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.

Elijah Nuriddin

From the moment crayons touched paper in my childhood, I embarked on a journey fueled by creativity and expression. Art has been a constant companion, whispering inspiration and igniting my imagination since I can remember. Read more>>

Fox Haynes

For us, music was always a constant in our lives from a young age. Fox (Vox/guitar) started playing piano at 6/7 and from there music essentially became his life. Read more>>

Polina Nikitina

The first time I realized I wanted to be an actress, and I mean REALLY wanted to be an actress, was when I was ten. I have a very vivid image of it in my head, actually. Read more>>

Miz.Clover

It actually took me quite a long time to come to terms with what I wanted from my artistry and that I wanted to pursue my passion for Music as not just a hobby but a potential career. Read more>>

Alaina Albertson

As a kid, from my very first memories. Since my very first memories- I have been a creator. If I am not busy using my creative mind, it’s humming in the background. Read more>>

Georgia Barge

I first knew I wanted to pursue a professional path in music when I was deciding on where I wanted to get my undergraduate degree. Read more>>

Becky Behar

After my oldest child left for college, I anticipated the approaching empty nest with a desire to redefine myself beyond the role of a stay-at-home parent. Read more>>

Ken Sings

Since I began embracing my true self, I’ve been dedicated to pursuing my creative passions. There are moments when I wish I had overcome my fear sooner and shared my gifts with the world. Read more>>

Larkin Cook

Art was my only interest that I didn’t outgrow or get bored with. I was inspired by a lot of self taught artists in my family, but I knew that I wanted to get a degree and learn more. Read more>>

Max Diaz

well i’m not qualified for anything else that’s for sure. the moment I heard punk rock is when it started. Music that didn’t have to be perfect? like it wasn’t made in some corporate factory distributed to top 10 radio blew my mind. Read more>>

Brandon Salisbury

I grew up watching horror films, with one of my earliest horror movie memories being George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. I can remember being fascinated with the filmmaking process watching “making of” features that would air on TV, and “HBO First Look” episodes. Read more>>

CRTFD

An artistic career dawned on me during my teenage years. I didn’t necessarily grow up as a musical prodigy, but being from a culturally diverse area in Southern California I was exposed to a plethora of artistic expression, from street art to live music performances. Read more>>

Seiko Kamosawa

Since I was a child, I’ve had dreams where I envision designs and images that I’ve never seen in reality; I have always wanted to express these designs in the real world. I cherished art class in elementary school. Read more>>

Alysia Haight

I’ve been an artist since I was able to pick up a pencil. My dad likes to remind me that creativity runs in my blood and I’d have to agree. I’ve been surrounded by creatives my entire life and art has consistently been apart of my upbringing. Read more>>

Nevan Landeros

I feel there was always a pull towards music for me it was always something that intrigued me and felt like I never had to think too hard about. It started in 6th grade as a hobby and wasn’t until high school that I started to think about it professionally. Read more>>

Nozomi Lyn

The day that my dad got me my first acoustic guitar on my 14th birthday in 2014 was the moment I knew I wanted to pursue music professionally. Read more>>

Zachary Jones

Well, I started singing around the age of 2, according to my mom. She has pictures of me standing on the dining room table with a mic in my hand singing to Bon Jovi. I was alway singing! Read more>>

Khadija Nur

I discovered creative makeup by accident. I was following a YouTube tutorial in my house and ended up not being able to blend my makeup the way the YouTuber instructed. Read more>>

Cassie Hedrick

When I was in high school, I was always asked, “what do you wanna do with your life?” and I never really knew what to say. I always was told to pick a career path that was going to make me the most money, but the only jobs that really promised that were jobs that I had no interest in. Read more>>

Julie Jackson

Growing up, I always wanted to be an artist but I had trouble conceptualizing that into a professional path. I started college with a major in general art and ended up switching to what I thought would be a more practical major in Environmental Science. Read more>>

Joshua Diaz

I didn’t really know what I wanted to do for a career when I was in high school, the thought actually really terrified me. My SAT scores weren’t all that great (I didn’t study at all) and I was too ashamed to apply to a single college. Read more>>

Zan Fiskum

I suppose the answer to this question comes in two parts. I’ve always been obsessed with the expression of feelings through music since I was a little girl. Read more>>

Janice Grant

I would always sing around the house growing up, thanks to my dad. He always played oldies and I would sing with him. So much so, my mom had no hesitation telling us to shut-up. Read more>>

Samuel Fields

I first knew I wanted to be a Comedian when I uploaded my first video. I fell in love with content creating and making people laugh. I think laughter is a great way to connect with people and share stories. Read more>>

Rubén Contreras

Since I was very young, I’ve known that my future would involve something related to music, although I didn’t determine which path to take until about four years ago. Read more>>

Patrick Wimp

It took me quite awhile to understand that pursuing a creative career was an actual option for my life. I engaged in a lot of creative activity from a very young age–always drawing, writing stories, poems, and journals–but those outlets really just lived as hobbies or things I did in my spare time. Read more>>

Marissa Destino

I was a senior in High School I would skip class and cut all of my friends hair in the bathroom. At that time I was actually studying to become a Marine Biologist funny enough. Read more>>

Hyun Jung Lee

My journey with art started in childhood, when my passion for creativity first began. I always enjoyed dreaming up new ideas and turning them into tangible pieces. Sharing my creations with others always left me feeling happy and fulfilled. Read more>>

Sasha Kasper

I knew I wanted to pursue a creative career around June 2021, At the time, I had recently moved to Los Angeles and was working as a Immigration Case Writer at a Los Angeles based immigration firm, but I was burnt out. Read more>>

Andrea Adamson

I think I always knew that I wanted to be an actor! I remember being a young kid and daydreaming about being on disney channel, or practicing being interviewed in front of the mirror. Read more>>

Laurel Mona

When I lived on the island of Oahu, Hawaii I was presented with a chance to shoot with a local photographer on the west side of the island, where you can find Oahu’s most beautiful beaches. Read more>>

Crystal Gonzalez

I think that even as a little kid I knew that art was my calling. I would draw monsters and creatures all the time! And in elementary school, I would sell them to my schoolmates for 25 cents, so I could buy some candy at the nearest gas station. Read more>>

Ann Lucente

Oh my gosh! For as long as I can remember! Being asked this question brings back so many memories. I was always drawn to the arts – both visual and performing. Read more>>

Kaija Savinainen-Mountain

eve my path was predetermined and I never thought to question it otherwise. As a child I was always looking at things, examining the natural world around, trying to understand what and how things work. Read more>>

Oluwasade Orebiyi

From a tender age, my fascination with creativity was palpable. I vividly recall the moments spent immersed in colors and shapes, crayons in hand, creating miniature worlds on paper. Read more>>

Thomas Gonquoi

Growing up as a kids in Minnesota music was a big part of my childhood. I remember summers of me and my cousins laying on the pallet early morning in my uncle living room watching MTV Jams and BET/106 N Park singing all the songs and watching music videos all day and this was almost everyday. Read more>>

CRIDAIGLE (Christine Daigle)

I knew I wanted to follow my creative path from the moment I realized I had to create what I wanted to see, to render the colors, shapes & themes inhabiting me. Read more>>

Alexsys Jones

In high school, I took a forensic science class and I thought thats what I wanted to do with my life. Going to traditional college was never a goal or dream of mine, so the school portion turned me off.. but I always thought Forensic Files & True Crime shows were so interesting. In the same breath, I was always taking art classes and doing something creative. Read more>>

Rohit Gehani

When I was a kid, the first movie I can remember watching was Jurassic Park, and ever since then I have been taking away by being transported into another world. Read more>>

Crissi Curly

I had a vision about women and their hair being underrepresented in the art world likely sparked a desire to explore this theme creatively. Perhaps you saw an opportunity to challenge traditional representations and stereotypes through your art. Read more>>

Brandon Tetrault

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative path when I was just a little boy. For instance, growing up I was always creatively inspired by my grandfather, he is a realism painter and always influenced me to live creatively and freely. Read more>>

Sung Eun Park

Rather than deliberately thinking that I should become an artist, I think it came naturally to me. I have always enjoyed drawing since childhood. I was born as an only child and spent a lot of time alone. Read more>>

Mark Jacobs

When I was 12, I had my grandmother Joy call the local CBS affiliate in Las Vegas, KLAS, to see if I could take a tour of the station. Well, never so excited than the moment I stepped into the studio where the news set and production equipment were located. Read more>>

Darya Black

I always loved stories. When I was three years old, my mother would say, “Darya, tell me a story” and I would spend an hour or two talking nonstop, making up characters who went on endless adventures while Mom washed the dishes and did the cooking. Read more>>

Rick Grime

I joined the Air Force shortly after 9/11/01, but by 2010 or so, I was looking for a different career path. When I finally left service in 2014 I knew that whatever I did next would have to be related to visual art in some way. Read more>>

Rina Shin

I always had a passion for creating things with my hands. As a kid, I was encouraged to build and draw using my imagination. Drawing and painting has stuck with me the most. Being creative fulfills and motivates me to continue learning and improving as a designer. Read more>>

Jason “Jahah” Berry

I started drawing pictures of people and athletes I admired around 5 years of age. My parents tell me drawing is something I picked up and started doing on my own. During those days, I don’t recall being inspired by anyone in particular. Read more>>