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.

Trystin Otero-Watson

A few years ago my dad got his hands on a camera for free, but he already had one, so he let me have it I’d gone around mostly taking landscape photos when a friend of mine asked me to take some wedding anniversary photos for them. I had so much fun during that session that I wanted to try doing more. I had some amazing friends and family volunteer, and was able to practice a lot. Read more>>

Cornelius Grant

i got started acting in music video 2006 then got the passion for directing as well then i did my first major role in a feature film for paramount the bob marley one love movie 2024 where i played the supporting role of bucky marshall. Read more>>

Tyson Robinson

My name is Tyson Robinson, I’m 27 Years-Old, & I’m from Chesapeake, Virginia. I originally moved to Seattle in 2019 after graduating from Norfolk State University with a degree in Communications.

When I moved to Seattle in the spring of 2019, I started to ingratiate myself with the city’s culture and fell in love with the progressiveness. Seattle teaches me how to stand for something greater than myself. I support all the sociopolitical movements that are currently taking shape.  Read more>>

Tishoy Allen

My journey to becoming an Operations Manager in the call center industry began humbly at Vistaprint, where I started as a Customer Service Representative. It was there that I first learned the foundations of customer care and operational excellence. Read more>>

Mackenzie McKinney

My journey into branding and marketing has been anything but linear, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! With over a decade of experience across diverse industries, I’ve had the chance to wear a lot of hats: starting as a graphic designer, producing TV news, serving as a Public Affairs Officer in the Air National Guard, and earning a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. I’ve also had the privilege of leading creative teams as a Creative Director at a marketing agency before taking the leap to open my own. Read more>>

Vaani Sai

I’ve always been inspired by literature. Like many adolescents, I grew up devouring fantasy and contemporary fiction, drawn to the way stories could transport me to different worlds and perspectives. Writing felt natural to me, but pursuing it as a career was another story. Read more>>

Qi Rosa Zhang

My background is rooted in fashion design, tailoring, and textiles, which gave me a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and the stories materials can tell. Early in my career, I worked with a variety of luxury designer houses, focusing on intricate tailoring and custom designs. I loved working directly with clients, ensuring every piece was a perfect reflection of their vision and style. Read more>>

Lau Lapides

As a kid, I started as a dancer. I danced ballet at the Boston Ballet at 6 or 7 years old. I couldn’t get into the Nutcracker because I was too tall, can you believe that? As a dancer, though, I learned discipline. The power of structure, mind focus, having goals, and shooting for a high bar at a young age. I knew I wanted to be a performer, throughout my entire life. And by the time I was in my teens I was working professionally as an actor, having been cast in a touring improv troupe on Team Issues. I continued professional work throughout high school and into my college years, as the only recipient of the top performing arts scholarship in my high school, awarded to a young talent going into the industry who wanted to become a professional performer. Read more>>

Gregory “Hev One” Duval

It all started in Boston MA when my dad was a huge influence for me in music. He played the piano.and produced Haitian bands. Although I grew up in a way different genre of music ie Haitian music and by being born in Brooklyn NY I gravitated to hip hop music where everything was different at home vs the American music scene. I took all the knowledge of music and started making beats at 12 yrs old using a double cassette tape machine making long loops… we’re talking circa 1982/83. I entered a few talent shows and beatbox battles. As I got older and hip hop music was changing I started making beats and worked with a lot local rappers in Boston MA. Read more>>

Mak KliFF

I have been involved in music all my life. I am just recently starting back to make music. I also have a brand called Leader of Me clothing which is a self help motivational brand. I have been doing that since 2017. Read more>>

Millionaire Thought$

Millionaire Thought$ Born “Michael Lavar Taylor” on (September 7, 1987) also known as MiLLi is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, director, videographer, entrepreneur and record executive. Style is very versatile with punchlines, and metaphors, I got into acting doing a series called “The Adventures Of Captain Save a Hoe” which help me and my friend Dragonfly Davis create our own series “Rules And Codes’ which are both on YouTube. Been an executive at Febe Inc records for over a couple of years now in which I help get the team get whatever is needed from artwork to engineering studio sessions. My goal is to be the best version of myself daily, so I’m willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. Read more>>

Mary Guzmán

I grew up in a loving family; Mom, Dad, 4 brothers , 4 sisters and me. I having learning disabilities and didn’t know what was going on with me until I was in college. A friend sent me to the School’s learning center where I learned how to naviagate the world. Filmmaking was my major and I learned about being a Director. Today I driect film and theatre. Read more>>

Thompson Newkirk

Well, for me, playing music and pursuing a life in the entertainment business is just what I do. It’s what I have always done. You can feel it when you are on set, or on stage, or even just writing and recording music – this is where I am supposed to be. After I graduated from high school, I had the plan to go to college, major in music, graduate, and move to a city to pursue a career in music. When I was twenty-two, my father suddenly died and that definitely had an impact on me. Sometimes you don’t realize until later what it is that you were doing to get through a certain period of life. I lost focus for a few years and just kinda lived. Read more>>

Jeremy Batiste

I was born to a DJ father and a hardworking Mother. Their divorce catapulted me into a completely different yet privileged lifestyle with a military step father. After High School, I decided to give an acting film school a try and it’s been my life pretty much ever since. Over the years while balancing a career in acting – I have had a slew of odd jobs but mostly stuck with work as a sports medicine fitness coach. Read more>>

Ziggy

I always had a love for storytelling. I was always amazed by how magical theater was, and how it drew me in. I thought that making worlds was super cool. I started playing with color and light and realized the power that they have.

Being able to make worlds for people to live in for a short amount of time every night is so special. It’s a powerful ability that I always wanted to do. Read more>>

Ling Chua

I began my career as an intern at a post-production house in New York, where I was fortunate to meet a number of mentors who introduced me to the intricacies of the post-production industry. At the time, I had no idea that editing commercials was even a profession, so discovering this aspect of the industry was a true eye-opener. The more I immersed myself in the craft, the more I grew passionate about it. Over the years, I worked my way up from assistant editor to an editor, continuing to deepen my love for this field. Read more>>

Corinne Littleton

When I was a kid, I would always say “‘I’m gonna be an artist when I grow up”, but I had no idea what that would look like.
Christmas 2006, my mom bought me my first digital camera. I really believe this is what launched me forward in my photography career. I began taking pictures of anything and everything.

Back in October of 2005, I had began learning graphic design. What started as a hobby became another extension of my business. Read more>>

MaLo Sutra Fish

I’m MaLo Sutra Fish, a visual artist using film emulsion experimenting with still photography and film. My work is mostly experimental and/or based on analog processing. I use digitalised versions of my work for distribution or editing purposes although I tend to develop a body of work evolving around analog skills acquisition, in both still photography and moving image. You may watch some of my work on my website, www.malosutrafish.com. Read more>>

Caché Lennon

Sure I can! Growing up around the time you enter high school, that’s when the question starts. “ what do you want to be when you grow up?” I hated that question. Truth is, I hated it because I couldn’t answer the question.  I didn’t know what I wanted to be. I’ve always thought to myself I’m just a kid, mentally and emotionally undeveloped… I know nothing “ How are people asking me to make a decision that can predict the next 40-50 years of my life?” That was so scary. I also thought,  “Why is this normal?” I knew I was immature, I knew I had much growing to do, and I knew my feelings were fickle. One day I liked something, then the next day I didn’t.  I thought to myself that I had some growing and exploring to do so HOW and WHY are adults allowing kids from 14-17 to make a long-term decision that could determine how we spend the rest of their lives…. Read more>>

Isaiah Seward

I grew up in Richmond, Virginia and opportunities in music eventually took me to New York. At one of the concerts a fellow musician suggested I take a shot at acting, which I didn’t initially think was for me. But after doing a couple of theater productions and working as a background actor on a few TV shows I loved it. There was an unexpected upgrade on set that lead to me getting a line on a show called The Knick and from there I took classes, signed up for workshops, and tried to learn as much as I could about acting. There’s a lot more to the story but so far it has taken me on a great journey. Read more>>

Matthew McComb

I started working in kitchens at 16, working my way up to becoming an executive chef. Over time, I wanted more control over my craft and career, so I transitioned into personal cheffing, creating high-end, customized dining experiences.

Along the way, I explored real estate, which gave me a strong foundation in business and entrepreneurship. I launched Chef Matt’s Culinary Creations LLC, a premium personal chef service, and have been expanding my offerings to include catering and exclusive dining experiences.  Read more>>

Tommy Blake

I was first published in an international literary magazine when I was a teenager, and, inspired by a creative writing teacher, I chose to self-publish a couple titles at 17 years old. I’ve since revisited those books, made substantial edits, and sent them out elsewhere for publication almost 10 years later. However, in that time frame between 17 and 27, I’ve explored a lot more than those two titles. For instance, I received a BA in English Literature and MS in Digital and Print Media. Outside of academia, I edited for various literary magazines, typically for poetry. As for other works, I have published roughly 20 poetry books: full-length collections, chapbooks, and micro-chapbooks. My publishers include fifth wheel press, kith books, Querencia Press, and others. Read more>>

Ming Li

I am a product designer who used to work at Shopee, the largest e-commerce platform in Asia, for more than 4 years. I felt that I had reached a bottleneck and hoped to come to Silicon Valley to experience diverse cultures and top-notch technology work environment. Therefore, I studied for a master’s degree in data analysis here and joined an e-commerce platform that specializes in plant live streaming. Read more>>

Lawanda Horton

I started my business in 2008. After experiencing heavy workplace discrimination in the nonprofit sector, I decided to venture off in my own empowering organizations run by people of color with strategy and fundraising support. Read more>>

WANO Studios

I grew up bouncing around Monmouth County, NJ, with my two older sisters, and mother. We faced many financial hardships, which led us to experience homelessness several times throughout our upbringing. Despite these challenges, our education was heavily prioritized, and after graduating high school, I went on to Rutgers University. Read more>>

Lou Keeton

The LouAffirms story is long and winding. It begins – as so many do – with an ending.
Or what felt like an ending at the time. When I was in fourth grade, I was diagnosed with disabilities that impacted all 5 of my senses. These disabilities are so profound that authorities believed I wouldn’t graduate from high school, attend college, or hold a regular job. Read more>>

Chris Casillas

I have always been a musician. Music courses through my veins every day, and I would not be myself if I was without it. Before I discovered composition, I was a performer on keyboard and saxophone. I played in my schools, in bands of various genres, and often performed as a studio musician for many of my peers (a service I still provide today). I loved performing then and I love it now, but there were always a few things that bothered me about it. Firstly, I was never attracted to the idea of going on extended tours around the world. Read more>>

J.D. Milligan

By day, I’ve been a picture framer, apple tech specialist, graphic designer, high school art teacher, car salesperson, book restoration specialist, book salesperson, tennis teaching professional, and tennis racket stringer.

But all to support my love of drawing and painting.

On November 19th, 2024, I finished my first novel, Rose Grey and Pirates, Read more>>

Sam Posthumus

I have been drawing things for as long as I can remember and it has always been a place that I can go to escape. I had never thought about a career in visual art until after my daughter was born. I would paint custom shoes and shirts for her and that lead to quite a few people telling me that I should pursue selling my creations. About a decade later, paired with some evolving, here I am. Read more>>

Morgan

I came into the field of counseling in a roundabout way. It’s actually my second career – although I’m not sure what to name the first. It was really a series of jobs that I found myself in but none of them felt purposeful and none of them gave me life. In hindsight, I am so grateful for my years in ministry, manufacturing, business and tech as it eventually led me to the realization I could be paid for the things I actually enjoyed and came naturally to me. I had in so many ways been my friends’ therapist for years and it wasn’t until one came home from a counseling session and said “Morgan, the session was really good but honestly none of it was new, it was all stuff you’d already told me,” that I realized I was meant to be a counselor. Read more>>

Kenya Suncar

I immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic, where I began my career as a journalist, connecting with my community through storytelling. After moving to the USA, and then becoming a mom, I faced language barriers that led me to transition into teaching Spanish. Read more>>

Vic60mm

I started with high school sports and casually networking my way up and around the Seattle/hispanic community. Read more>>

Brooklynn Graham

My focus and medium vary from time to time, but art and making have always been at the core of who I am. I got my business start in online plant groups in my local community. There, I was not only able to trade my work for new plants and supplies, I was able to work with plant shops and connect with others in the area. Read more>>

Meenu Singh

I started my journey at a very young age, facing several personal crises that tested my resilience and shaped my character. Growing up in challenging circumstances forced me to mature quickly and learn how to adapt to tough situations. These experiences fueled my determination to not only survive but also thrive, no matter the obstacles in my way. As I navigated these early difficulties, I developed a strong sense of self-reliance, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of the importance of perseverance. Read more>>

Ethan Raysor

I started my love for acting, singing, and dancing when I was a child and watching movies like ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ ‘White Christmas,’ ‘Grease,’ and basically every animated Disney movie from ‘Snow White’ to ‘Mulan.’ Growing up I wasn’t able to take singing lessons or acting classes in part because my mom couldn’t afford them, but my father who was able to didn’t support my passion for the arts. I went to a performing arts middle school, and while I had been there initially for music theory and classical performance, I didn’t love playing the clarinet nearly as much as I loved being on stage. Luckily I was able to take dance classes at school, and when it came time to re-audition for the high school program, I decided to look for a private lesson dance teacher. Read more>>

Haze Savage

Well I started off rapping in the kitchen and at parks with friends and family and than I went to rapping on camera and than I advanced and started going to the studio but It took me a little longer to actually start taking music seriously. I also started booking open mics and other events just to get my music heard if it wasn’t for the push from my friends and sisters father ( Nathaniel Majors ) I don’t think I would have made it this far musically Nathaniel Majors aka “ Nasty “ would call me to rap in front of a few of his friends as well it got me more comfortable with my performance. Read more>>

Mel X. 

 

I started my entrepreneurial journey as a traveling artist who was tired of the 9-5 grind. Outside of my day job, I was designing products to sell at conventions across the Midwest. I loved every part of it from designing to ordering and selling at events. However, once the pandemic hit, I was no longer able to sell in-person, which was my primary source of sales. At this time, I also noticed other artists who were having issues with their manufacturers overseas. After years of thinking and planning, I decided to pivot and become a manufacturer in the United States to fill in the need for a domestic manufacturer. Read more>>

Dr. Frankie Bashan

My story began at the age of 14 when I introduced my single father to my eye doctor. Growing up as an only child in New York City with divorced parents who both worked in the fashion industry, I learned to be resourceful and independent. My parents were busy professionals, often preoccupied with their careers, while I was a precocious kid navigating life mostly on my own. Read more>>

A.B.Y Songo

Getting to where I was basically through the trust and believe I have from my friends and family to keep pushing me on to get better. Read more>>

Brandy Hubbard

I am going to start off by telling this back story because I truly believe it made me into the woman I am today. The challenges, although difficult, taught me tenacity and endurance and I am grateful.

I was born and raised in the big City of New York. I was fortunate enough to skip a grade in middle school because had I not, I would have been pregnant in my last year of high school. However, since I did go from the 7th grade to 9th grade, I graduated high school a year early. I went straight to work directly after graduating because I knew I was going to be a young mother and needed a way to care for my baby. I had found out 2 weeks before graduating high school that I was approximately 6 weeks pregnant! Read more>>

Marzena Castillo

My story starts in 2003 when I came to Chicago. As a little girl, I was always dreaming about visiting the USA and living here. I loved watching American movies and shows, and was obsessed with music videos and everything that was made in the USA. I worked as a waitress at the beginning of my American journey. Then, I became a certified fitness instructor. I enjoyed that job a lot. I met a lot of amazing people while teaching classes. Then, in 2019, I became a realtor. I enjoy my work so much. Helping my clients get from point A to point B is the biggest reward I could get. Read more>>

Vasheti Quiros

I am the founder of Well Balanced CEO, a business dedicated to helping purpose-driven women rediscover self-love and joy while achieving balance and fulfillment in their lives and work. Through trauma-informed leadership coaching and transformational programs, I guide women leaders to prioritize themselves, embrace their worth, and create a ripple effect of positive change in their organizations and communities.  Read more>>