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?

Eric Akinnibosun

I learned to DJ through a mix of hands-on experience, mentorship, and a lot of practice. Starting out, I spent countless hours experimenting with different equipment, learning how to mix tracks, and understanding the dynamics of reading a crowd. I also took time to study other DJs, whether by watching live performances or analyzing mixes online on Soundcloud. YouTube University was also great assistance. Read more>>

Sean Chapman

Music has always been part of my family, my mom played flute, grandmother sang in the church choir, grandfather played drums, So i was introduced to the craft really early on in life. As i grew older and felt the impact that music had on my life, I decided to study music in college and commit myself to being a perpetual student of music, However, I didn’t know what that commitment would entail. The long hours it took just trying to understand one concept of music theory, all the moments of self doubt, wondering will I ever be good enough. Read more>>

Steffen Thum

I was always drawn to the art of film scoring and I eventually studied music, but to truly learn it, I had to put in my ten thousand hours of actually doing it. I’ve had some amazing mentors along the way, like Lorne Balfe and Hans Zimmer, and thanks to them, I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a huge variety of high profile Hollywood films and TV shows over the years. There’s no better school than that. Just as with most creative careers, becoming a proficient film composer takes a long time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Read more>>

Alberta Poon

I grew up as the only Asian girl in a Mormon town, where I developed a superpower to survive my childhood—my dead-pan sense of humor. When I was eleven, my dad brought home a VHS camcorder, and that’s when I started writing and shooting comedic sketches. Unfortunately, without a mentor and with film school costing a fortune, I didn’t pursue my dream of becoming a filmmaker right after high school. Read more>>

Jamal Clay

In order for me to learn to teach, I had to build from different teachers that helped me go far. I studied what really worked for them and then took that and made it my own. I don’t think there is anything that I could have done to speed up the process because it was matter of timing and learning at the right time. Paying attention and time management are key skills for me. I look at what I teach, what is learned and using my time correctly. My scheduling is probably the only factor that would actually stand in my way. Read more>>

John Consignado

John Consignado: Funny enough, I learned how to podcast out of boredom. When the world was locked in during the pandemic, like many others, I needed an outlet. I learned basic audio editing by watching videos on YouTube along with trial and error. I’ve dabbled in various genres that didn’t stick and was fortunate to have found our footing with Reddit on Wiki. Read more>>

Anna Marie Witthohn

When I was a little girl, my mom was a single mom and a full-time paramedic so I spent a lot of time at my grandparents. That’s where I learned to build and put things together. My grandfather taught me how to use power tools and saws. We would spend hours in the garage building furniture or fixing things, I got my love of carpentry from him. My grandmother taught me how to pair colors together and what looks aesthetically pleasing. We loved to go shopping for home decor and I’d help her paint the house, I got my creative lens from her. I wouldn’t be who I am if it weren’t for them. Read more>>

Leonard Wygant Jr

Honestly I learned best from just messing with my computer, I also watched a LOT of tutorials from people like JayCactus on YouTube. A way I would’ve been able to speed up the process for myself would’ve been watching more tutorials, & spend more time on my computer composing the instrumentals. Instead of focusing on other things. My most difficult obstacle is definitely taking time out of my days to perfect my craft, & trying to motivate myself when I felt like I had no motivation to continue. My ability to hear, & see the project as I’m making whatever it may be that I decide to work on, also my ability to keep an open ear to whatever could possibly sound good is very essential to my craft. Read more>>

Joe Hill

Comedy started early on at a young age for me. I’ve always loved everything comedy. From movies and sitcoms to even silly videos on the internet. I enjoyed watching comedians on television and was always fascinated by what they would do on stage. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. What’s for you is for you. The best perspective in comedy for me is traveling to so many different places doing what I love. Making people laugh. In comedy, there is no rushing or speeding things up. It’s a slow process, just like oxtails! You can’t rush the process. You have to put the time to develop yourself as a comedian and writer. Read more>>

Santiago Forero

I’ve always had a passion for creating. Growing up, I was fascinated by how films and video games could stir emotions and draw you into their worlds. That fascination led me to pursue a career where I could use that creative power. Initially, I focused on filmmaking and studied Film and Television at the National University of Colombia. But when the pandemic hit in 2020, working with physical sets became almost impossible. That’s when I stumbled upon 3D software and was instantly hooked. The idea of bringing any concept to life without physical limitations was great. Read more>>

Josh Hogge

I started college at Oklahoma Panhandle State University as a CIS student pursuing a minor in graphics. Technology really sparked my curiosity for success in the arts. It seemed realistic and obtainable. But, as any good story starts, our plan and our hearts take us in two directions. I had to take a 3D traditional arts class as an elective for my graphics degree and a sculpture class was available. The course was sculpture in ceramics so they wanted prior experience with a ceramics one course. Read more>>

Dhani Del Toro

I first learned how to dance when I was 11 years old by watching YouTube videos of my favorite dancers. I taught myself by repeatedly watching these videos until I got the choreography right. As I grew older and began to take dance more seriously, I eventually found myself in studios and taking classes. The most essential skills I developed were self-discipline, consistency, and confidence. Without these skills, I wouldn’t be the dancer I am today. Read more>>

Valerie Reyes

College is surely a rollercoaster ride. I’ve been active with participating in a lot of extra-curricular activities even when I was residing in Manila. At the age of seven, I was already encouraged to take art & homemaking workshops, voice lessons and auditions for modeling & acting. I’ve started to be exposed to model by doing ramp, print when I was sixteen years old and always dreamed to be part of newspaper and websites. Living in Vegas gave me a lot of possibilities even when you had to cope so hard with diversity in my first years of moving in. Read more>>

Travis Bailey

I’ve discovered the art of music creation through trial and error, coupled with an insatiable thirst for listening. I delve deeper into the mix, falling in love with every intricate crack and pop of the drums, as well as the lush, ethereal waves of the pads and synths. This self-taught journey has ignited a self-motivated passion within me, akin to a painter’s creative expression, allowing me to sculpt sounds and bring them to life. Read more>>

Leonardo Le San

I began as a young artist with a laser-focused mentality to learn the craft of a composer and pianist. I was observant of the troubadour-type musicians who sang and entertained family gatherings, social events, and public concerts in my hometown of Colombia. These self-taught musicians could communicate with the audience and keep folks of all ages engaged in the songs’ storytelling. I had diverse exposure to Colombian folk music, popular styles, and American music when our family moved to the US when I was just a preteen. Read more>>

Ary Cupcakezzz

I has been into witchcraft since I was about 14 years old. It all started with not wanting to take pharmaceuticals, when I had a head ache or an injury growing up. Long hours researching “Home remedies” and “natural ways to cure a cough” and the more reading and research I put into it the more I found myself coming back to witchcraft and herbalism. So, I started searching “Witchcraft” and “How to; Manifestation” and “What crystals can help with…” Before I knew it I was hip deep in all things witchcraft and occult. Read more>>

Shadi Karbasi

I never went to school for fashion, I went to school for interior design but I do feel like the design aspect gave me more aware of details especially when it comes to fabrics and materials. I learned how to sew without ever taking any classes, mainly just trial and error with my sewing machine. The main obstacle was understanding what tension and needle to use with each fabric that I was using. That is when I started watching more YouTube videos to understand more about how the sewing machine works and that helped making the sewing process smoother. Read more>>

Dk Stargod

People always are shocked when I tell this story. When I started making music about three short years ago, I had NO experience whatsoever in the field. My venture into the world of music absolutely shocked my friends and family. That being said, I had to learn how to write, record, produce, and perform my music. During my first year, I learned how to record myself and found my signature, energetic sound. YouTube tutorials were my best friend during this time, and I would spend hours watching videos on vocal projection, and audio engineering. In my second year, I focused more on the engineering aspect of my career, beginning to mix and master songs for my peers in the St.Louis music scene. Read more>>

Kara Marcus

I learned how to do what I do with deep space astrophotography simply because I posed the question of how to image space to my husband. He and I fell down the rabbit hole of the “how to’s” of deep space imaging together, and are still falling today. Make no mistake, this passion we share is purely hobby, but the technical aspects of it is certainly the most professional level of anything I’ve ever taken on before. Read more>>

Danielle Krippes

I am 100% self-taught! I started learning everything about photography during the pandemic. I used the opportunity to not only practice, but set aside the time to learn the technical side of my camera and how to edit. Looking back, I could have dedicated more time to watching videos, doing research, etc. However, every craft takes time and practice! It’s not always going to come quick and be easy. Practice really does improve your craft. Read more>>

Tommy And Daniel Carr

We learned to do what we do by trial & error, completely giving myself to the process of creating, putting in the hours of work and allowing myself to trust intuition and continue to learn. Even knowing what we know now, we honestly feel there is no area in which we’d want to speed things up – we value the time spent on each goal obtained along the way. If we had to choose an area though, it would be in learning how to ask for help from peers and working as a team with a more defined goal, either business or project related. Read more>>

Rob Jelinski

In Art School, I sharpened traditional illustration and art skills but fell deeply in love with design. Print to be specific, but digital design has grown on me since then. Along my journey, I built my skills of consulting and mentoring over my career of 20 years within creative industries. Read more>>

Quyen Phan

My artistic path has been quite unconventional and unexpected compared to many other artists that I know. Most artists’ stories begin with exposure to and interest in art at a young age, that then led them to years of creative endeavors and artistic development. My story is quite different in that I did not begin doing art in the form of painting and photography until later in life. Read more>>

Ian Escalante

I learned photography by practicing consistently, experimenting with different techniques, and capturing a wide variety of subjects. To speed up my learning process, I watched countless videos, absorbing tips and tricks from seasoned photographers. Essential skills for photography include mastering camera settings, understanding lighting, and developing a keen eye for composition. However, I faced obstacles along the way, such as periods of artist block where creativity felt stagnant. Overcoming these challenges required perseverance, self-motivation, and continually seeking inspiration from various sources. Read more>>

Ren Han

My mom taught me how to crochet and knit when I was a child-I was too young at the time to fully appreciate the craft but this later became the catalyst for learning more about the fiber arts. Crocheting during college and the pandemic led to weaving on a rigid heddle loom, which led to learning how to spin on a spinning wheel. I also learned how to punch needle during this time, and now I rug tuft large moth-like creatures for my artwork. Read more>>