One of the most daunting aspects of pursing a creative or artistic career for many aspiring artists is not knowing how to learn the craft. So, we asked some very talented artists and creatives to talk to us about how they learned their crafts and we hope their stories will help you in your journey.

Gallagher Green

I think I learned to write from a huge mix of things. There is never just a single “thing”. So I think my learning started with being encouraged by many people throughout my life to just create. Which is why I have started offering consulting for other authors, so I can help encourage, support, and sharpen the skills that are already within them. Read More>>

Becky Raybon

I started by refinishing a few pieces of my own furniture. I learned about staining furniture, then went on to hand painting furniture. At the same time I was learning social media, where to buy furniture to restore, and watching YouTube videos Learning what tools I needed and how to achieve certain techniques took patience, money, and making mistakes. Read More>>

Sarah Sutro

In college I took traditional courses in drawing, painting, printmaking, learning of materials, solvents, technique and composition. While a student I was lucky to have a wonderful mentor who painted figuratively, and became friends with a visiting artist whose work was totally abstract. Their process and work unconsciously affected me. Read More>>

Adrian Etheridge

I’ve now had a camera in hand for 22 years, but I came to photography simply because my mom found her old point-and-shoot film camera in the attic one day and handed it to me thinking I would enjoy trying a new craft. I learned photography, essentially, by constantly carrying my camera with me and taking a lot of photos. Read More>>

ReAnna Stevenson

I learned styling through a mix of natural eye, hands-on experience, and intentional growth. I’ve always had a strong sense of style, but I refined it by actually working with real people—understanding different body types, personalities, and lifestyles. I studied trends, experimented with looks, and paid attention to what made people feel confident, not just what looked good. Read More>>

Adrienne Heed

I started photography from a young age when my dad worked at Kodak and would bring home cameras/film to test. When I was in high school, I ended up taking both photo classes and after school classes hosted by a university to get started on really learning the craft. I actually ended up getting a Keynote award before even going to college. Read More>>

Trudy Stubson

How did I learn to do what I do? Whew! That’s a loaded question. I suppose in the beginning there was a lot of trial and error. As a teacher I have noticed that this stage of the process divides those who will and who won’t. Are you one of the few who is willing to try over and over without success? Read More>>

Jonathan White

The beauty of creative work such as writing and acting is that you never stop honing the craft. Read More>>

Kemual ‘KJ’ Jones

learned filmmaking the same way a lot of creatives do — by doing it before I felt ready. When I first got interested in filmmaking, I didn’t have a formal roadmap. I had curiosity, a camera, and a desire to tell stories visually. A lot of my early learning came from experimentation. Read More>>

Danielle Redoute

We had different musical backgrounds when we met in 2013. I had 10+ years training in classical piano/ musical theatre and Brandon had a bootleg copy of FL studio. We believed we had everything we would need to explore making music together, except the knowledge of how to make music, together. Read More>>

Sarah Parker

I first took metalsmithing classes when I was in college. I was a painting major at the time and after taking an initial metals class was seduced by what metal fabrication afforded me within my 2dimensional practice. All of a sudden I was able to create an infrastructure to collage various components on the surface of my paintings. Read More>>

Antonia Sitak

I didn’t learn acting through just one path — it’s really been a combination of formal training, on-set experience, and a lot of self-exploration. I’ve taken classes, worked with coaches, and learned a great deal simply by doing — by being on set, auditioning, and observing others. Looking back, I think what would have sped up my learning process is trusting my instincts earlier. Read More>>

Elizabeth Stiles

When I first decided to write <i>Safe Haven – Where Hope Lives</i>, the idea arrived almost instantly, and I drafted the initial story in about six months. But once the excitement settled, I realized I didn’t yet have the skills to tell the story with the depth and quality it deserved. Read More>>