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.

Arlen Schumer

My father died when I was four months old, and my Mom raised my older (by 18 months) brother and I herself. I think I ended up finding my surrogate father figures in the pop culture I was surrounded with, in roughly this chronological order: Sean Connery’s Bond (the first movie I ever recall seeing, when I was around four-five years old, was Dr. No, the first Connery Bond, at a drive-in theater); Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling on television; the superheroes in comic books, pseudo-paternally teaching me right from wrong, good from evil, standing up and fighting for one’s beliefs; comic book artists like Neal Adams and Jim Steranko; and finally, Bruce Springsteen (I was art director of the first Springsteen fan magazine, Thunder Road, when I was at RISD). Read more>>

D.m. Lewry’s Story

My name is D.M. Lewry, and I’ve been writing since I can remember. It started with fanfictions, posting weekly chapters for people to read online. When my stories started receiving tens of thousands of positive reviews, I challenged myself to write an original story, The Eos Key: Wynter Blood Book 1, and publish it myself. The challenge of self-publishing my work, lead me to starting my publishing company, Ash City Press, and helping to coach other authors in the publishing process. Read more>>

Sean Miguel Perez

Both of my brands, Q&Agent and Sean Michael Management were a result of helping actors understand the business of Show Business. As a working actor, I wanted to know how the industry worked so I started as an intern for my Talent Agent. As he was a great salesman due to his previous experience before becoming an agent, I learned a lot from him, not just the business but sales in general. Quickly, I was promoted to a Commercial Booker and the a Commercial Agent to then a full fledged Talent Agent with my own roster of TV/ Film Actors, Music Theatre Performers and taking care of the agency’s Commercial Roster.  Read more>>

Narges Rezaian’s Story

I was born and raised in Iran. I was always fascinated by the magic of animation and visual storytelling which I got introduced to via illustrated story books I used to read as a kid. Ever since I can remember I have been drawing and painting. During my teenage years, I decided I wanted to study Arts and build a career as a visual artist. My true interest was in animation and character design. However, it was not common back then as a professional career since no academic degree was offered in this field. So, I decided to study Graphic Design and get my first degree in the field. Read more>>

Lasaunia Thompson

My name is Lasaunia “So” Thompson. For seven years, I lived with a nameless disease that came suddenly and brought unbearable pain. The wounds it caused took over a year to heal, making even the touch of 100% cotton sheets unbearable to my skin. Despite countless medical procedures, office visits, tests, and emergency room trips, doctors repeatedly labeled me a mystery. Each time, I would affirm, “No, my name is Lasaunia. I am not a mystery. What I have is a mystery.” One day, I prayed to God, asking for peace to bear the burden of this disease if chosen as its vessel. Read more>>

Chris Hunn of Pitchers Only

My son, Daylin, and I launched Pitchers Only together in Oct. 2021. He was a high school pitcher at the time and I was working a full time job in digital marketing. There was this term used in baseball called “Pitcher Only” or “PO” which meant you only pitch instead of hitting and pitching. I thought it was an interesting concept and community, and as I helped other small businesses grow through digital marketing I thought maybe there’s something here? So on the way to practices, games and training my son and I talked about ideas we could do around this. Without any experience, we decided to launch an apparel brand. It caught on quickly. I left my full time job at the end of 2023 to focus on Pitchers Only and now have our own warehouse. Read more>>

Aseel El-baba of Holistic Optimal Wealth

Growing up in a war zone, I was confronted with existential questions from a young age, leading me to yearn for a meaningful life. Despite beginning my career in financial services, I often felt like an imposter, challenged by the irony that my family relied on welfare. This inner conflict propelled me to pursue psychotherapy training, as financial certifications were falling short in addressing my money traumas. After a decade in the corporate world, I left to establish Holistic Optimal Wealth, my financial therapy practice. Today, I am driven by a mission to help clients explore and heal their relationship with money, overcoming financial trauma to achieve a fulfilling and balanced life. Read more>>

Mecca Ramsey

Well, my story has a lot of ebb and flow and me just trying figuring out who I am as a person, as an artist, and as a professional. I’m a multifaceted person, so I don’t try to confine myself to one path or one story because life isn’t linear — it’s a convergence things. I’ve always been a creative person though, whether that was being into fashion or wanting to dance or wanting to be a performer. I always knew that I wanted to do something creative. I really started to be more curious about the arts when I was at this college prep high school. I was taking a video production class as an elective and I really enjoyed learning the language and techniques of creating a film. Read more>>

Maria De Los Angeles Horigome

“I am Maria de los Angeles Horigome. Australian Songwriter, Composer and Publisher Known as the Recording Artist, Mia Muze. I am Tokyo born, spent the first years of life in Buenos Aires before arriving in Australia. Raised in Sydney, I was an excellent achiever as a Youth, having held many accomplishments. I ran my First Event ‘ a Rural Relief Variety Show’ aged 14 years, and Year in my Senior Year, was the Editor of myHigh School Newspaper, ‘Kirribilli Views’. I tended to do business and fashion though always felt I had a quiet aptitude for music. Aged four, I composed a marevelously long song on cassette – in Spanish. My first dream was to sing. Read more>>

Clarisse Baqué of Soulspell Studio

I started my journey with a deep love for storytelling and an innate passion for design. From a young age, I was fascinated by how visuals and narratives could intertwine to create powerful emotions and connections. This fascination led me to pursue studies in graphic design and branding. After working in various design roles, I realized that many brands lacked a soulful connection to who they truly were inside. This insight inspired me to create Soulspell Studio, a space where I could help introverted entrepreneurs and deep feelers find their unique voice and express it through heartcrafted designs. My approach is deeply emotive, focusing on weaving meaning and aesthetics to build brands that truly resonate with their core values and stories. Read more>>

Kimarley Henry

I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. In my seventh grade science class, I drew a comic strip about a boy named, “Chad”, which began being published as a weekly comic strip in my junior year of high school and is still being ran to this day. It has also become a book series and animated web series. I have always followed the passion and created stories that emphasize the importance of imagination. Read more>>

Dr. Shumonte Cooper

The Journey of Difference Makers: From Vision to Impact, At the heart of every great movement is a story, a spark of inspiration that ignites a journey toward meaningful change. Difference Maker, founded by me, Dr. Shumonte Cooper, is one such movement. It is a beacon of hope and transformation, dedicated to enhancing the lives of others, creating positive change, and serving communities.  Read more>>

Jaslynn Gholson

Getting started with my first Book Silent Tears, I use to write poetry and it use to be the only way I knew how to express myself. Over the years I ended up having writers block for about 3 years and when I finally wrote another poem the way it was written, even though it was my story I felt like the message wasnt meant for me. So I posted the poem on Facebook in hopes that it would get to who it should go to and it was suggested I write a book. From there the words flowed out of me like a river and Silent Tears was born and the Angry Black Woman soon followed after. When it comes to Jazzy Bakes I use to bake with my aunt growing up and when she passed away it was how I kept her with me. The love she gave me, is the love you taste in every bite. Read more>>

Tracy Bunkoczy

I got started with a B.F.A. from Otis College of Art and Design. My major was in the fashion design program. I have always loved digging through my moms vintage clothing and shopping at the Army surplus store as a teen. My grandfather was an artist and an architect and my mother had a craft store when I was young. She brought me to estate sales and auctions as a small child. Growing up in rural Illinois I was surrounded by an Andrew Wyeth landscape of wheat fields and 200 year old farm houses. Read more>>

Lisa Goren

I am a witness. Ever since I was a teenager, I knew that I wanted to travel to the Polar Regions. Twenty-seven years ago, I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream by going to Antarctica. At the time, I was still working full-time in Boston in the music business and put all of my vacation together so that I could travel so far away. My girlfriends knew I wanted to paint the landscape (especially the ice) and bought me a small watercolor kit. And so, an artist was born…. Read more>>

Asha Clark

I would say my childhood ignited my passion for this field. I believe that the elective psychology course I took in college served to remind me of the work that was still needed within my community. It reminded me of the power of our voices and how our voices can catapult healing. It reminded me of the power of our mental health and it’s vital role in also improving our physical health. I am grateful that I chose to follow my passion because, in doing so, I’ve been able to assist other’s in following theirs. Read more>>

Julia Peters

Hello everybody! I am Julia, the CEO of “Good Friends 4U”, and here is my story.  I was born in Ukraine, in the beautiful city of Odessa. I became a journalist, and, after finishing university, I started my own sports magazine. The editorial journey was fantastic and very enjoyable, but due to personal reasons, I moved abroad in 2007. Then I lived in England and Austria and, in the end, got an Austrian passport. Still, it wasn’t my final destination, and in 2019, I came to Zurich. Read more>>

Stephanie Munoz of Mpoze Fashion, In Her Skin Loungerwear, Suited For Fashion Inc.

I began designing at the age of 8 and curating styling shoots at 10. I pursued my passion in college, where I perfected my craft and focused on my goal of becoming a successful fashion designer. I provide more than design and styling services to my clients; I also offer fashion therapy to those seeking guidance in creating their style and a confidence boost. My work has been featured in various magazines and on television as a style expert, specializing in stylish suits for the season. Read more>>

Aidan Hargis

I’ve been playing music since I was 6 years old, and been playing live since I was 16. I started at the School Of Rock at age 14, formed my first band at 16, and signed with a record label for the first time at 22. The genesis for Conway itself came in my junior year of college, when my previous project fell apart. It was born out of the idea that if you want something done right, you do it yourself. The first EP and split single were released independently, while the next one came out on April 10th, 2020, with COVID pretty much torpedoing any possibility of being able to legitimately support the album with tours and media. Now we’ve finally been able to make new music and release it with a good support system. Our release is being finalized as we speak, and then we can focus on taking over the world. Read more>>

Amanda Mendoza

My name is Amanda Mendoza, and I am an artist, illustrator and muralist who uses their art to advocate and spread awareness for mental health and healing from violence. My art journey started as a kid, drawing as a way to soothe the complex emotions I felt from suffering in silence. For those who may not know, I am a survivor of childhood sexual and physical abuse, and art is my tool for healing, expression and building community connection. As a teenager and young adult, painting and drawing came to me during moments I searched for clarity of my emotions- anxiety, depression, confusion, isolation and so on… After many years of therapy and art exploration, I continued to create art but with the intention of sharing my art with the community to spread awareness of healing from trauma and to remind everyone that they are not alone and their story matters. Art healed me, and I believe it has the power to heal others too. Read more>>

Trusha Chandan

I was born and raised in a small town in western part of India. I moved to the United States in 2017 to pursue my Bachelor’s degree at ArtCenter College of Design – CA, where I majored in Product Design with a minor in Business. My upbringing, marked by modest financial circumstances, has been a significant source of inspiration. My parents, who lacked traditional four-year college education, demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness, instilling in me the value of hard work and perseverance. My grandfather introduced me to “Jugaad,” the concept of creative problem-solving with limited resources, which has been a guiding philosophy in my life. Read more>>

Kimberly Robbins of SPACE Creative Healing LLC

My journey is rooted in a deep passion for the arts and creative expression, intertwined with my personal struggles and triumphs. From a young age, I have always been deeply passionate about the arts and anything creative. Art became my sanctuary, a way to express my emotions and navigate the complexities of life, especially as I struggled with mental health. Growing up multicultural and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I often found it difficult to find spaces where I truly felt I fit in and was accepted. These challenges fueled my determination to create a safe and inclusive environment for others like me. Read more>>

Donald Eke of Full Moon Africa Network

After secondary school(High School) in 2005, I joined my father at JONNY EKKE COMPANY as a field operator, the company was not doing so well anymore, so I started other jobs where I did several unprofessional tasks, like security, bus conductor, factory worker and many more, while still on standby working with my father as a volunteer staff. In 2012, I realized that I wanted something more out of myself, so I started the DONNI CANNED MACKEREL IN TOMATO SAUCE, which I finally got the product samples into Nigeria from China in 2013. Working on this product I learnt paperwork and international business relations from my dad. I built a marketing & sales team and, a partnership with the bank(then Bank PHB) to secure the importation of the products, and got all the necessary legal from our partners in China. After a few years of seeking investors to sort out the Nigerian legal needs of the products, I lost communications with the producing company. Read more>>

Jasmine Swimmer of Soft and Butter

My origin story is anything but conventional and decidedly non-linear. Throughout my life, I effortlessly mastered many skills, making career choices quite challenging. One constant passion of mine has always been creating, and entrepreneurship naturally became my arena long before it had a formal name. The pandemic was a transformative period for many, and it marked the beginning of my journey. From a one-bedroom apartment with a newborn, I launched a sustainable skincare brand. Scaling the business from just Instagram to collaborating with Google and being featured in British GQ Magazine has been surreal. Read more>>

Jasmine Okocha’s Story

I’m Jasmine, the voice, face, and founder behind The Jazzy Nation, where we embark on inspiring mothers to create intentional moments through motherhood, travel, life abroad, and more! With almost seven years as an expat and traveler, I’ve lived and grown in Morocco, India, and Ecuador with my husband and now a toddler. My mission? It’s not just about showcasing my life through the places my family and I travel to and live in. It’s about empowering YOU to craft a fulfilling life full of joy, peace, freedom, and adventure for you and your family. Read more>>

Silvia Flechoso

I have been fascinated by art since I was a child so much that I preferred to stay painting at home than playing with my friends in the park. I grew up with the dream of becoming a real artist. I studied arts in high school, philosophy and fine arts at university to realize that my path was outside the academic world, so I began to walk my own path, building my artistic career step by step. After a few years, Ineditad Gallery became interested in my work and has helped me to grow as an artist. In 2021 he took me to the Art Madrid art fair, where my work La Pietà rose to fame, becoming a media phenomenon. Read more>>

Michelle Drake

CREATIVE FORCES Rich and Michelle Drake’s partnership is not new…They have been together for 40 years and have created some pretty cool stuff together over the years, including a beautiful family and a home filled with Rich’s woodworking and Michelle’s paintings. Rich, the craftsman, has always been creative, working in both wood and metals to produce furniture, cars, as well as renovations for the family and customers. Michelle, the artist, has been her own creative force, an artist at the core of her being. Her paintings hang in prominent homes and churches and public spaces throughout the east coast.  Read more>>

Artisa Felder

I have always been passionate about empowering others. I believe my superpower lies in recognizing the potential in others that they may not see in themselves. I often think of it as simply giving others the support and encouragement that I would have wanted for myself during challenging times. Journaling was an outlet for me after suffering from a mild form of postpartum depression after giving birth to my daughter. I was used to burying my feelings and sweeping my problems under the rug. After seeing how much I benefited from writing down my thoughts and releasing the negative energy I was harboring I wanted to share that with others and You Are by Artisa Marie and Alonni Camille was created.  Read more>>

Jaclyn Watson

After recognizing a gap in the wedding planning industry following my wedding, I ventured into event planning. I was encouraged by my vendors who recognized my potential, I don’t do anything 1/2 way so before I started I pursued my passion by obtaining degrees in business and psychology, which equipped me with the skills needed to work effectively with a diverse clientele. Today, my company, Jaclyn Watson Events, is a testament to my dedication, expertise, and commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for my clients. The best part is I love this job and get to say proudly that I am a luxury wedding planner. Read more>>

Noah Dorsey of RUSH And Advertised YLW

I grew up on a farm, where I learned the values of hard work and determination. My parents ran the farm, and we often discussed business, giving me an early insight into problem-solving and business acumen. This blend of skills set me up well for the next stages of my life. If you want to hear more about my journey, check out the detailed story Canvas Rebel did on me. Read more>>

A. C. Burch

The path to my life as a full-time author was circuitous, to say the least. I trained as a classical musician, performing with chamber groups and symphony orchestras throughout New England. A few years after graduation, in dire need of a “day job,” I became a computer programmer. Years in IT led to an administrative position at a major university. It was only upon retirement that I began to write full-time, which, looking back, I wish I’d done decades before. Read more>>

Jerrell L. Henderson

I took my first steps onto a stage with The (New) Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, PA. when I was about seven years old. From there, I spent most of my childhood, adolesence, teenage years singing in choirs and performing in church and community productions. Without question one of the coolest experiences was performing at the Philadelphia Academy of Music with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. Read more>>

Mays Mayhew

It all began while I was young. I was noticeably different at drawing than my peers. Being different was where I found self-worth and purpose. I’ve always been passionate about art. It was who I was. I was raised by a workaholic-never-there single dad on a beef farm. However, not having much parental oversight gave me a lot of freedom. Growing up on the farm “gave me the opportunity” (i.e., forcibly, no other options) to learn to be resourceful with what I had. I had fire and wood, which meant I could make charcoal to draw stuff like that. I left home at age 17 and never looked back. I went to art school. I earned a BFA in studio arts, studied Renaissance art in Italy, and studied figure drawing at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Read more>>

Tyrice Cartwright of Dax’s Adventures

My story begins in the tight-knit community of Brownsville, Tennessee, where I was born and raised. Growing up in such a supportive environment, I developed a passion for helping others early on. This passion led me to pursue becoming an Occupational Therapist. Over the years, I gained extensive experience working with young children, helping them develop crucial skills during their formative years. Read more>>

Finnigan Jones

I fell in love with the bees and then I started making candles in my laundry room! I have always loved crafting and started making candles as gifts for friends. One thing led to another and I started selling them to retailers, then more retailers, and more! Read more>>

Lot Winther

I have found joy in creation as long as I can remember. Since I was a kid, I was curious to learn to master pencils and brushes and create and storytell through them. I would look at my great grandfather’s figure drawings of beautiful Italian women from his travels, and I so adored them. Eventually I studied women’s fashion and developed my artistic voice – in the fashion world my medium would be decorating women, and in my aspiring art world, I’d portray them just as they are. Over time, my childish joy i´with water merged with the figurative feminine, and my art is now telling stories of women’s liberation and freedom through my oil paintings. Read more>>

Egypt Bradley of Queenz of Conversation LLC

The Queenz originated with 3 women about 2 years ago and now are down to one Mrs. Egypt Bradley. we started in a small radio station room talking and taking on topics that were important at the time. As life continued the other 2 ladies resigned to deal with family issues. The platform has not stopped. Egypt has obtained an LLC for the Podcast as well as taken the platform on several TV station and radio station platforms.  Read more>>

Raya Al-hashmi

Hey, I’m Raya, a photographer specializing in brand imagery. Some might label me a commercial photographer. My interest in photography began during my teenage years and deepened while I was studying journalism at university. It was during this time that I realized the profound responsibility photography holds in preserving the essence of the human experience. In 2016, armed with my love for photography and a journalism education, I founded my company. Read more>>

Tara Whitaker of Tara Whitaker, Inc.

I took a very windy path to get to where I am today, and I suspect my path will continue in the same way. I’ve always been an avid reader and the designated “Can you proofread this?” person among my family and friends. Sadly, I never knew editing as a profession actually existed for people outside of New York City until well into my twenties. I was looking for a creative outlet at my 9-to-5 job as a web content manager and found book blogging through a college friend. I was hooked! I got to meet so many authors, editors, publishers, agents, publicists, and industry pros and knew I wanted to be a part of it. Read more>>

Alexis Driver

I started in 2019 wanting to start on my entrepreneurship journey that I am still writing, all though I am still working to get to where I need to be I know hard work and dedication with prayer will get me to my destination. Dreams do come true and no matter what people always see your efforts.  Read more>>

Alyssa Hawn of Alyssa Hawn Health LLC

When I was 30 years old, I felt like a mess. I had been through 2 marriages, had no clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life, struggled as a brand-new mom, and—worst of all—I had multiple debilitating chronic health issues, including severe interstitial cystitis and osteoarthritis. And all of this right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, Read more>>

Kaylee Stepkoski

I began writing when I was seventeen, but it was an absolute miracle that I did. I began college when I was sixteen–I was a homeschooled, dual-enrolled student–and one of the general education classes was Composition 1. This was hardly a “writing” class as it mostly focused on research and formatting essays, but toward the end of the year, I had to rewrite an essay into something creative–a painting, a song, a story, etc. Well, I’m not a painter, and I cannot sing, so I gave writing a story a shot. After I finished writing it, I found that I oddly liked it, which came out of left field. I was not the creative type. I was (still am) the tomboy, who wanted to play sports and dreamed of being a police officer. Read more>>

Tamara Solomson

Since grade school, I’ve been captivated by the arts, drawn to their power to evoke emotion and inspire. From school plays to community theater, I immersed myself in every creative opportunity. As I grew, so did my passion, leading me to pursue a career in the live show industry. Starting from the ground up, I seized every chance to learn and grow, honing my skills in production, staging, and management. Through dedication and perseverance, I’ve climbed the ranks, navigating challenges and embracing triumphs along the way. Today, I stand at the intersection of artistry and innovation, fueled by a lifelong love for creativity. Read more>>

Kimberly Hall of Sip+Tipple

The idea for Sip+Tipple started with an Instagram post. A local influencer featured a cocktail using a Black-owned vodka brand founded in the DMV area. This piqued my interest, especially since I’ve always enjoyed visiting local distilleries and supporting regional spirit brands. The fact that I wasn’t aware of this brand despite my efforts to support local businesses was disappointing, but it also inspired me to want to know more. Read more>>

Mel Rice’s Story

Witty Bimbo began when I re-entered the strip club industry after three years of recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. Having spent about a decade in the industry before, I deeply valued the women I worked with and the services we provided. However, I knew that returning as a healthy, sober person required me to bring my new coping mechanisms and holistic lifestyle with me. Despite my initial fear of returning to an environment that had previously fueled my addictions and self-sabotage, I believed there was a way to make it work. I was convinced that with a conscious community in the club, we could support and uplift each other in all aspects of our lives. Read more>>

Victoria Bowen

My family has always loved food – we always went out to eat growing up and would travel to neighboring towns to try new places. Eventually, we’d base our travels stateside and international, surrounding food and always express interest in learning about cultural delicacies and traditions. When I moved to Charleston, creating my own food Instagram just made sense! It allows me to connect with the community, tourism, and stay up to date on the happenings in town! Read more>>

Parry Ray

This is such a massive question and I am really thankful to be asked. I loved music and performing from a really early age so it seemed obvious to me that that was what I would do as a career. I started learning the piano at 4, singing at 6 or 7 and the guitar at 10. It was around ages 7-10 that I started writing songs, it was really organic for me and wasn’t something I was taught in a structured way till much later on. I started performing in a number of bands around 14. I had planned to go to music college after school, but sadly my mother vetoed that. Coming from a South Asian family, she did not approve of my career choice all…But that’s a totally different story! Read more>>