn’t always go about the process the right way. I had been at odds with mental illness since puberty, and early on, acting was used as an escape tactic. Read more>>

Gabriel Lucido

Learning the craft of food photography quite the roller coaster. Going from learning all the technical skills available online, to learning most of it wasn’t 100% true, then learning even more complicated technical skills through exhausting trail and error and then finally finding out that most of that stuff doesn’t matter at all and the most important part is just showing creativity and making a great photo. Read more>>

Christopher Lloyd Bratten

Having worked in higher education for over ten years, I’ve discovered what I believe to be the essential ingredient to successful learning—curiosity. Read more>>

Jestine McClay

Learning how to do makeup was a bit of a process. I still laugh at all the mistakes and breakdowns I had along the way(even though then it wasn’t so funny) Makeup wasn’t really big in my house. Read more>>

Kevin Brown

Honestly everything I’ve learned has been from either YouTube or trial and error. I feel like my timing with photography has been Gods timing so I don’t need to speed it up. Read more>>

Matisse Ibarra

I started out with Graffiti art because my older sister was a tagger and i blew my mind at a young aged the people can form letters they way they did and do now, but over time i grew out of it and took up calligraphy and painting, Read more>>

Laylo

Learning the craft is all about learning yourself. you know, learning yourself. Knowing yourself and as an artist, song-maker, writer, what you have to say. and where you stand in the world. It’s collaboration. Read more>>

Tyler Thenikl

I learned most of my fine art skills while studying at Olivet College. Before that, art had never been a big part of my life. I sketched and doodled when I was young, but most of my education had pushed me towards STEM fields. Read more>>

Riley Glenn

My journey into photography began as a college minor, but it wasn’t until later that I truly understood its transformative power. Read more>>

Catie Radney

I grew up in the small town of Brewton, AL and attended the University of Alabama. I graduated with a teaching degree and my first job was teaching elementary school art. Read more>>

Rachel Brady

When I was really young (like 4 years old) I was really into the anime show “Dragon Ball Z” so I use to take images of the characters from the show and try copying them. It was during that time that I learned I had a knack for drawing. Read more>>

Umraan Syed

I honed my craft as a musician through a blend of self-taught experimentation and formal education. My journey began in the mid-late ’90s, exploring sound manipulation on a desktop computer, which sparked my interest in music composition. Read more>>

Benjamine Lester

To be honest, the thought of being a professional artist was never on my radar growing up. I was competing at elite level athletics, or at least, I was trying to, until an injury in my early 20’s ended my skating career. Read more>>

Cheval

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved being creative and making things. I am grateful to have had held onto that passion and attraction throughout my life; even when my ability to design was restricted. Read more>>

Taryn Hampton

It’s always a surprise when folks learn that I, a vector illustration and graphic design expert, don’t have any formal education in the medium. Read more>>

Mikiah Mitchell

Perfecting the craft of singing has to be the most fun and challenging part about being an artist, because every stage is different, with different instrumentalist, sound dynamics, audiences and energy. Read more>>

Nicole Parish

I did two 5 year art apprenticeships. learning to be ok asking questions would have helped my learning process. Networking with other people was extremely important. Peoples expectations of me with my disabilities and shame were obstacles with my learning. Read more>>

Jessica Studdard

I have been costuming unprofessionally for about fifteen years. It is only in the last four that I have really buckled down to learned the craft in an efficient and competent manner. Read more>>

Prentiss Watson

In the beginning of my my acting and modeling career I was going up and down the east coast creating opportunities. I noticed the more I did the better the talent around me got . Read more>>

Angela Lupica

Everyone has a different path when it comes to finding their place in the Food World. That’s one of the things I love most about this absolute circus production we call a career. Read more>>

Alejandra Sanchez

I began my photographing journey when I was about 12 years old. My parents invested in a digital Nikon and I found myself using it more than they would. Read more>>

Trey Vollmer

I learned to do what I do from living life. I’m still learning now. I’m a lifelong student, and I still have a long way to go, Lord willing. Some of my favorite filmmakers are in their 70’s and 80’s. Read more>>

Alexandra Shytsman

My job today consists of a multitude of functions, which is what I think mainly distinguishes it from working at a “regular job”. I develop recipes, shoot photos and videos, and write all the copy for my website, social media, and newsletters – these all require different skills. Read more>>

Aubrie Groesbeck

Ever since I was little I always enjoying writing and drawing. Inspired by books like Dear Dumb Diary by Jim Benson, Scramble States of America by Laurie Keller, and Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieskza, I sat home in my room scribbling my stories in a sketchbook. Read more>>

John Brophy

I come from what I call the ‘sheer force of will’ school of painting. I’ve had limited formal training, but have spent many many… MANY hours studying and copying paintings by the great artists of the past. Read more>>