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.

Luis Magallanes

The only structured art education I have came from high school. I always enjoyed art class growing up, it was one of the few subjects where I felt I excelled at. I was one of those kids who tried to build their whole personality around being able to draw. After high school though, I tried to give it up. Since I didn’t major in art or actively took any art classes, I thought being an artist was behind me. But the truth is that the impulse to create or construct art is a human impulse. It’s not a job or a profession, it’s an instinct. As kids, we are given labels based on our hobbies, the same way we label ourselves based on our professions. Then as adults, we might refuse to participate in any activity that can’t be labeled as a job. Why paint if I’m not selling my paintings? Well, why not, the point of art is to create and express ourselves, not to make money. Read more>>

Selina Siow

I started taking violin lessons when I was around ten. I was fortunate enough to find a supporting community early on that encouraged me to keep pursuing violin, and before I knew it, I start to build a career in music, both performing and teaching. Knowing what I know now, I guess the biggest advice I would give anyone starting on their violin (or any musical instrument!) journey is understanding the importance of mindful practice. I noticed a lot of folks putting in many hours of practicing but was frustrated because it just didn’t seem like they were getting better at their craft. Being mindful of what you are practicing can help you avoid repeating mistakes, which, in the long run, will form a bad habit that will be difficult to unlearn later. Besides mindful practicing, consistency is key! Imagine not brushing your teeth every day but spending 4 hours before your dentist appointment, hoping your teeth will be healthy – it sounds ridiculous, right? Learning the violin is the same thing – spending time practicing every day (even if it’s just 15 minutes!) will do you more good than practicing once a week for one hour before your lesson. Read more>>

Makai Brown

It’s a mixture of growing up watching the matriarchs—my mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunts—and all the women in my family cook. Both my paternal and maternal grandfathers were chefs, and in African American family traditions, there’s often a designated guy on the smoker or grill. I was surrounded by both men and women cooking my entire life, some professionally, some at home. My foundational learning began in my mom’s kitchen, drawing from generations before me. In my early 20s, I attended the Culinary Institute of America to refine and professionalize these skills, which I combined with over a decade of professional kitchen experience. Read more>>

Emma Mutiu

I was never super artsy and didn’t love to draw, but when I tried painting I realized I had found my medium. I was only introduced to it when I wanted to paint some plants pots for myself. My first attempts were… mediocre at best. I’m not really the sort of person to watch tutorials, etc. to learn how to do something (even though they can be great resources), so I mostly just used to come up with an idea and try my best to make it work! At the beginning, my ideas weren’t super complicated, so they mostly turned out decently well, although simple. The designs were also were extremely varied, ranging from mandalas to cartoons. Read more>>

Mark Vegas

For a creative, no matter how many people you ask, ultimately the path you take will be riddled with uncertainties. I decided I wanted to direct films my freshman year of high school, but I was at a loss for how to go about it. I could sit and watch every film ever, but that leaves me with more questions than answers. “How did they get this scene to be colored in such a way?” “Why does Sidney Poitier seem to glide across the screen when he’s performing” I wanted to solve these questions but had no idea where I’d even begin to do so. I started at film school and while that was a good foundation, there were still fundamental things about the industry I didn’t understand until I got on actual sets. Film school empowers everyone to be a well-rounded filmmaker, exposing you to every one of its facets and you’ll wear each one of those hats while making your way through school. However, there’s a disconnect between film students, and actual work in the industry.  Read more>>

Mark Trudell

Since I was old enough to hold a pencil I have loved drawing. It was a way for me to express myself and stand out from everyone else. It took years of constant practice and effort to slowly improve and hone that skill, and I knew the only thing I ever wanted was to be an artist. However, when I was eighteen and ready to go to college I wasn’t able to due to financial inefficiencies. I came from a poor family and ample financial assistance was not available. It wasn’t until years later when I was in my thirties and living in New York that I had access to tuition free college and started attending Buffalo State University. There I was able to improve and expand my artistic skills exponentially. My strong drawing skills were able to let me learn new media very quickly and effectively. I only wish I could have begun my higher education journey earlier. Read more>>

Josh Lumsden

I’ve been in the “music world” almost my entire life but began actually playing around with producing when I was 13. I knew I wanted to sing but had really no idea where to even start, so I just downloaded music software’s and started playing around. Flash forward to now, I’m still kind of doing the same thing, but I find it to be a blessing. I now have the ability to 100% fully create my sound from scratch without having to rely on anyone else. It’s challenging for sure, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Read more>>

Jax Sprague

My primary art form is songwriting. I started teaching myself the basics of lyricism at age 12. I was interested in creative writing from a young age, but it wasn’t until middle school that I became interested in music. At first, I would take the lyrics of a song I liked and rewrite them to fit my situation. I would tweak the lyrics to be about a specific boy I had a crush on, troubles with a friend, or what I wanted to be when I grew up. I would then try to come up with a unique vocal melody that differed from the original one. Looking back at some of those lyrics now, you can tell I was addicted to Tumblr at the time. Nevertheless, I learned basic song structures and was able to write fully original lyrics and melodies. For more years than I’d like, I solely focused on lyrics. I would find royalty-free instrumentals to pair with my songs and record myself singing on top. Then, I’d publish them under various pseudonyms on different websites. While reactions to my vocals were mixed and my production “skills” (I tried to record songs in a single take without a microphone) were non-existent, many people fancied my lyrics. Read more>>

Kent Bond

I’m a modern painter and a modern yoga teacher. I come from a classical education in both disciplines but consider myself self taught in the evolutionary approach to my study and practice. I’m not a revivalist, I’m not interested in repeating or reproducing things or images from the past as they appear. I’m oriented in the “doing ” or process of making paintings and drawings. I work constantly in sketchbooks and small works that might end up as preparatory studies or smaller works in their own right. These constant musings often grow into larger or more finished large scale works. I work thematically from history’, myth, as well as contemporary subject matter that intrigues me. I use analogue tools, ie. classical means, oil, watercolor, paper/canvas etc. I learned by doing. I’ve spent thousands of hours since I was a child making paintings while exploring different mediums and modes of expression. I’ve studied classical art and its history up to the modern day. Drawing and observation were and continue to be essential. The only obstacle I’ve found is being discouraged from experimenting and not following my own inclination. This pertains to the art and science of practicing and teaching the physical aspect of yoga. Read more>>

Stephanie Kwaghe

Throughout my secondary and tertiary education, laid the foundation for my artistic journey. Under the mentorship of Unyime Edet, I refined my painting skills, polishing my technique and developing a unique style that authentically represents me as an artist. In retrospect, I recognize that consistency and an innate curiosity to explore related fields would have accelerated my growth. However, l’ve come to realize that the most essential skill for an artist is self-satisfaction – finding joy in the creative process, free from external validation. My greatest obstacle was self-doubt, stemming from attempts to emulate other artists rather than embracing my individuality and nurturing my strengths. Overcoming this hurdle has allowed me to cultivate a genuine artistic voice.” Read more>>