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.

Ayana Bey

Well, I was the little kid who made up shows and made my family watch them in the living room every time I had a new one. When I was 11 I saw Ragtime on Broadway and it changed my young life. From that moment on I knew what I wanted to do, I wanted to be a broadway actress. It became theater kid central from there! I went to college, majored in Musical Theatre and worked in regional theatre’s around the US for 5 years. Then I decided to go back to school for my masters degree in acting and ended up at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, after which I moved back to the US and started working again. This time it was a mixture of regional theatre, cruise ships, and booking my first national commercial. Read more>>

Fernando Torres

It all started when my godson put a Funko Pop of Jax Teller from the Sons of Anarchy, a show that I was a huge fan of. I had always been a collector when I was younger but got away from the collector world for quite some time. Something sparked my curiosity when I was looking at this little 4 inch vinyl toy and when I looked at the back of the box there was more of my favorited characters minus Clay Morrow haha. But I knew I had to have them to satisfy my SOA craze. Stores like Hastings at the time carried most of them and Toys R Us, I would go on a “hunt” for these collectibles and discovered there were so many more which created the craze. Read more>>

Liesha McKinley-Barnett

I began cooking at a very young age the type of culinary work I did varied through the years from working in hotels, independently owned restaurants, catering and even personal chef work. After I received a bachelor’s degree in nutrition I pivoted into teaching culinary arts and agriculture. Now my work is primarily in agriculture and food justice. Agriculture was an unexpected turn at first but I feel more at home in a pile of compost than most other places. Read more>>

Ermias Hagos

My story starts in Asmara, Eritrea. A small country in East Africa. I was born there and came to The United States at the young age of three. Adjusting to Seattle wasn’t easy, but I slowly got the hang of it. As I became a Seattleite, responsibilities grew, as I had to take care of my three younger siblings and be a great example to them. Both personally and academically. My family and I first lived in South Seattle then moved up North when I was a sophomore in high school. That adjustment was another key moment that wasn’t easy but this too I overcame. My plans for college was going to the University of Washington-Seattle but that dream would be shattered upon hearing back from them. Read more>>

Akarsh Vinod

My journey with Dio started in 2019, but the idea had been brewing for much longer. I’ve always been passionate about great audio, but I found that most home audio systems were either too complicated, too expensive, or too intrusive with built-in voice assistants and data tracking. I wanted a simple, private, and flexible way to stream music throughout my home—so I set out to build it myself. Read more>>

Satya Bosman

I started writing poetry in my 20s but didn’t share it very widely. I then took a bit of a break and got more involved with poetry via Instagram in around 2018/19. I made some great friends in the poetry community at that time. I’d share my poems via my instagram account Rainpoetry. I loved joining instagram lives and supporting all the poets in the IG poetry community. I remember being featured on Pack Poetry and that really felt like a moment that maybe I could write. I then suffered a bit of a crisis of confidence and withdrew from writing for a period of around 1 year. My good friend and fellow poet Barry Hollow got in touch with me and asked if I wanted to be featured in an anthology by a writing collective in Bristol. Read more>>

Saul David Clavano

Life often has a way of pushing us toward unexpected paths. For me, that shift happened in 2022, when I decided to dive into the world of songwriting and artistry. But my decision wasn’t just driven by a desire to create—it came after one of the most emotionally intense and challenging years of my life. Read more>>

Seulgi Kim

I’ve always been drawn to stories and the power of visual language to connect people. This curiosity inspired me to explore graphic design, a field where I could combine my love for storytelling with visual creativity. Ultimately, this passion led me to New York, a city full of inspiration and opportunities. Read more>>

Sergei Titukh

My name is Sergei Titukh, and I am a tattoo artist originally hailing from Saint Petersburg, Russia, currently based in Salem, Massachusetts. I possess around ten years of experience in the art of tattooing, specializing in designs that are dark, nature-inspired, with a particular emphasis on intricate details and organic forms. My professional affiliation is with Black Veil Tattoo, a studio renowned for its gothic and somewhat mysterious aesthetic, which aligns quite harmoniously with my own artistic inclinations. Read more>>

Cheyenne Simpkins

I always photographed nature and flowers on my mom’s film camera as a child. I loved capturing life around me. In 2014, my husband bought me a small camera to capture my travels. I started to photograph my friends lives in the military with the camera and learned that I love connecting with people. Read more>>

Rukshana Triem

Rukshana’s , the journey to where she is today was anything but easy. Born in Mozambique, a country rich in culture but marred by political instability and poverty, she faced challenges at an early age. Forced to flee with her family as a refugee, she learned resilience, faith, and resourcefulness in the face of uncertainty. Read more>>

Roksolana Lebid

I was born in Ukraine, spent my formative years in Italy, and have called New York home for over 13 years now. My life’s journey has been quite vibrant and diverse. I belong to a generation that grew up without the internet or even a landline phone. Instead, I would write letters to friends and immerse myself in books, which were my primary sources of knowledge. I believe this upbringing fostered a richer imagination in my peers and me. Read more>>

Bonnie Reber

My name is Bonnie Reber and we have a daughter named Grace who is 24 with Down syndrome. Grace has always loved doing art. During Covid we saw her doing this repetitive pattern of art she called WORK. We decided to do something nice to others that might be lonely or sick and sent out bundles of cards to people asking them to share a note with someone. This was just a great success by giving Grace opportunities for growth in her office , art and communication skills. Grace was completing her public school program and we didn’t know what we were going to do so we decided to turn her art into cards and build a website so we can tell her story! That is where GracePlace Art business begin. The business has grown and she continues to make art and sold on her website!! Read more>>

Nathaniel Hill

Like most who work in the theater, my journey started with community theater and school plays. I loved them! But I also started to realize I wasn’t especially talented, singing didn’t come easy. In hindsight, the formative experience that relates even more to what I do today was being high school class president. I was fundraising to bring in revenue, producing events, and rallying the team. That’s a lot like being an entrepreneur of a small business. Read more>>

Joie Thongsavath

Sometimes, I look back at my earliest work and smile—it felt groundbreaking at the time, but in hindsight, it was charmingly “silly.” It all started with a bootleg copy of Adobe Photoshop, shared with me by a college boyfriend who was studying graphic design. Before that, I was making posters and flyers using Microsoft Word and Paint. Photoshop unlocked a whole new world of creativity for me. I’d scan photos I took with my film camera, process them in Photoshop, and even took stills with my webcam to create “portraits” for family. My mom still has some of those photos framed to this day. Read more>>

Elizabeth Hill

The journey of a lifetime began in October of 2002 after the death of my identical twin sister, Catherine Mary Hill at the age of 37, in an on-duty vehicle accident as a United States Border Patrol Agent, working on the U.S./Mexico border in San Diego. After my sister died, she came to me in meditation and dream states to let me know that all was well and that she was still with me. “It’s not scary at all,” she said, “It is so beautiful here. I am in my favorite place.” I also began to communicate with other beings of higher consciousness during sleep. I sometimes woke up startled to see someone standing next to my bed illuminated in light. I discovered that there would be a journey that I had agreed to undertake and a message I was to share with the world. Read more>>

Qian Zhong

My journey began with an intense passion, and it was through relentless effort and unwavering confidence in myself that I achieved what I have today. Read more>> 

Yangqi Deng

After four years of tipping my toes into media arts, I wanted to further explore digital media art practices. So, I pursued a master’s degree at Rhode Island School of Design, where I met some incredibly talented friends. After graduating, we decided to move to New York together. And that’s the short version of how I ended up here. Read more>>

Tomoka Takahashi

I was born and raised in a town in Japan called Yokohama, and ever since I was a child, I always was very passionate and very greedy with things I can do. For example, children usually would say I want to be an astronaut, or chef, or hero and etc. However, I remember specifically insisting that I would be an actress, so that I can be/do ALL the occupations in the world. And my reasoning was, why can’t I? Since then, I have been working to craft, to be in, to be part of theatre in many different form. Read more>>

Christian Durfee

My name is Christian Durfee and I am the CEO and Co-Founder of InvestLink Social. I was born in the small city of Duluth, Minnesota, home to 291,638 residents. Growing up, my family emphasized the importance of education and curiosity. With both my parents as teachers, I was fortunate to learn about all different subjects and topics. This helped me express my fearlessness of dreams and goals, knowing that knowledge is the key to success. We were very active in our small community of Duluth, and living in a small community means supporting local small businesses. Read more>>

Ima Kamel

The seeds of my path were planted in a childhood home in downtown Cairo filled with art, creativity, and wonder. I can still feel the rough bark of the lemon tree against my small palms as I climbed, the citrus-sharp scent bursting as I plucked sun-warmed fruit, juice running down my wrists. I was that little girl who wove fantastical tales, who refused to drink plain milk and instead delighted in my mother’s magical concoctions – milk tinted with beet juice that transformed the ordinary into something extraordinary, the liquid shifting from white to rose-pink swirls before my eyes. Read more>>

Jason Heath

Through various mediums, I tell the story of the double bass and those who play it. I’ve been a musician since I was a little kid. I became obsessed with the double bass and spent all my time i middle school and high school playing performances. I ended up going to music school at Northwestern and have spent the last several decades exploring music in various capacities. Read more>>

Jared Scott

Jared Scott: A Journey of Purpose, Craftsmanship, and Community Leadership. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from West Chester University and gaining valuable experience in Corporate America, Jared Scott made a pivotal decision to return to his roots in the barbershop and pursue his passion for men’s grooming. Throughout his college years and beyond, Jared studied under the guidance of numerous Master Barbers, absorbing lessons in tradition, professionalism, and discipline. This commitment to excellence set him on a trajectory to work with prominent figures in Washington, D.C., and ultimately led to his proudest achievement: owning and operating a barbershop on Historic Capitol Hill. Read more>>

Hector Carvajal

I grew up splitting my time between my grandfather’s farm in the Dominican Republic and the busy streets of New York City. On the farm, I saw how traditional coffee growing was being replaced by harmful chemicals, and in NYC, I noticed more people cared about where their food and drinks came from. That’s what inspired me to start Don Carvajal Café—I wanted to change how people see coffee, from how it’s grown to how it’s enjoyed. Read more>>

Dion’e Ka’eo-Tamurè

Dion’e Kaehukaikanakaokaikoakoakalilianunawahinekapu Ka’eo-Tamurè grew up in a family of 15 siblings, raised with deep values in education, love for people, and missions work. Born on Oʻahu, she also spent formative years being raised in Las Vegas. Her exposure to diverse cultures and experiences laid the foundation for her multifaceted career. Read more>>

Matthew Dow

My journey looks a little different than the “norm”. I spent my entire life engulfed in the beauty culture/industry. I knew from a young age that I would end up in this field. Post-High School I started the process of applying to a beauty school in Illinois, and the timing wasn’t right. Instead, I jumped into working and spent the next 8 years wondering if it would ever happen for me. As the saying goes “timing is everything”, and it was. Read more>>

Toxickbunny

I started my content creation, streaming and photography journey during covid! I wasn’t in a super great mental state and creating really helped me heal! Read more>>

Marcus Stubbs

Austin Harris and Marcus Stubbs founded Cultured Mornings on May 28, 2020, with a shared goal to meet the needs of youth in underserved communities. Cultured Mornings goal is to empower youth to reach their full potential and prevent food insecurity. The organization’s programs focus on teaching kitchen skills, kitchen safety, nutrition, and interpersonal development. Read more>>

Tom Matousek

My father talked me out of pursuing art as a career when I was a child so I never did. Honestly, It was sound advice and I never held it against him, but I wandered for years and I really didn’t have much focus on anything. I ended up working retail in the snowboard industry but I was always an artist. Always creating. Nothing professional though. My wife and I had a daughter in ‘96 and I began to paint murals for her when we purchased our first home in ‘99. I started a mural business soon afterwards but it was always just a part time thing. In 2008 my buddy/pastor was working on his doctorate of divinity and his thesis was using art as a form of worship and he asked me to create a painting for one of his sermons. Read more>>

Daniel + Brittani Lam

Daniel and I started our businesses years apart. I started dabbling in photography in 2015 when I created a fashion blog out of boredom and began getting requests from friends and family to photograph them. I officially launched Studio B. Photography in 2017. Read more>>

Bash Luks

I’m Bashir Lukonge, professionally known as Bash Luks, an artist, actor, record producer, and community activist from Uganda. My passion for music was inspired by my family and iconic artists like Michael Jackson, Madoxx Ssemanda Sematimba, and Lucky Dube. I began my musical journey in school through Music, Dance, and Drama programs. In 2020, I launched my professional career with my debut song, “Nkubwamu,” featuring Jim Siizer. Read more>>

Chesoen Tan

Growing up, I spent most of my time outside the house. I was always involved in school activities—sports, music, anything that kept me busy. Looking back, I realize that I was escaping from the reality at home. My father suffered a severe stroke when I was just 7 or 8 years old, and for over a decade, his condition became a defining part of our lives. My mother became our family’s only provider, taking on the roles of both parents. Home was filled with uncertainty, and I unconsciously sought refuge in the outside world, creating a life that felt different—perhaps even one I wished I had. Read more>>

Brent Hunte

The story of Jerk ‘N It begins with my Caribbean roots. I was born and raised in Georgetown, Guyana, until the age of 13 when my family moved to the United States. My love for cooking started early—at just 9 years old, I would watch and learn as my mother prepared meals. I absorbed everything I could, from mastering our cherished family recipes to crafting my own fresh seasonings every day. Read more>>

Sean O’Connor

I came from a beautiful small town in New Jersey. A childhood of trees and ponds and brooks, of sleigh riding, sports, a swim club. On the surface, it was the suburban American dream. Beneath the surface, the tempests were active and fierce. I had smart parents, but my dad was beset by alcoholism. The effects of that rippled through every cell of the family web. And the confrontations between my dad and me rippled through every atom of my being. Painful, yes, but it’s perhaps the main reason I became an artist. To release that pain through my work. To understand it. Read more>>

Deb Art

I’ve been painting and drawing my whole life, ever since I can remember I was super into art, I covered everything I could with my art. My school dress my bad my books and pretty much every class desk I sat on. I went to a school growing up that didn’t have much going in terms of creative classes there and it made me feel suppressed. I didn’t enjoy my days at that school, for a number of reasons besides that, but in terms of my biggest interests, art was all I really wanted to do. I would be lucky to have 2 art classes a month. Read more>>

Abbie Fish

Swimming has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. After learning to swim at four years old, I quickly fell in love with the sport, leading to a 25-year competitive career and over 15 years of elite coaching. I was fortunate to achieve milestones such as qualifying for six Olympic Trials, competing as an SEC finalist, NCAA qualifier, and winning two USA Junior National Championships. Read more>>

Bernard Ruño

Hello, I’m Bernard Ruño, owner/operator of Adagio Sound Healing & Wellness. Thanks for reading my story. I’ve experienced a few milestone events at the time of this interview: I just turned 58 , I recently graduated from massage therapy school, finished my certification in indigenous Filipino manual therapy and obtained my massage license. I’m adding these modalities to my already established sound therapy practice. I had been planning on going into the field of holistic wellness in my retirement years. Covid-19 jump started that process. I had been working in hospitality for over 25 years. That industry still hasn’t fully recovered yet from Covid so I decided to retire early and go back to school. Read more>>

Autumn Martino

I discovered my love for art as a child, drawing on the hallway walls of my home. Instead of getting upset when she saw my creations, my mom praised them, calling them beautiful. From that moment on, art became my safe space. In sixth grade, I won my first art contest, which led to scholarships, awards, and even being published in a book during high school. Still, I never imagined art could be a career—I didn’t think that was even possible. My plan was to become a teacher, so I enrolled in college, taking art classes along the way for fun. Read more>>

JOHN TESSITORE

I am a writer. Also an editor. A bit of a journeyman. I think I’ve done every kind of writing a writer can do, including business and nonprofit communications, which is how I support myself. But my heart is in my creative work, and especially in my poems. Read more>>