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.

Tucker Hart

October 21 2011 was a day like any other. Little did I know my life was about to dramatically change for the worse. I was 30 years old, active and in good shape. I was heading out to lunch when pain hit my left arm and I started feeling very sick. I was trying to catch my breath, when a coworker came up with a char and said I needed to sit down. She called an ambulance and said it looks like a heart attack. I thought she was making a big deal out of nothing but she was right. Read more>>

Esperanza Solar

It was around 2018, I was working at one of the crystal stores in Miami and I loved it so much. The shop sold handmade crystal jewelry and I would always gravitate towards it, in particular the bracelets. I’d try them on but they never quite fit my wrist the way I’d wish they would. I would think to myself how cool it would be if someone would make adjustable jewelry for smaller wrists until one day I had the thought that that someone could be me. I brushed off the thought because I believed I didn’t own a creative bone in my body. Read more>>

Lou Emery

It was actually a pretty last-minute decision. Growing up, I’d always been in love with music and was involved in every performance opportunity I could find–musical theatre, school talent shows, community showcases, marching band, etc. Even when I was three or four years old, I would sing so loudly in church that people across the building would compliment me after. So the signs were always there–but I never took it seriously as a possible career option. My parents both studied engineering, and I don’t have any musicians in my extended family either. Read more>>

Dennis J West

I was in a small singing group, I was kinda the leader of the group. The group’s manager had developed another group we both had a gig the same night not close to each other geographic. Our manager ask me to settle up with the club owner. After the gig was over I go into the Manger’s office he handed me an envelope. I get outside and count it, to my surprise “I was like this is what he gets paid, because I knew what he was giving us”. Read more>>

David Earhart

It was 1982. I was five and visiting with family during the summer before starting elementary school. Among them was an uncle Ray, who married into the family before I was born. He was the most creative member of my family at the time and could draw, play guitar, and was into Dungeons & Dragons. Read more>>

Nelson L Moody, Sr

I’ve always wanted to tell stories as a teenager. Fast forward while going through a divorce I was forced to represent myself in my court case. I kept a description journal of my case from beginning to end. I represented myself to The Supreme Court of The United States just to be a part of my son’s life. This was based on my first 2 books. I then wrote a script and filmed a documentary as well. I went on to write 2 more books after that. My 4th book teaches a father how to represent himself in the judicial system. Videos were also made to help on my YouTube channel at Nelson L Moody Sr. Read more>>

Blair Logan

I’ve always been intrigued with art–when I was a child, I loved searching for the most beautiful shells the shore presented on our limited trips to the ocean; dancers have always taken on the most powerful form of expression in my mind; writing and poetry were early interests of mine when I was day-dreaming of traveling the world and finding the burial space of Genghis Khan as a worldly archaeologist! I never really considered myself an artist, and pushed my art time aside to create more space for my academic/scientific foundations. Read more>>

Keisha Rose

I first knew that I was meant to be in entertainment when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I knew that I loved to entertain, and be creative. Read more>>

Jon Savage

Late 2011, I desires and aspirations to be an artist were once again fueled. I began creating contemporary art paintings based on people and classical subjects that inspired me by using abstract, bright colors and clean cut painting style. Currently I using my paintings/photographs as life stories that are reflected in my visual journey. Read more>>

Edward Draven

I believe I’ve always been one to crack jokes and be the center of attention. I remember always wanting to entertain people. One of my teachers in 5th grade wanted me to lead the class play and thats where I fell in love with theater. Read more>>

Farrah Mehdian

Through out my life, I’ve changed carriers many times and I always thought something was missing until I started my jewelry line! It was as if I have arrived and I knew I have found my passion and purpose! It was only then that I truly appreciated and loved every second I spent designing a piece of jewelry! It’s my sacred place! I then understood the meaning of this fraise “ do what you love, and you don’t have to work a day in your life” Read more>>

Justin Patton

I first knew I wanted to dedicate my life to becoming a world class spoken word artist after getting laid off and fired from different jobs within 2 years. I was already performing and writing at that time, but it wasn’t until then that I decided I wanted to be a full-time creative. After getting fired, I was at my parents house trying to decide what my next career move was going to be. While sitting in my old bedroom, my mother walked in and handed me a folder that contained old work I had turned in throughout elementary and middle school. Read more>>

Mark Williams

I’ve been creating from a very early age and knew that I would always work in a creative environment. I learned to draw human figures from comic books as a small child. I did every arts & craft project that I could find and spent most summers drawing various subjects using books and magazines as references just to practice my skills. Read more>>

Austen Gray

I first discovered that I had some kind of musical talent around second or third grade when I started singing. It was also around that time that “American Idiot” by Green Day had first come out and started making the rounds on the local NY/NJ radio stations. When I first heard that song (and the single “Wake Me Up When September Ends from the same album) I knew then and there that music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Read more>>

James Worthy

Well I am from Queens, New York so growing up in a fast city that exuded creativity, culture, and music it was also around me. I found myself becoming somewhat of a nerd when it came to music, because I enjoyed all genre’s. I remember going to record stores every weekend to buy an album, and read the credits to see who did what. Once I started doing that I got really interested in songwriting first which then turned into music production locally. Read more>>

Squallé

I always had a way with words. They were my niche and it came to me naturally to create music. Hard to explain it but I’ll try to make it make sense. Music made me feel like I was free. I could escape all the things that I was going through. Creating music meant that I could open up and share my story through words. It meant that I could be seen and that I could inspire someone else to pursue their dreams and passions. Read more>>

Arathi Mukundan

I have always been artistically inclined with a great admiration for paintings and creative crafts. I have been a self learner and used to try my hand at different things. About 14 years ago is when I realised that art is just not my interest but my passion. I decided to hone my skills by learning from established artists. This is when I also decided to start teaching whatever I learnt as I believe the best way to better your learning is by teaching. Read more>>

Elijah Trujillo

I knew I wanted to pursue this lifestyle at the age of 18 years old. Already working and making money for a couple years doing under the table jobs I felt I didn’t fit into the workers environment and mentality for several reasons. After starting to post my work via social media it was getting a local response encouraging me to give it a go self employ myself by trying to make a living off my work. Read more>>

Ser Andy

All my life I’ve been in school. I went to law school a year after college. With such an intense curriculums in law school, I had no opportunity to really travel and be free. I was trying to be the best student with the best grades and striving for the best job opportunities I could get my hands on. It wasn’t until after my law school graduation that I had time for myself. But then COVID-19 hit. The world turned up side down and every one suffered. I stayed inside and learned to adapt to the new normal. Read more>>

Autumn Spyrka

I think I kind of always knew I wanted to be on my own, but the fear always crept in and I would panic. In the beginning of 2020 my husband and I began discussing the possibility of me leaving my job and officially doing my own thing, but then in February I discovered I was pregnant with baby number 3, so we decided maybe it wasn’t the time. THEN the pandemic hit and and the event industry shut down, so I knew I made the right decision. Read more>>

Donna Scott

My journey to pursuing a creative artistic path professionally began in kindergarten at Rudyard Kipling Elementary in Chicago, my teacher Ms. Imala, a beautiful, golden-brown woman with a kind smile and an angelic voice taught us this song: “Go tell Aunt Rhody, go tell Aunt Rhody, go tell Aunt Rhody, the old gray goose is dead.” Read more>>

Tifani Donovan

Believe it or not, recently I’ve decided to take my makeup artistry hobby seriously and pursue it as my full-time career. For the past 6 years I’ve been a self-taught makeup artist, catering to women in the Miami area and truly enjoyed connecting with clients, making them feel beautiful, and seeing them fall in love with our VON Cosmetics products during our makeup sessions. Being a makeup artist has allowed me the amazing opportunity to play a pivotal part in my client’s most memorable and special moments. Read more>>

Amelia May

Wow, this definitely takes me back! The first time I knew I wanted to pursue my creative path professionally I was about 10 years old. My mom took me to meet an old friend of hers who happened to be an incredible makeup artist in the 70s, her name being Davida Simon. Of course at the time I did not know this, I just thought “wow this lady has a really amazing makeup room” and she truly did have the most amazing makeup studio one could have in their house! Read more>>