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?

Soham Patil

I learned to do what I do through a combination of formal education, hands-on experience, and a relentless curiosity to explore the intersections of art, design, and storytelling. My foundation was built during my architectural studies, where I honed my understanding of structure, form, and human interaction with space. Read More>>

Michaele Postell

Long story short, I learned to sing by mimicking my favorite artists. Short story long: I didn’t take voice lessons until I was practically an adult. As a child, I learned to sing by listening. I listened to the radio. I listened to my mother and older sister sing hymns. I listened to Disney VHS tapes like Fun and Fancy Free until the player was warm to the touch. I learned a lot by listening. Read More>>

Sarah Baer

For me it started with curiosity, but the real progress came from doing the research and experimenting on my own. Botanical dyeing has such a rich history, and there’s an abundance of information out there. To start, I turned to books to learn how to grow or forage local plants that would give me the colors I wanted, and then adapted those techniques to make them my own. Read More>>

Anthony Guzman

My name is Anthony Guzman. I am a self-taught artist. Before I justo paint and create a poem too fast, I want to catch the emotion I was working under, rushing one project to move on to the next project out of the joy of my excitement. Read More>>

Emily Vail

The learning process for my current position within the company was actually quite tumultuous because there was only a 2 week training period for a position that normally takes a month or more to learn. Read More>>

Scott Hines

I studied Industrial Design at the Art Institute of Seattle and Portland as well as the school of design at The University of Oregon. I was leaning towards the outdoor industry and I took a soft goods class to understand how to sew and pattern with different materials. I really enjoyed learning how bags and cloths were constructed and all about the materials and processes used. Read More>>

Deborah Reed

People are surprised when I tell them I do not have a degree in English or creative writing. Everything I learned about writing came from a voracious reading appetite, attending writing retreats and conferences, talking with other writers, being willing to accept constructive criticism, learning from my mistakes, and writing, writing…and writing some more. Read More>>

Hina Farooq

I learned henna artistry through a combination of tradition, passion, and dedicated practice. Growing up, henna was an integral part of celebrations, and I was drawn to how it brought people together. What began as a simple hobby soon evolved into a deep passion—I devoted countless hours practicing on myself, friends, and family, experimenting with various elements and styles, and continuously refining my technique. Over time, I developed my own signature style, which now defines Henna Styles. Read More>>

Kim Vanos

Photography has always been a significant part of my life. I loved going into the little photo booths at the mall that would give you a strip of 4 photos in high school. I have more “old time” photos then I care to admit. I knew when I saw a wedding cake with photos on it that I wanted my wedding cake to have photos on it. One of the biggest fights my husband and I ever had was over how many photos to buy at a studio when my daughter was young. So, you get the point…. I love photos! Read More>>

Chad Punchard

Initially I took a basic 2 year NVQ carpentry course under an apprenticeship scheme, I was then offered to take on an additional third year course in advanced crafts woodwork. These courses taught me the fundamental basic knowledge and skills of carpentry & joinery. Although I did not like general Carpentry you see on new build homes these days, i wanted to learn the more creative side to the trade. Read More>>

Rebecca Cuthbert

I am not one of those people who says “I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was four years old.” I’m happy for people who grew up with that kind of consistent conviction, but, my life has been messy and chaotic. The things that did not change for me were that I loved reading, and I was good at writing. And, with those facts, my life has been a journey of only being able to see the next step, not having a map laid out to an ultimate and known destination. Read More>>

Kate Cherichello Tente

From a broader ‘performing’ standpoint, I first just learned from videos of musicals. Sound of Music, Annie, Beauty and the Beast…these played on repeat at my home when I was little, and I belted out every song included therein. Read More>>

Alexandria Dority

From a young age, I have always been interested in drawing. It started off simple, drawing crude imitations of characters I liked from media I was consuming at the time—like the PowerPuff Girls— before it slowly became an active hobby I regularly participated in. Read More>>

Arianna Padilla

I wouldn’t claim to have mastered my craft entirely, but I’ve come a long way. In my opinion, one of the biggest misconceptions about photography is that mastering your equipment and software is the most essential aspect. While technical skills are important, the one thing that has had the greatest impact on my work is learning how to communicate in a way that creates space for authenticity with my clients. Read More>>

Anna Manansala

I discovered my passion for photography and editing back in high school, experimenting with Photoshop and Lightroom. At first, I honed my skills by designing websites and editing stock photos as practice. Over time, this hobby evolved into a craft I’m still perfecting today. With technology advancing rapidly—especially with AI tools—I’m always learning something new. Read More>>

Sabrina Ryan

I learned how to tattoo through a traditional apprenticeship at a street shop off of a military base in New Jersey. I don’t think learning to tattoo is something you can rush or speed up since it’s a lot of trial and error, but definitely being consistent and being able to take constructive critisicm and absorb information helped me take leaps progression wise. I’d say my biggest obstacle in the beginning was myself. Read More>>

Peggy Garard

I began working with colored pencil as a hobby back in 2020 just before lockdown as a way to relax. I had brain surgery in 2018 that really impacted my word recall, so I was looking for something that I could engage in fully without wearing myself out.. Read More>>

Aminata Coote

I’ve always loved writing, and English Language and Literature were my “easy” subjects in school. When I decided I wanted to become a writer, I read articles about writing, bought courses and books, listened to podcasts and YouTube videos, attended webinars, conferences, and online training, and listened to authors who were already successful. But one of the best things I did (and do) to get better is to keep writing. Read More>>

Dja

I started songwriting at a very young age of 8. My family had an impact on the type of music I would listen to which was a lot of hip hop, R&B and Spanish music. I became captivated with how rappers conveyed a message or story with a certain flow. This inspired me to start writing and although music is subjective, my first songs weren’t the best. I do my best to get better over time. I started writing over popular beats I liked on YouTube beats. Read More>>

Leona Love

I learned the land of mixed media art by wasting household items to make pieces until I was able to work and buy my own art supplies. Soon after my interest in mixed media peaked near the end of high school, following that I used my arts courses in undergrad to enrich my approach to mixed media art. One thing that might have benefited my experience could have been starting to learn to sculpt sooner. Read More>>

Colin Oh

I didn’t realize it at the time but I suppose I started learning the foundations of cinematography from as young as I can remember. Growing up with a pair of artists for parents, art was an integral part of my upbringing. My father, a photographer, was my earliest influence. I spent countless hours around his studio, often sneaking his film cameras to experiment on my own. I learned the basics of exposing an image by watching him work and through my own trial and error. Read More>>

Russ Burroughs

In coaching, my knowledge comes from a lifetime of playing and studying the game. I’ve spent years in the trenches—watching film, analyzing mechanics, and building strong relationships with athletes. Similarly, in life coaching, I draw heavily from personal experiences, challenges, and successes. The lessons I’ve learned about leadership, resilience, and connection on the field seamlessly translate to helping people navigate life off the field. Read More>>

Yong Tan

As a film composer, I learn most of my craft through watching movies and writing music to pictures. When I watch a movie, I like to watch it twice – the first time as an audience and the second time as a composer. Having a mentor or watching other composers share their craft helps a lot, too, but I believe watching movies and having practical experience are the two most effective ways to improve the skill. Read More>>