Do you remember the moment you realized what you wanted to do professionally? Was it magic? Was it scary? We wanted to hear from some of the most talented artists and creatives in the community and so we asked them to tell us the story of the moment when they knew they were going to pursue a creative career path.

Caitlin Reinhart

I have wanted to pursue a creative path professionally since childhood. I filled several notebooks with cartoonish characters throughout my school years, and took as many art classes as I could. I enjoyed them all, but was not passionate about any in particular. I wrote off pursuing a creative career in my early twenties, opting for a business degree instead. Read more>>

Anthony Newes

Music has been deeply part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s hard to pin point a specific moment when I knew I wanted to be a musician. When I was really young my mom owned and operated a small craft store in the small town I grew up in. Each day I would take a nap in the back of her store. I’m told the retired ladies in the neighborhood would often come in each day to listen to the little boy in the back sing himself to sleep. So music has always been something that’s part of who I am. Like a life-long friendship. Read more>>

Christie Calaycay

I went to school for a B.A. in Anthropology and after graduating I worked for the Louisiana State Folklorist. I was trained to find folk artists and document them through interviews and photography, sharing their stories of how they learned their craft and what type of work they did. This information was gathered for exhibits and historical archives. I really loved that job and knew that I wanted to pursue this type of work. I just didn’t know at that time, that it would lead me to another type of creative path. Read more>>

John Nixon

Probably my junior year in high school, I was introduced to a few music albums that really caught my ear in their attention to detail both musically and sonically. One was “Lexicon Of Love” by ABC, and the other was Toto IV. This drew me into reading the backs of albums to see who was making these records from behind the scenes. Read more>>

Annie Seaton

In my Junior year of College I went to Paris to study fashion illustration and costume history with the Parsons School in Paris program. However I longed to be with the fine art students who were doing creative art assignments all over Paris, rather than following all the design rules in my illustration studio classes. Although I loved my summer program, I returned for my senior year at College and doubled down in painting and sculpture classes. I learned that art, not fashion was where my true passion lies. Read more>>

Malik M.K.J.” Johnson”

I knew I wanted to purse music professionally once I heard from God to do so. My goal is always to be obedient and do the will of my Father God. Jesus saved my life in 2006. I started recording music in 2007. The rest is history! Read more>>

Kelsey Haver

I was always the kid doodling on my schoolwork, trying new handwriting styles and loving art classes. My parents let me take art classes outside of school where I was introduced to drawing, ceramics and painting. This is where I developed a love for creating! I was fortunate enough that my high school offered photography and basic graphic design courses and that’s where I was first introduced to digital art. Read more>>

Corinne Fry-Rich

Being a young creative person can be both a blessing and a curse. While some may excel in math and history classes, others struggle to focus on anything outside of their artistic endeavors. This was the case for me as a young person who found my true passion in painting, repurposing clothing, mixing and making my own makeup and paint colors Read more>>

Catelyn Picco

Throughout my whole life I have been singing. When I was in first grade, I sang “Castle on a Cloud” from Les Misérables for the school talent show. I knew that I loved performing. Then, when I started playing guitar, I was excited to perform in front of people. So, fast forward, and at 15 years old, I went to Sprizzo Café in Waukesha and performed at their Friday night open mic. Read more>>

Steph Nguyen

Throughout my life I always loved working with my hands. Music and food is my favorite way to communicate. As a child, I fell in love with the art of turntablism and DJ culture. It was something I was loved as a hobby at first but then it grew into an obsession and then eventually my full time career. Read more>>

Steven Volor

I had never thought about being an artist of any sort. I learned guitar honestly, in some ways on accident. My brother tried the guitar, but quickly realized that it wasn’t what he wanted to do compared to being a singer instead, so he had me try it. When I played it, it felt absolutely right. Coming home from school and playing guitar for the next 8-10 hours as a kid was the best part of my day. Read more>>

Carrie Stephens

When I was in 1st grade, my class put on a play of the Three Little Pigs. I got the part of the Littlest Pig; dressing up, working with the scenery, learning my (very few) lines, and doing it all onstage under the bright lights was exhilarating, even despite my nerves. It was such a small role in such a small play, put on for parents that would love it no matter what, but it igniting a creative part of me that longed to perform. Read more>>

Julia Whitt

As a young child, I always had a spark for creative expression and making art in whatever form I had access to. My greatest joys and favorite pastimes came from letting my vivid imagination flow, whether that was independently in my room or in the art room at school; a safe haven for the shy and introverted like myself. Read more>>

Justin Moultrie

As a kid I was always drawing, I was known for being the guy who could draw really well in school. I’ve always loved cartoons and anime. I use to draw the covers of VHSs & DVDs, comics in the newspaper, pause the TV to draw scenes, and even my own comics. Art classes in school helped sharper my skills and helped with realism. After drawing names, portraits, & cartoons for people, I always loved the reactions and the joy it brought others. Read more>> 

Gabrielle Shultz

When I turned nine, I found my love for music but I didn’t think I could do that with my life as a career. I started teaching myself guitar and played the drums at the age of nine. It wasn’t until I moved away to Nashville, TN for school and studying religion that I fell in love with music all over again. It wasn’t until I was about twenty-three that I realized I wanted to actually pursue music as a career and since then I haven’t looked back. I’m grateful for the journey since then. Read more>>

Hope Easton

After I had kind of quit cello ( classical ) and sold my cello, I ended up buying it back 6 months later and then basically went on tour with a singer signed with Hollywood Records. As soon as we went on tour I started writing songs! So my classical training has always kept me in good stead. Read more>>

Matt Hodge

Ever since I was a young kid, I have always been fascinated with creative expression and human storytelling. I knew early on that I wanted to dedicate my life to the arts. As I made my way through middle school, high school, and college, I kept immersing myself into the visual and performing arts (music, theatre, film, writing, etc), Read more>>

Jamila Anahata

In hindsight, I was born to be a creative, an entrepreneur, and a healer. The first time this realization hit me was in my early 20s when I worked in food service and retail on and off. The pressure I felt and the frustration that permeated my Being grew stronger and stronger as I got older, and I knew that working for someone else (especially in a corporate setting) just wasn’t for me. Read more>>

Dawn Campbell

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a burning desire to express my creativity. Whether I was tinkering with my dad’s drawing supplies, watching my mom work on her crafts, or writing plays to showcase the talents of my fellow artistic friends, I’ve always been drawn to the world of creativity. It’s a passion that has driven me throughout my life, and I can’t imagine ever giving it up. Read more>>

Crowdfreak Baddies

The C/F Baddie Management (Khaos, Dee The Baddie) knew we wanted to purse the Modeling / Promoter Group professional, when the former management was lacking real modeling development options here in the city of Detroit. We wanted to make an afford group where aspiring models could grow & develop in an safe environment. While helping building their portfolio & brand within Crowdfreak platform. Read more>>

Antoniajosé Villa

For me the desire to be a working artist has been an aspiration since I was very young, it wouldn’t be till my mid twenties that I made that into a reality. Always being naturally gifted with artistic abilities I wanted to really make use of those talents on a daily basis and nails were a perfect vehicle that lets me practice my art every day. Read more>>

Fizz Oladiran

From a young age, I’ve always known for the most part what I enjoyed doing. That was acting. Though growing up as in immigrant, you’re taught that careers in the arts are unrealistic and that your best bet is to focus on school and eventually get a regular job. Read more>>

Aniya Hall

Since I was young, I’ve always had an eye for art & a lot of creative ideas in mind, but over the past few years, specifically, towards the end of 2019 going into 2020, is when I really grew more conscience of my ability to create art and had fallen in love with bringing those same ideas to life. Creating pieces that speak to me! Read more>>

Justin Mola

I always knew from the very beginning. I feel that pursuing music professionally was not just a desired career path, but true calling and way of life. I was fortunate to be born to two amazing parents who are both musicians themselves, and they really exposed to so many different types of music growing up. I was so inspired growing up by seeing my Dad play at his live gigs, being exposed to so much great music by my Mom and Dad, and by studying the musical icons that came before me. Read more>>

Robbie Reign

I knew I wanted to do music professionally sometime towards the middle /end of high school. High school was the first time I really noticed that I had talent. That being on stage was something I knew for a fact I was good at and no one could tell me otherwise. Being on stage is where I am the most at home, where I am the most confident, and through performing, Read more>>

Miranda Duane

Art and creativity have always been a big theme in my life. As far back as I can remember, I was always making something or learning a new craft. I think it was inevitable that I would end up in a field full of creatives. I can’t pinpoint when it was that I made the decision that I was going to do photography and art as my career. It came from within me as I became bored of the daily 9-5 grind. Read more>>

Iana Rose

My college year during a photoshoot, a photographer was teaching me how to pose and ooze confidence. Then, later on I sign on to a modeling agency. I knew then I wanted to purse a modeling career. Read more>>

Jeremy Sauer

I’d say that it was about 20 years ago that I first wanted to make photography a professional path for myself. Unfortunately, life happens and the story of the “Starving Artist” becomes reality. To this day photography is my art form and not per say my profession. I have made professional sales, however, not enough to completely rely on my art as a sole form of income. All that being said, if there’s any agent/broker looking for an artist…give me a shout. Lol Read more>>

Roxanne Rhoad

I often joke that I was born with a pen in one hand and a notebook in the other. I always wanted to be a writer. Books were my first love. I spent my summers hunting through the stacks at libraries looking for new worlds to explore. Read more>>

Monica Moscoso

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Megan Selke

Oh man, well, when I was a kid there are only two things I remember always wanting to be; a mom and an actress. Well, I also wanted to work with dolphins, but I didn’t want to work with any other marine animals. Just dolphins. Anywhozer, despite wanting to be an actress my whole life and doing stage performances and a variety of acting classes, Read more>>

Elaini Arthur

I was a very young age when I knew that I wanted to be a singer. I was only about five, I think, when I was in kindergarten and the teacher told us that our school was having a talent show. I remember going home that same day, giving my family the paper that was sent home with me, and told them I was going to be in the talent show. My grandmother asked me what I was going to do and I said, ” sing. ” Read more>>

Liz Diachenko

For the longest I can remember, art has always been a part of who I am today. Growing up in a family with diverse artistic backgrounds and influences, my journey towards pursuing a creative path professionally was shaped by a combination of my parents’ aspirations and the rich musical heritage of my Ukrainian roots. While my father hoped for me to excel in sports, my mother’s side of the family strongly believed in the power of music. Read more>>

Phillip Koo

About five years ago, my son and I decided after a Chinese New Year festival that we would see what opportunities we would have doing origami. He was given a challenge in his youth group to take $20 and do something meaningful for any local outreach project. When we were walking along we decided to take this idea and walk with it. Read more>>

Brianna Seiber

Brianna Seiber in the Band: A long way Back Music is absolutely a part of who I am. I have sang since I could talk,.. so I am told. My parents have videos of me putting on concerts and singing to my karaoke machine when I was young, though, my first performance was at my 5th grade talent show. I performed the song Skyfall, by Adele. Read more>>

Steven Abele

I began my musical career as a child, starting with piano and guitar lessons. I was blessed to have such great instructors Beverly Summers, Nick Summers and Larry Cook. I have always been drawn to music, writing and visual arts since I was very young. After performing at several recitals, Read more>>

Cecily Gooden

When I was about 6 years old, I already knew I wanted to be on tv but I took it a few steps further. I use to read Stephen king and ghoosebump books and watch scary movies. That made me write my own scary stories which had my mama very concerned lol she thought something was wrong with me because of the content but was reassured I was just being a kid. I use to create soap opera stories for my Barbie’s. I had my own radio and talk show. I just loved creating at the age. Plus I was the only child Read more>>

William Kranzusch

I grew up listening to music. The first song I remember listening to that made me wanna be do music was Changes by Tupac. I had started writing songs in 07-08 they weren’t really that good. The first song that I remember going to the studio to record was a song called Life in Music. I have friends who worked in the music industry and they saw the potential I had. I wasn’t super confident in my ability to sing or even rap. Read more>>

Bullet To The Heart

I think all of us growing up in challenging environments with mental illness, trauma, and family issues, really pushed us in the path of finding an outlet to express ourselves. We each picked our own endeavor and eventually came together to share our passion for music with the world. Read more>>

Shacarra Bennett-Hardy

I use to watch beauty influencers’ videos consistently. I loved watching them because they taught me so much about perfecting my makeup, taking care of my skin, what are the best places to shop at, and so much more. As I’m watching these videos I’m also seeing how much of a luxurious life they’re living and this is what they’re all doing full time! Read more>>

Maggie Vlasaty

As a kid I had a dream of pursuing acting and modeling, thanks mostly to Disney and my ability to sit and watch movies for long periods of time, but I don’t think it ever really dawned on me or my family that a career was a possibility. It wasn’t until 2021 that I finally started pursuing modeling part time in Minnesota, and then it was late 2022 when we moved to Los Angeles that I was able to book jobs more regularly. Fast forward to Match of 2023 and I’m now happily a full-time model and actress. Read more>>

OsbornNash

When we first got together, it wasn’t about being creative or artistic. At the time, we had no idea we would be pursuing a musical path together. But as circumstance would have it, an opportunity presented itself that would involve working together and discovering our mutual love for creativity & performing. Read more>>

Kimberly Burnett

When I was 2 years old, I would tell people “I am a artist.” I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t an artist. I really never envisioned myself as anything other than an artist. Pursuing art professionally is different than creating art as an outlet or hobby, though. I had four kids over the years, and ended up being a single parent in late 2019. When covid hit, I used the lockdown period as an opportunity to hone my technical art skills. I painted constantly. During this period, I didn’t focus so much on what I was painting, rather on how. Read more>>