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.

Dylan Greenberg

I first realized I wanted to pursue a creative path at a young age, perhaps as early as my very first memories, when I became possessed by what I call “the great mystery”. Whenever I saw a title flash on a screen, an image cut from one to another, I questioned how this was done. Read more>>

Buddy Chambers

I first knew that I wanted to pursue a path in the arts around 4 years old. At that age, I was writing and illustrating my own stories. Mind you, the stories were pretty awful and the illustrations were probably even worse- but that was me getting my feet wet in a sense. Read more>>

Nathasha Rumbos

Long story short I’ve always had the music bug as a young kid which led me into band in middle school and then chorus in high school . It was in that moment that I knew I wanted to be someone in music. I had high hopes in pursuing music professionally after high school but unfortunately the only music college that accepted me my family couldn’t afford which was the University of Miami. Read more>>

Mario Corona

It all started when I watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, that first impression was everlasting, and I knew from that moment I wanted to do what Harrison Ford was doing there: acting. Read more>>

Jonaye Anderson

I found my purpose when I discovered a deeper connection with myself. I had to look inwards and observe carefully what I wanted my imprint to be and what kind of legacy I want to leave behind. But I feel I became even more deeply connected to my purpose when I used my pain to sort out what I value the most. Read more>>

Abigail Mansfield Coleman

When I was 16 years old, I heard about an internship of some kind being an option for a class credit. Eager to do less biology and more things I enjoyed, I sought out the local costume shop to see if i could work there a few days a week. Read more>>

Tommy Jacobs

As a child, I was always into sports—baseball, Hockey, Football, Track and Field. I loved watching and participating in any and all sports I could get my parents to sign me up for and that my friends were also doing. I didn’t get into acting until a little later in my adolescence. Read more>>

Courtney Graham

I have always enjoyed drawing and coloring growing up, but I did not want to be an artist. I just knew I wanted to help people and children in particular. I put down markers and coloring pencils when I finished high school in 2009. I did not pick up art supply again until 2020 when the pandemic hit. It was in that moment of not feeling comfortable enough to work outside of my home and dealing with depression that I decided to create for a living. Read more>>

Christopher Chavez

I knew when I wanted to pursue music and art professionally. When I was a child. I’ve always had an affinity for the artistic side of life. I’ve always enjoyed being a part of the artistic side of life. Read more>>

Larry Brill

I spent the first half of my adult life as a TV news anchor. Nearly 30 years in four different markets. Somewhere in the late ’90s, as was our habit on Friday night that coincided with a payday, the crew where I worked in Austin went out for drinks after the 10 pm newscast. Read more>>

Stefan West

I first knew I wanted to do this professionally when i was 11 years old, I had been playing piano and trumpet for around 3-4 years and I was in a performing concert band playing 2nd trumpet. I remember i looked over at the bass player and the drummer and my whole world just narrowed in on those two. Read more>>

Lauren Ottley

The creative path began for me specifically in the 7th grade, I remember habitually avoiding what library hours were supposed to be used for and immersed myself in a wide ruled notebook to sketch mostly fashion illustrations. Read more>>

Mallory Lewis

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be on stage. My older sister and I would pretend to be rockstars in our basement, banging on a drum set and keyboard we did not know how to play. I would stand on chairs, couches, and tables; anything at a height where I could pretend that I was on a stage. The elaborate dance routines, plays, and talent shows we would put on were definitely a favorite for the neighborhood kids. Read more>>

Brenda Richardson

It was when I was in high school. I always love style, dressing up, creating different outfit. That’s when I wanted to be a model Read more>>

PAIGE

I’ve known I wanted to be an Artist ever since I can remember. Throughout my life I’ve been most excited when receiving musical gifts such as a karaoke machine when I was 5, and a guitar when I was about 16. When I was a child I used to create sing and dance routines with my friends and perform them for my family. Read more>>

Gary Lichtenstein

I had always been a creative kid but it wasn’t until I arrived at the San Francisco Art Institute, in the early 70s, that I considered pursuing visual art professionally. It was there that I met my mentor, Robert Fried, with whom I eventually worked as an apprentice. Read more>>

The Bennett Brothers

Our drummer Cody and lead singer Auston met in college at Clemson in the beginning of 2021. One night Auston was playing guitar for a group of friends at a pier on the lake and Cody showed up with another group of friends and asked to play his guitar. Read more>>

WENDI MEN

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been drawn to the magic of creating art. I can vividly remember turning my primary school textbooks into a canvas of doodles and cartoon sketches. Back then, I didn’t think much of it; it was just something I loved to do.

Cedric Gegel

I’m from Wapakoneta, Ohio – the same hometown as Neil Armstrong, the first man to ever step foot on the moon. I remember asking my choir director in high school, Tim Smith, if there was ever a world where I could be an actor. Read more>>

Tony Sobota

Don’t be anxious about getting your life figured out too early, because even a “wrong” path can provide the backdrop for a moment of clarity. Such a moment hit me like a lightning bolt while pursuing a master’s in marriage and family therapy. Read more>>

Tara Larson Crotty

Unfortunately, I have lived in grief for the past few years. My youngest daughter has struggled immensely with an autoimmune condition that turned our families life upside down beginning in 2018. Since that time, I’ve lost my dad & had a few other losses along the way. Read more>>

Stijn Bastianen

I always liked drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. When I was little I looked up to my dad because he had a big map with old drawings from when he was younger. They were really good. Unfortunately he stopped walking the creative path a long time ago but knowing what he was capable of motivated me a lot. Read more>>

Katlyn Barnes

I always grew up performing and with a dream that I’d be able to create my own music one day to share with the world. My dad supported me in everything I did, and I think that’s the most important part of why I ended up continuing with music in the first place. Read more>>

Lea de Wit

During the summer break between my freshman and sophomore years of college, a bone tumor was discovered in my spine. It was a difficult and life changing experience. I had what I call a “mortality check”. Read more>>

Orsolya Szánthó

I’ve always been a creative kid – I was doodling all the time, taking various music classes (and not ever quite succeeding at them), and joining tons But I always thought of arts as only hobbies. It wasn’t until much later, in my second year of college that I ever even considered pursuing a creative career. Read more>>

Linette Garcia

I realized I wanted to pursue a career in content creation when I consistently felt a positive instinct to keep creating. Experiencing joy as my creative ideas flowed, similar to the satisfaction I found in playing the guitar during both highs and lows, solidified my passion for content creation. That moment made me think, ‘I want to continue this journey and make it my career! Read more>>

Kristin Meshay Harris

I’ve always wanted to dab into the arts since I was a child but there appeared to be a blockage that was in the way. As an introvert sometimes I am misunderstood and therefore, that can come with a cloud of judgement. In 2012, I had decided to search for suppliers in my local area and created items such as soaps, body butters, and bracelets. Read more>>

Georgia Carbone

It crystalized for me during my undergrad years at Hunter College. I arranged to spend my junior year abroad, studying art in Florence, Italy – mostly for the adventure, I wasn’t an art major at the time. While I was there, I made a mixed media sculpture that asked gallery visitors to listen to their heartbeat through a stethoscope while reading a text that encouraged them to trust and follow their inner sense of knowing. Read more>>

 Thomas Augusto dos Santos Claro

I have always known that I wanted to be an artist. Ever since I was a kid I enjoyed performing to friends and family, act, pretend I was a character to entertain and make people laugh. I also really enjoyed drawing. Read more>>

Hugo Cintron

Well DJ’ing has always been my passion since the age of fourteen, but it wasn’t until 2004 when my close childhood friend and myself threw our hats into the ring (music business), and formed a house music production team by the name of The Club Punks. Read more>>

Ryan Hamilton

The moment I knew I wanted to pursue photography beyond a hobby was in 2012 when I returned back to Howard University to photograph homecoming. During the week, there is an event, Yardfest, which is like a concert/festival on campus. Read more>>

Lasalle Grandeur

I knew I wanted to pursue being an artist when I realized this was an important outlet for expressing myself. But not only that, it’s also a way I can convey my thoughts and feelings to be understood. Read more>>

Dani Dillard

The dream was asleep inside me for years and years. I worked in corporate brand marketing for almost a decade and was certainly ready for more depth, meaning, and aliveness in my career path. I was anxious, depressed, and locked inside myself. Read more>>

Michael Turner

I started playing Piano at the tender age of 9 years young. I am now a 38 year old full time musician that evolved into life coaching. My experiences are now changing lives and helping people build businesses and become the best version of themselves. Read more>>

Melissa Reischman

I knew when I was a teenager, that I wanted to pursue a creative line of work “when I grew up”. Read more>>