Over the past few months we’ve reached out to members of the CanvasRebel community to dive deeper into their stories. We wanted to learn how they got to where they are today and we heard stories that will keep our inspiration cup full for a long time. Their stories, lessons and humor have lifted our spirits and we hope you’ll take a minute to check out the stories below.

Dylann Hogan

My name is Dylann and I own the small jewelry business, DEH Jewels. I started my business in January 2021 with my love for fashion and jewelry. I always wanted to express myself with my creativity and spice up my outfit with some fun jewelry, so why not start a jewelry business myself? I also have always admired people who were there own boss and had the full control and capability of growing as much as they desire. My mom has always been very into jewelry and made jewelry herself years back, so she has helped me get to where I am today and I am forever grateful for that. Read more>>

 Margaret Emerson’s Story

After loving art as a youth and doing well in high school art classes, I entered college as an Art Major. I felt I was in heaven! But my bubble burst when my parents advised me that I would have a hard time making a living as an artist. So, like many other women of my generation, I became a nurse. Nursing was a great career. When I retired, the first thing I did was enroll in an art class. It’s been 15 years now, I have found my true self, and I’m happier than I ever have been. Read more>>

Naadier Riles

I started my clothing brand, Global Heartbreak, in 2017 as a survival tactic. The name of the brand was the first thing that came to mind due to the space I was in at the time. Global Heartbreak started as a T-shirt brand and slowly worked its way up the urban streetwear ladder, releasing multiple garments and sneakers. Read more>>

C. Eric Collier

I am an authority on Mental Quicksand, a Certified John Maxwell Leadership Team Member, DISC facilitator, dynamic motivational speaker, award-winning collaborator, and podcast host. My journey began with my own personal struggles with feeling stuck and uncertain about my purpose. I once found myself trapped in Mental Quicksand, doubting my skills and abilities, and questioning my place in the world. Read more>>

Damien Larkin’s Story

After the birth of our first child, I decided to go part time in work while my wife focused on her career (she’s the careerist and I’m the dreamer)! I knew it’d be hard work looking after my daughter, but I relished the experience and decided I wanted to focus on some personal projects on the side (i.e while my daughter napped). I’d built up an app development business, managed to land three contracts and utterly exhausted from lack of sleep, somehow launched all three apps without a glitch or a bug in sight. Read more>>

Lucky Anderson

I started baking as a child and got into decorating cupcakes and cakes for my friends in high school. I attended Sullivan University where I earned an Associate Degree in Baking and Pastry arts. I worked as a pastry chef in a couple of places including Gainbridge Field house . I eventually started my own cake business that gave me the freedom to create my own schedule to do what I enjoy . Read more>>

Cass Zoubek

I’m a silversmith making hand crafted jewelry from sterling silver and gemstones but that’s not where I started in my journey. Before I learned to use a torch, my vision was to create unique art and jewelry from materials foraged from the desert. I spend most of my free time roaming the Nevada deserts where I frequently come across old bones, dried up cholla cactus, sparkling stones, and interesting pieces of juniper wood. I get a lot of joy from making these items into art like wind chimes, earrings, pendants, or sun catchers. That’s when I created High Desert Art and started my shop website HighDesertArt.net. Read more>>

Mary Hawkins

Sure! Thank you so much for inviting me. I’m an art director, animator and designer based in New York City and I love working with type, using bright colors and giving my work unexpected and rich textures by using collage or handmade elements. I was born in Kentucky and then went to high school in Massachusetts, where I was an artsy theater kid. (At one point, I realized that pretty much all of my clothes either had paint on them or were black.) I came to New York on August 25th, 1996 – so many people asked me for the date before I left that I memorized it – and I lived in the East Village for 25 years before moving to Jackson Heights, Queens during lockdown. I went to a specialized conservatory at NYU/Tisch where I was one of only a few undergrads in their Grad Design Department. I worked in indie film for a year and then went back to school to learn animation. I’ve been working in motion graphics and as an art director for the last two decades and it’s really been a wonderful career for me. It just syncs up with something about the way my brain operates and scratches just the right itch for the part of my head that loves fun visual puzzles, so it’s been a really good fit. Read more>>

Lamark Plaskett

For those who don’t know my name is Lamark aka “The King of Queens” and I like to create dope sh*t. I was born in the Bronx, grew up in Queens, went to college in Brooklyn and work in Manhattan so New York really is my city. I’ve always wanted to be a star since I saw 3LW at like age 5. I couldn’t really sing but I knew that I belonged on television or something of that magnitude. I had a pretty tough childhood due to abuse, bullying and never feeling like I belong or being the underdog. I created a lil radio show called “The Fresh Movement” in college to build my confidence and from there I now have my podcast “Lamark After Dark” that is recorded in iHeartRadio HQ. Read more>>

Erika Carrero of Elizée

My journey started in the world of finance, where I worked as a finance executive in Silicon Valley. I loved the work, but it was definitely a male-dominated space, and as a petite woman, I often found myself being the only one in the room who looked like me. High heels became my secret weapon—they gave me height and a sense of confidence, which helped me feel more assertive and empowered. But there was always one problem: the heels I loved weren’t comfortable enough to wear all day. I started wondering why there wasn’t a shoe out there that could offer both style and comfort. Read more>>

Chris Shimojima

The act of creation must feel expansive and adventurous.. It began with a love for Indiana Jones and other films that my dad shared with me… I then started writing/drawing my own comic books… And I learned classical piano. One of the best things about it is it teaches you to listen for and track the development of themes. That led me to dabble in composing my own orchestral works.. During high school, video editing became a way to synthesize all my creator interests. Editors are the sculptor of a story, messing with music and moving images… with timing, with emotion, with structure… Read more>>

Alex Eckman-lawn

I was (still am) a big nerd as a kid and I used to obsess over the art in comics and cartoons, copy characters out of my videogame manuals, study box art, all the usual nerd kid behavior. I remember asking my dad to photocopy pages out of “how to draw the marvel way” for me to study at home. I’m very fortunate that I knew from an early age that I wanted to pursue Art as a career, and even more fortunate to have parents that supported this. Read more>>

 Jesenia Wright

My journey started with my own lived experiences. Growing up in poverty with a mother who struggled with mental health and substance abuse, I saw firsthand the challenges that come with those hardships. That early exposure shaped my passion for helping others. I pursued a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice, but my heart led me to social work, where I earned my Master’s and became a Licensed Master Social Worker. In 2016, I founded GivingsCloset Inc., a donation-based clothing closet, as a way to give back to the community. Over the years, I’ve worked with schools, developed mental health workshops, and now oversee a school-based mental health program, serving 13 schools with over 30 employees. Read more>>

Denzel Smalls

“I started in the design industry as a graphic designer. I grew up with a passion for the arts, entertainment, and animation fields. The concept of bringing a song or idea to life through visual effects truly enticed me. When most people think of arts and media, the first things that come to mind are paintings, drawings, sculptures—things in that space. While there’s nothing wrong with the traditional sense of art, the career field is much broader than that. It encompasses everything from car designs to cartoon shows, and I wanted to be a part of it all.” Read more>>

Alita Watson of Alma Leadership

My career has been anything but a straight line. From serving in the Army National Guard to working in healthcare, spending over 13 years in global aid, and eventually becoming an Embedded Coach for fast-growth startups, each chapter has been guided by a deep call to service. The common thread in all of these experiences was the role I played as a bridge between the communities we served and the leaders aiming to make a meaningful impact. By creating a shared reality between the two, we accomplished amazing things. Read more>>

Evan Miller’s Story

My fondest memories of childhood are always outside. As a kid, I would be playing in my backyard and on my driveway or in different parks until sundown and even into the night. Over and over I would record myself doing “trickshots” with various objects and finding interesting ways to frame myself and the target in one shot. Over time I fell in love with exploring, new experiences, and photography. I was highly intrigued by what I didn’t know or experience yet. When I got into NYU Tisch School of the Arts, I had an opportunity to make a career out of my play that once started in a small town in Westchester, NY. During my time at NYU, I tried to see every corner of the big city and photograph and film anything I could, for hire or for fun. Eventually I earned a network of filmmakers and collaborators that spurred me into becoming a full time Director of Photography where I now shoot projects with famous artists and well known actors almost all the time as well as all around the world. Read more>>

Robin Berkery of Yoga with Robin

As a fitness instructor and avid hiker, I am no stranger to the gifts that lie in the medicine of movement within the body. I love leading students through safe, inspiring, effective, experiences that leave them feeling relaxed, centered, and invigorated. I am a devoted student of yoga and mindfulness and have studied yoga for several years now, in Santa Cruz and abroad. My own practice has changed my life in infinite ways, but most of all, it has helped me feel more at home with myself. My teaching style is sincere, intuitive, and lighthearted. One of my skills is in making yoga feel accessible to beginners and experienced yogis alike. I’m a huge proponent of the healing powers of the body-mind-spirit and look forward to teaching students how to transform their lives on and off the mat with yoga practice. Read more>>

 Joel Devereux

I was always creative from a young age and found myself drawing & painting all throughout my school years. I picked up a camera towards the end of school and started producing burlesque shows in my final year of university (2013). We needed poster images so I had a red hot go at taking some images and the rest was history. I have worn many creative hats over the past decade working in the arts & entertainment industries. My adaptability in the creative scene has allowed me to work in a number of different worlds; namely photography, burlesque, drag, theatre, creative design, music, hospitality, events, graphic design and marketing. My unique skillset and familiarity in the wider entertainment industry has also allowed me to work with many notable artists, international celebrities, and entertainment companies. Read more>>

Savvas Christou

I started my journey in the arts through music, being a drummer and performing in various venues and festivals in Greece. That experience connected me to the world of performance and storytelling, which later expanded to film. After spending 7 years in Hollywood, I honed my skills and built relationships that have been invaluable in my filmmaking career. During this time, I developed a deep passion for dance films and directing, earning 39 awards worldwide for my work. Read more>>

Natanhna Morales of Natanhna Psychic Wellness Mentor

Hi I’m Natanhna Psychic Wellness Mentor and I like to tell you how my business came to be. The inspiration came when I was on my own journey with grief and wanted to rediscover my inner strength for myself and others.But what I found was emotionally charged outcomes kept standing in my way.  So I decided to create a movement to empower grieving women to reclaim their lives and inner strength through spiritual insight, emotional healing, and practical accountability guiding them towards growth and renewed purpose. Since then, I’ve helped grieving women regain control, trust themselves, and create a life that works for them. Read more>>

Jesse & Tamara Furgason’s Story

Our story began with a simple idea rooted in a shared passion for design, ambiance, and sustainability. Tamara and I, co-founders of Everlasting Candle Co., first met in Australia during university. Tamara’s background as a Dr public health and my entrepreneurial spirit blended into an unexpected business partnership. We didn’t start off with the idea of revolutionizing candlelight—our journey began organically. Read more>>

Steven Schneider of TrioSEO

My entrepreneurial journey started in college when a friend showed me that he was making upwards of $10,000+ monthly from his college apartment. How? He built affiliate websites and used search engine optimization (SEO) to drive blog traffic. From that moment, I was hooked.  I became obsessed with SEO and used every opportunity to learn the basics. He gave me a starter site and I used that as my playground.  Flash forward a few years, and we (me, him, and our other partner) owned 40 websites, published 400 articles per month, and scaled our college side hustle into a 7-figure company.  Read more>>

Luna Abreia

I grew up surrounded by the film industry, thanks to my grandfather and father being filmmakers. From a young age, I was immersed in the world of cinema, which sparked my passion for storytelling through film. I would find myself analyzing frames and shots for hours, captivated by the art form, even when I had little knowledge of the industry. It’s something that runs in my veins. film is my true passion. This deep-rooted love has driven me to pursue a career in the arts, where I can continue exploring and contributing to the medium that has always inspired me. Read more>>

Nancy Murty

I didn’t grow up dreaming of being a professional artist—it just didn’t seem like a practical career choice. My parents encouraged more predictable paths like teaching or nursing, but drawing was always part of who I was. Despite exploring other interests, I kept coming back to it. I originally started college studying Physical Therapy, but after my first clinical experience, I quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I took some time off to regroup and, after much exploration, it all clicked. I found there were career paths where I could combine my love of drawing with a more practical focus. That’s when I decided to pursue Graphic Design and Illustration at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Read more>>

Breyanna Scott

When I was ten years old, I went on vacation with my dad. Normally, my dad would always sleep and stay in the room majority of the time. Any other time I would sit around and wait but this trip I took a composition notebook and some pencils. While waiting on my dad to get up I would spend all my time drawing on the balcony. I found it quite peaceful and felt so proud of my drawings. I continued to draw over the years before I introduced myself to painting. There were times where I’d go months without painting, but I’d always find my way back to it. As I got older and started to experience tribulations, I’d find myself turning to art to help me cope. I’d paint what the experience would feel like to me, A vision would come to me and I’d do my best to express it through my art. Through my walk with Christ, I’ve had many signs of conformation telling me that this was what I was made for, my calling. I want people to look at my art and relate to it knowing they’re not alone with their silent battles. Read more>>

Heather Regal Salmon of Black Swan Temple & Farm

My journey has been one of embracing the transformative power of creativity, spirituality, and healing. Growing up in Toronto, with a blend of Jamaican and Celtic heritage, I was drawn to explore both the mystical and the tangible. After completing my degree in Economics, I embarked on a dynamic career in international events, working with global organizations like the NBA. Yet, despite my success, there was a deeper call stirring within—a call to find greater purpose and connection. Read more>>

Erinn Hoel of Hoelistic Health and Hoelistic Health Coaching

The journey to get to where I am today wasn’t a straight shot, and let me tell you, it definitely wasn’t a walk in the park. Growing up, if you’d asked me what I wanted to be, ‘sex therapist’ and ‘sexual health and wellness coach’ weren’t exactly on the list—I didn’t even know those were jobs! My path to this field—and the purpose I’ve passionately claimed—was carved through a deep, often hilariously awkward quest for understanding. I found myself fascinated by the ‘whys’: Why is sex such a taboo? Why do differing desires cause such uproar in relationships? And why do so many women feel defective when their sex drive doesn’t sync with their partner’s? Here’s a newsflash: You’re not broken, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you! Read more>>

Andy Kelemen

I got my start as a promotions editor, working in news and at our local PBS station. From there I went on to producing content for PBS, as well as editing political ads for many years. Editing eventually led to directing, and after going full-time freelance, I was officially a commercial director. For creative jobs, lots of times one thing simply leads to another, and great opportunities have seemingly fallen into my lap a few times in life. Read more>>

Elizabeth Decker Brown

While I’ve always had a love for Maryland and animals, I only discovered I had somewhat decent sewing skills during COVID. Working from home meant I wasn’t commuting four hours a day to my job in DC, which gave me a lot more free time. Add in a dog and a COVID puppy, and I had the bright idea to save some money by making collars and bandanas myself. Thanks to TikTok and Google, I taught myself the basics, and before I knew it, I was whipping up bandanas like a pro. That led to an online store, a crash course in social media, and jumping into my first market. These days, I spend most weekends meeting people and chatting about their pets at local markets. It’s become a busy 5 to 9 after my 9 to 5, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Read more>>

Ilissa Miller of iMiller Public Relations (iMPR)

In 1996, Ilissa Miller embarked on her telecommunications career just as the Telecommunications Act was established. Having been recruited by an independent consultant to work at DLM, Miller was eager to learn about the industry. The owner agreed to train Ilissa, igniting her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for digital infrastructure. By 1999, she was ready to dive deeper, transitioning to a role at Ericsson and later joining TransGlobal Communications, where she successfully sold colocation space in Midtown Manhattan. Read more>>

Cary Kelly of The Cookery

I find myself with an abundance of opportunity in front of me. After a long career that began in the Peace Corps, journeyed through the hospitality and culinary world, then to non-profits, I finished by “career” with a group of culinary shops in the Washington, D.C. area. Today, I am retired from all of that and designing my next, probably last, gig. Retirement is a dirty word in our culture; it conjures images of old people tired from a long life, moving to warmer climes, and rocking away the bit of time they have left. There is nothing about that picture that fits my life! I see this enormous gift as the freedom to do so many of things I’ve always wanted to do and to do them without the burden of needed capital, staff, market demands, and cash flow. This is what we all work so hard for. Read more>>

Matthew Garth

I spent the first 30 years of my life trying to climb the “corporate ladder” and live a conventional American life. Although I always felt there was a different path to success, I wasn’t sure where to start. I knew I needed to start my own business, but I couldn’t envision what that would look like. During a brief period of homelessness, I spent most of my time in the library, researching topics that interested me and expanding my understanding of familiar subjects. I began listening to my intuition and started chasing my dreams again. My last attempt at pursuing my passion was as a stand-up comedian, but it proved challenging to balance a family and a budding comedy career. I eventually chose my family, though that didn’t work out as I had hoped. Read more>>

Evelyn Lee

My artistic journey has been quite the adventure. Growing up, my father introduced me to classical music, igniting my love for Bach and Tchaikovsky, while my mother nurtured my creativity through reading and painting. I’ve always viewed art as a form of beauty in various expressions, initially dreaming of becoming a painter before exploring paths in cartooning, archaeology, and forensic science. Literature inspires me too—authors like Cao Xueqin, Dostoevsky, Virginia Woolf, and Roberto Bolaño invite deeper contemplation and challenge me to reflect on moments that make me feel both small and detached. Read more>>

Alli Mcafee

I feel rather fortunate that I was born into a family that encouraged my creative inclinations from a young age. My Nana and aunts supplied me with endless inspiration through old movies, books, and imaginative play while my parents gave me the gift of exploring almost every medium I ever expressed a desire to work with. Read more>>

Dr. Tyana Velazquez- Velazquez-smith

As a Black Latina woman diagnosed with autism during the final year of my PhD in Teaching and Curriculum, I bring a unique blend of lived experiences to my work in early childhood and special education. My academic journey, spent largely undiagnosed, highlighted the many flaws in the educational systems designed to support only certain types of learners. The frustration I felt—navigating a system that couldn’t or wouldn’t see me—shaped my commitment to reimagining education for neurodivergent students like myself. Read more>>

Kate Egnaczak

I spent my childhood on our 68-acre family farm in the Berkshires. My parents wanted my sister and me to have the experience of learning through play and nature. Growing up in that environment, I learned about life cycles, ecosystems, sustainable reuse, and responsible resource management. Living in “America’s Premiere Cultural Resort” exposed me to incredible arts, culture, and history, which I took full advantage of. Read more>>

Karryl Durr of The Swann School of Protocol Baton Rouge

I grew up in North Baton Rouge, LA. I have always had the enthusiasm, and the mind set to help people in my community, the City of Baton Rouge, and surrounding areas to become the best version of themselves. I produced the idea of becoming a Certified Etiquette Consultant, so I knew I had to get the required certification and credentials to help develop individuals as they grow and flourish in everyday life situations and most importantly having respectable social skills. I knew this was worthwhile because of the results from developing individuals, sharing the importance of proper etiquette, and receiving positive feedback from individuals, parents, families, churches, colleges, universities, and the community was amazing. I felt this would work due to the need in our community, city as well as our country. Read more>>

Caroline Allen

It was 2018 when I receive the call that changes everything. It’s my landlord. He’s calling to tell me loggers are coming to cut down half the forest around my house. I rent a house on nearly 80 acres in rural Oregon. After a life living in the world’s major cities– Tokyo, London, Seattle, Boston — I’d moved to Oregon to live around nature again, to reconnect with the earth. When I found the rental house surrounded by forests, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Read more>>

Jonny Hoffner

We started Good Lion Golf in 2022 anchored in the concept of GOOD > SAFE. This pertains to golf and life writ large. Good Lion is rooted in a love of the game and the beauty it contains, but we also desire to see it grow and evolve beyond the stale, fratty aesthetic that is all too pervasive. Read more>>

Emily Luk of Plenty

When my husband and I got engaged, we looked everywhere for a product that would make it easy for couples to answer basic financial questions like: where are we? Where’s our money going? What are we on track for? What’s the best place for our money? Everywhere we went, it felt like a mess of logins, accounts, and separate apps. It made it so much harder for us to have basic financial conversations and after researching and talking to hundreds of other couples, we knew we weren’t alone. Read more>>

Shawn Harris

My journey as a creative started at a young age – around pre-k. As a child, I was consistently awarded with accolades around arts & crafts partaking in different mediums of art like drawing, painting, and musical instruments. My passion for the arts was my calling and growing up I always saw the world in abstract subjectivity. Read more>>

Vicki Kenyon’s Story

I am a connector. It brings me great joy to be able to connect people with one another, either because they have a professional need or because it feels like they would fit together as friends. I enjoy connecting people with resources from dog-walking to estate planning and everything in between. Bringing a team of professionals together to accomplish a goal that suits each of us well is exciting for me. And I am doing just that to best serve my Real Estate Clients every day. Whether it is a lender, an attorney, an insurance broker or a cleaning company – the team of professionals along side of me is as important to my clients as it is to me! Read more>>

Katrina Sorrentino’s Story

I’ve always been energetic, expressive and highly sensitive. I grew up dancing as a way to channel that raw energy. When I was 13, I injured my achilles and had to pivot. I discovered filmmaking around this time. Growing up, I was always borrowing my Dad’s VHS camera and 35mm film camera to make projects with my friends but in high school my film teacher and mentor, John Condne, encouraged me to pursue filmmaking professionally. I began making experimental films that had a lot of movement and music in them as a way to channel my emotion. This led me to apply early decision to study film at NYU. In college I trained as a cinematographer but mid-way through I became overwhelmed by the amount of gear between myself and the raw emotion of what we were capturing.

Jezz Strutt

I grew up in England and at the age of 9 or 10 was given the opportunity to have a go on the wheel in art class. I really enjoyed it but after this experience we never did it again. For the next 40 years I yearned to get back into the world of clay. It wasn’t until I approached my fiftieth birthday that I signed up for a pottery class and was determined to see if I was any good at it. I have been honing my skills and experimenting with clay ever since and I’m not about to stop… I think you could say “I am a pot-addict’! Read more>>

Alyssa Luckey

I grew up in rural Wisconsin, where I faced some challenging circumstances that made me very driven and motivated to help others who may be struggling. These experiences have given me a strong sense of empathy. I started my content creation journey during the pandemic, initially sharing personal stories. Over time, my content has evolved to focus on my everyday life, my pets, and important issues that need more attention. Authenticity is central to what I share, and it’s helped me build a supportive community. Read more>>

Dana Schmidt of Slice Communications

I think this interview came to be because of my involvement in Social Media Day – so it makes sense to start by explaining a little bit about the history of the organization itself! ‘Social Media Day’ was originally created by Mashable in 2009, but Cass Bailey, CEO of Slice Communications, launched Philadelphia’s own iteration of the annual event in 2014. After several conferences, it grew beyond an annual event to become the ultimate social media conference in the Greater Philadelphia region. In 2020, it became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, providing year-round professional development and networking experiences to members of the community. While social media is in the name, it is also inclusive of digital marketing, public relations, email marketing, and other communications practices. Read more>>

Paul Lorenz’s Story

My story has been a journey. Like everyone, where we start is not necessarily where we end. As a kid growing up in suburban Chicago, my interests were varied and creative: drawing, painting and piano lessons. Architecture always interested me, and that is what I choose to study at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Mies van der Rohe and the Bauhaus opened my eyes and mind to new possibilities. Read more>>

Julie D’ann

I feel like I’ve lived several lives already because I’ve actually remade myself a few times. So I will say my real journey started when my childhood belief system crashed to the ground. I lead a mostly happy childhood, always having more than enough to meet my basic needs and many desires, yet never experiencing lavishness or the freedom that a truly abundant mindset unlocks. I worked hard, made time for fun, but usually in moderation, and married my first quote “true love.” I was always successful at whatever job I pursued, but mostly I had no idea what I really wanted, let alone what my purpose was. I spent most of my twenties in a quasi existential exploration. My so-called “perfect life” – the house, the job, the spouse, the car – all burst into flames when I discovered my now ex-husband was having an affair – and it wasn’t the first time. I searched my heart for ways to make sense of this, to salvage what I thought was the dream of a perfect life, but after nearly a year of working through things, including marriage counseling, I finally realized that if I stayed in that marriage, and at that job that didn’t light me up, my soul would just wither and die. This set me on a new journey, one that would take me far away from anyone and anywhere I had ever known, to a new state, a new job, and a new life. Read more>>

Marisa Rheem

My story as an artist is decorated with fateful encounters and unexpected twists. It truly began in my childhood, cast by my mother’s restrictions on my self-expression and identity. She had an affinity for revoking my joy, which left me fragmented from my artistic self and hesitant to envision a future in art. This disconnect has significantly affected my ability to trust my creative instincts, resulting in cyclical fears every time I enter the studio. Even with the intrinsic battle to reconnect with my childhood self, I continue to paint large-scale realistic paintings feverishly: why? Because it brings me joy! Read more>>

Stephanie Shanks

My story began as a 16-year-old girl who found herself unexpectedly pregnant with twins. Overnight, my world changed, and I had to grow up faster than I ever imagined. The journey of navigating motherhood as a teenager was one of resilience and survival, but it also planted the seeds of self-doubt and self-judgment that I would carry for years. I spent much of my life trying to fit into roles and expectations that felt safe and stable, sacrificing parts of myself in the process. Read more>>

John Fico

After a trip to the Emire State Building in the First Grade, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be a New Yorker. I wanted to be inside all that excitement and bustle and rush with the tall buildings and the beautiful Rockettes and the zodiac lit up on the ceiling in Grand Central. I wanted to eat hot dogs and pretzels from street vendors and ride the subway to wherever I wanted to go and to whoever I wanted to be. A few years later, I went with our grammar school glee club to see the spring musical at a local high school. After watching those kids sing and dance in their fantastic costumes, after hearing the thunderous applause, suddenly I knew what I wanted to do when I got to New York City. I wanted to be an actor. Read more>>

Natalia Zamora’s Story

I was a bartender before I started working with flowers in 2019 right before the pandemic hit, I was pretty tired of bartending and wanted to do something more creative where I could build things with my hands. Started working at different flower shops in the city, got the opportunity to work making from small to x-large floral installations, real and “silk” I definitely enjoy much more working with real flowers, I quickly learned a lot and decided to start my own company. Petalheads NYC, we focus in private weekly accounts for bars, restaurants, residential as well as events, weddings, set design and anything floral/plant related. I still freelance for some other designers every now and then and truly enjoy to see how different everyones style and work flow is, I think it had allowed me to shape better the floral designer/sculptor I want to be. I have also learned a lot about having and running your own business, everyday is a learning experience and I enjoy the constant growing and learning. Read more>>

 Roy Schweiger

Growing up in Tel Aviv, Israel had a major role in shaping my personality and the unique experience it had in the first half of my life. I was truly lucky to discover my love for motion and photography fairly early on and right before I graduated high school. My grandfather who was the only person in the family who was not born In Israel was sent by his family in Bratislava, Slovakia to Israel at 15 years old just before WW2. He had a strong European influence on me and I embraced it. I was eager to learn from the best and somehow knew my calling was outside of Israel where fashion markets and beauty industries are stronger and established. Read more>>

Veronica Valentin

I’ve always loved zombie films, action films, and sci-fi movies. I’ve been directing for a little while now, and I’ve always been a huge fan of *The Walking Dead*. I owned the comics before the show premiered and even watched the first episode live on TV. Having the opportunity to make and release this film has been a major blessing and is something I haven’t taken for granted. I plan on creating even bigger and better projects in the near future!” Read more>>