Are artists born or made? To help answer this question, we asked some of the most artistic folks we know to tell us about how they knew they were going to pursue an artistic or creative path. We’ve shared highlights below.

Michael Stevens

I was about 15 when I knew I wanted to pursue a creative or artistic path. Growing up I had always been creative, but I never really had an outlet that really consumed me the way that the drama club did at high school

One day I was hanging out with my best friend at the time. We we’re joking around after school, scream-singing the lyrics to “Kiss from a Rose” through the halls. Depending on who you were, it was either really funny or super annoying. One person found it to be both, and that was the drama club director at my high school. Read more>>

Bryan Chaffin

I’ve wanted to be a rockstar since I was in high school, but that desire dovetailed into writing when I encountered two particular authors: Dan Simmons and George R.R. Martin. Dan Simmons blew me away with his ability to write immersive stories (both in a far future and the past). And Martin’s world-building and compelling characters are so beyond aspirational. Read more>>

Germaine Owens

It has always been a dream of mine to create art that would resonate with communities I hold near and dear to my heart. I have always been an advocate for Autistic kids and Adults and I initially wanted to create bold and colorful art that they can identify with. This all happened during the covid pandemic . Letting them know that it’s okay to be different . Our Motto is ” Ordinary Humans Do Not Exist”. It was also important for us to build a platform of Equality for our LGBTQ community and promote Anti-Hate, and Anti-Racism for our people of color. We have customers from all over the world and they motivate us to continue creating positive messages. Read more>>

Tracey Seymour

I developed an interest in dance at an early age, inspired by my uncle’s passion for it. He encouraged my mom to enroll me in dance classes, and from that moment, I was hooked. By the time I was 16, I discovered my true calling: teaching dance. I knew I wanted to share this art form with all children, but especially those who look like me, giving them the chance to experience the power of dance. Dance not only stimulates the mind but also enhances academic performance and cultivates a range of critical thinking skills that are hard to develop through other means. Read more>>

Vincent Spremulli

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was actually a bit unexpected, considering I initially set out to become a marine biologist. I started my academic journey focused on the sciences, especially biology, because I had always been fascinated by the natural world, particularly marine ecosystems. I thought that would be my path, but art had always been a part of my life, even when I didn’t fully understand its significance. Growing up with three much older siblings, I often found myself alone, and art became my companion. It was how I kept myself company, how I expressed myself when words weren’t enough. Read more>>

Jackii Garcia

Ever since I was a child, I would cut my doll’s hair with arts and crafts scissors and use my markers to color their hair. My dad would take me to his haircut appointments with his barber,
and would have me clean up his back hairline between his appointments. After almost six years of being the only child, my sister was born and I finally had someone to practice on. As a kid and preteen, I got grounded a lot for cutting and dying her hair (this was the 90s- before YouTube and the internet, so I didn’t have any type of training or guidance- so it was not very good haha) but my parents saw that I was so passionate about hair and beauty and they helped me find a Cosmetology program that I could attend while I was still in high school. I have been very fortunate to always have such supportive people behind me. Read more>>

Farah Merani

In my heart of hearts, I think I knew I was an artist really young but grew up in a world where arts were hobbies not careers, so I didn’t consider it seriously until I started applying for universities. My high school drama teacher was known for staging provocative works. In my graduating year, I was cast in a play called RAFT OF THE MEDUSA. It’s about an explosive AIDS support group session, where the diverse members discover the disease they share can divide as effectively as it conquers. I played a woman named Nairobi, a homeless prostitute junkie who’d just lost her baby to AIDS. Hardly the kind of material you’d see on a high school stage! But I took the role seriously and really explored how a character with so much heart could find herself in such a state. Read more>>

Mikal Boston

Growing up with an artist for a mother, I was surrounded by creativity from the start. My mom’s art was a constant source of inspiration—her dedication, her process, and her creativity. Art gave her joy. It felt almost inevitable that I would develop a deep love for art too. But for a long time, I struggled with what to do with that love. Read more>>

Lina Beach

When I got to Royal Studios. I was in school in Memphis studying music but not sure where it would take me – I didn’t really believe in myself as a musician yet. Then I got involved with the Mike Curb Institute for Music at Rhodes, running the social media for our collaboration with legendary bluesman Bobby Rush. He came to our campus and told us about his life, career and the blues. He brought us to Royal Studios in the heart of South Memphis to record a cover of “America the Beautiful.” That was the first time I stepped foot in that studio, the holy ground where my favorite records were created. I was in awe, taking videos as our college musicians jammed with Bobby Rush and Eddie Cotton, while Royal’s co-owner and producer Boo Mitchell ran the ship. I was so drawn to the whole recording process, but I stayed behind the camera. Read more>>

Teyquil Skelton

The first time I realized I wanted to pursue a professional creative path was at the age of 6yrs. old. Music has been a part of my DNA since birth and for as long as I’ve been alive it’s all I’ve ever dreamed of doing/becoming and that feverish passion continues to burn to this day. I love the 80’s era of pop and new wave/EDM and within my own music creation, I incorporate those elements developing my own style that I inherited from that genre. Practice makes perfect and I’m a firm believer of repeated practices and that instillment of work only makes you better with time. Read more>>

Maysun Alabi

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue my makeup artistry professionally was in college. It was around 2015 when I started doing makeup on friends and classmates. A friend of mine had asked me to do her makeup for her anniversary dinner. It was at that moment that I knew my artistry had been considered special. I did her makeup and she felt so beautiful she said. She told me the next day she had so many compliments on her makeup! It was at that moment that I knew I could really do this and pursue it. It felt amazing being asked to be apart of someone’s special day and knowing that my artistry was trusted for special occasions. She didn’t know, but she was my very first client. I was so nervous but I faced my fears head on and had to trust in myself that I could do it! Read more>>

Olha Leonova

I’ve loved drawing for as long as I can remember—it was always my favourite thing to do. But the moment I truly knew I wanted to pursue an artistic path professionally happened when I was 13. I became obsessed with the idea of learning how to draw portraits. Something about capturing a person’s essence on paper fascinated me, and I knew I had to master it. Read more>>

Joshua Bircher

My indifference was shown at a young age. Why most of my other classmates were on current trends, me and 2 best friends were always interested in vintage culture. We use to thrift, watch old movies and play 90s hip hop, and people looked at us differently. We also tested our creativity by starting our own YouTube channels, making shirts, and figuring out what clothes uniquely represents ourselves. The indifference rubbed certain people the wrong way so we were kind of the outcast for a while. Though we weren’t the most popular, we still got a lot of eyes and comments, so we knew we were doing something right. Read more>>

Sam Tschida

In 2008 I found myself working at a law firm in downtown Minneapolis. I was in an office with maybe ten other lawyers doing document review on contract; i.e no bennies, to support a big class action. “Big case” and “class action” makes it sound kind of sexy, like I was part of a John Grisham novel, but it wasn’t anything like that. Doc review is lawyer scut work, doom scrolling through things like insurance documents for eight hours a day looking for anything that might be used for evidence. It’s doom scrolling with zero endorphin hits. My officemates and myself all had the misfortune to be looking for jobs during the Great Recession. Read more>>

Quintin Hinojosa

When I was eight years old, I think my parents started to see me as a little human with interests and ideas. That year, my dad asked me what I wanted for a present. It was the first time I got to choose my own “big gift.” For me, it was a no-brainer. I had wanted a guitar for months and decided to cash in my chips. Read more>>

Eseosa Nicole

Since I was five years old and first saw a composition notebook, I have been a writer. As I started creating my own stories and imagining musicals as a child, I became very passionate about storytelling and the performing arts. I started writing my first book series in fifth grade about an African princess—a character I aspired to be and wanted to see in popular culture. I yearned for African representation during those formative years of my life; seeing a prominent African woman who resembled me in the media would have given me the self-assurance I needed as a young girl growing up as a first-generation Nigerian. Read more>>

Kaitlin Becker

I told my 2nd grade teacher I wanted to replace Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show. So I guess in a way, I always saw myself as an actor, just never took it seriously. I didn’t know it was something you could study and go to school for, it was a dream and that was it. It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school I realized it was something I HAD to do. Read more>>

Jp Madison

I knew I wanted to be a comedian at a very young age. I believe I was 5yrs old. Sometimes my cousin Ricky would play Richard Pryor records sit me down in front of the speaker and then go outside and play basketball. I was amazed how the crowd would laugh at what he was saying. Read more>>

Rebecca Reeds

When I was in university I was on an improv team. I was not great at improv or university and promptly dropped out of both. I was going to be an accountant. AN ACCOUNTANT!? What was I thinking? Still craving a creative outlet, I started working at a comedy club in Ottawa to learn the ropes. When I felt ready a friend drove me to Montreal for an open mic. The second I stepped onstage I knew that was it. Stand-up comedy was going to be the love of my life. Read more>>

Zhao Wu

Oh, this takes me back! I don’t think there was a single, dramatic moment when I “knew” I wanted to pursue art professionally—it was more like a quiet inevitability, a path that had always been unfolding beneath my feet.

As a kid, I was constantly drawing, just like many children do. But for me, it wasn’t just a phase. I drew on every surface I could find—school notebooks, scrap paper, even the margins of my math homework. Stories fascinated me, and I would spend hours sketching characters and scenes, trying to bring them to life. Read more>>

Kitwana Israel

My creative path didn’t start as a professional one. About 28 years ago when I was 12, I picked up my first music production software and became obsessed with it. My dad was a Music Producer and Artist since before I was born, so I guess it was always in the air. Fast forwarding to working my first job after graduating university, it became pretty evident that this was not the direction I wanted my life to go in. So crazy enough around the time my first son was born, I decided to save enough income to leave my job. A lot of people did not believe it was the best decision, especially as I had a newborn, but I knew deep down if I didn’t try it then I would never do it. Read more>>

Tessa Fuqua

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was about 12 years ago. I was already in my 40’s and had spent my life in a few other professions and roles. I had always been creative, I drew or wrote all the time as a kid and have played music since I was five, but had never gone in the direction of being a “professional creative”. Now, when someone asks me what I do for a living, I smile every time I answer, “ I am an artist.” I feel lucky and blessed and so happy to walk this path. I feel like I get to be free, like a kid. Read more>>

Atoy Harris

I was around 15when I started getting into music my journey began joining my junior high school band. Read more>>

Eric Chapman

Music was an interest for me early on, at a young age i would play in middle school band, such as instruments such as; Saxophone, Trombone, and Clarinet. Around this time i was discovering music like System of a Down, My Chemical Romance, Greenday, Disturbed, Korn and more. My brother was learning guitar, and had one in his room, i would always ask about it. One day he gave me the guitar, and i was off to the races. Read more>>

Sedat Adik

I was in my second year of university, studying International Trade—a path that seemed stable, yet never truly sparked a fire in me. During the summer between my first and second year, I had the opportunity to take part in a project with the university’s Fine Arts department. It was there that something shifted. I had always been good with my hands, naturally drawn to intricate details and craftsmanship, but this was the first time I truly saw the potential of art as more than just a skill—it was a language, a way to leave a lasting mark. Read more>>

Abuv Ave

I gained this understanding when I noticed I had an ease with verbal expressions. I always loved vernacular since a kid and understanding how that can move people and uplift people made music to me feel purposeful. Read more>>

Allen Triplett

I have been in love with art ever since I was in first grade, growing up I had cousins that I would compete with and would have family members jury our art. My grandfather truly wanted to reinforce the joy it brought me and still to this day I’m thankful for those memories. I spent many years pursuing other interests until I was in high school. I had a parent with poor mental health and preventing them from taking their life was what pushed me onto the creative journey I am on today. If there’s any legacy I would want to give through art it is the healing properties art can give the mind in times of resistance. Read more>>

Andrea Ezerins

I just finished my second book and still consider myself an accidental author. Let me explain why. When I was young, I was a voracious reader with no burning passion or desire to be a writer. If some grown-up asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied, “Astronaut, teacher, track star,” but never author. I was living my ordinary life as an insurance executive, mother, wife, etc. when inspiration struck and changed all that. Read more>>

Jose Martinez

My Dad has always been on a stage. After seeing him perform with his band at a huge country fair, I wanted to know how can I get my hands on all that gear making everything work. The audio consoles always have gotten my attention. Seeing all those cables and the Tech going crazy, I just wanted to be part of that craziness. Read more>>

Carly Metroka

I think I always knew I wanted to be creative. Throughout my life, I gravitated toward hobbies and jobs that let me express myself artistically. I grew up watching my mom dive into every creative outlet imaginable—painting, sculpting, singing—before finding her passion in custom stained glass. I loved watching her create, but even more than that, I loved seeing how happy her clients were. When I was old enough, I started working for her, making custom stained glass art—and I was hooked. Read more>>

Vanessa Borg

I’ve been “producing” shows, events, etc. since I was a kid but debated all through high school if pursuing the arts in a professional capacity would be realistic. I worried constantly that I wouldn’t be good enough to make it, that I didn’t have any professional contacts in the art industry who would be able to help me. The breaking point came just before my senior year of high school when I did a community theatre production of the musical Chicago. Our director was very eccentric and utilized some unconventional methods – but they worked! Our cast learned a lot and had an amazing time bringing the production to life in a very real way. It was at that point that I realized if I really wanted a career in the arts, I’d be able to find a way to make it happen. Read more>>

Hanbyeol Lee

I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where I could learn to play musical instruments from a very young age. My dream of becoming a pianist began even before I could properly pronounce the word. I probably decided on my future career as a “pinano-nist” or something similar, and I thought I was preparing to become an artist. I focused more on technique than creativity and artistry, practicing like a machine to play repertoire perfectly. When I turned 23, a doctor told me that my hands were damaged and I could no longer play the piano, and I was devastated to give up my dream of becoming a pianist. Looking back now, I realize that I wanted to be an artist at the age of three, but I didn’t understand the meaning of it for 20 years. I thought it was cool to play the piano perfectly on stage. Read more>>

Jeff Wager

I had just finished my third week of the MBA program at Clarkson University. The dean was having a meet-and-great icebreaker for the students at his house, which featured a very swim-worthy pond. After receiving the Dean’s blessing, I stripped down to my underwear and took the best dip of my life. Out of the 40 something people at the party, only one other student decided to join me on my swim and I realized that the pursuing a white-collar life would subject to many more moments where the pond would be left with too few ripples. I dropped out of the program the following Monday and immediately relocated to a timber framing school in central New York where I learned how to construct post-and-beam cabins. In my 3 month apprenticeship in the illustrious Cherry Valley, I discovered the things I valued most and wanted to build my life around. Read more>>

L A

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally was during my time at Grambling State University. It all started in the fall of 2004 when I was cast in my very first theatre production, despite having no prior acting experience. I was incredibly nervous, but also excited, knowing I was about to step onto a stage for the first time. I remember running from my dorm to pick up my script, feeling like I was on a mission, as though I was racing against time to prepare. Read more>>

Afv Exotic Arts

Growing up in a small town in southern Georgia there were not many opportunities in my hometown as far as being a blossoming artist. My grandmother paid for my dance lessons at our local arts center. I remember being middle school aged and my dance teacher at the time seemed to want to not teach and cut up with some of the older girls in class. I have memory calling her out in front of everyone asking, “is it okay if we start class, my grandmother is paying for these lessons.” And THAT was my first profound memory of having a feeling of wanting to be a dance teacher. On the inside I was screaming, “I can do better than this!” I have returned to the Arts Center to teach as an adult so it’s a very nice full circle. Read more>>

James Mulroony

Back in 2015, when I was a junior in high school I joined my first band named The Brams Hill Band. I was able to get an audition for this band through my friend who knew one of the members. We played through a few songs for the audition and after an hour or so of playing, they asked me to join the band! At this point in my life I had been playing drums for about 5 years but never took it seriously. I learned to play by jamming to my favorite songs but never thought about being a musician for a living. But that all changed when I played my first live show at a place called Rhodes Tavern in New York. We had been practicing to play our first show for months and during that time I started to really fall in love with drumming. Read more>>

Vin Zeal

I knew that I wanted to perform professionally from a very early age. I was inspired by artists like the Cheetah Girls, Alicia Keys, Micheal Jackson, Justin Timberlake and so many others. I have a copy of a writing assignment from first grade where we had to write a sentence every morning along with an illustration and I wrote, “When I grow up, I want to be a singer and I am going to win awards. I will have a bodyguard”. Below the sentence, I drew a picture of future me dressed like a super star sitting in front of a big vanity getting ready for a show. That was definitely a vivid turning point in my life where the vision for my future was solidified. Read more>>

Tamiko Pettee

Art has always been a part of who I am, but for a long time, I kept it in the background, treating it more as a hobby than a profession. Growing up, I loved creating, but like many, I was led to believe that art wasn’t a “practical” career. So, I followed a more conventional path, taking on practical jobs while setting my artistic dreams aside. Read more>>

Melanie Berardicelli

I’ve known in my heart I’ve wanted to be an artist since I was just a young teenager. In the seventh grade I had a tough time making friends and had nobody to chat with during lunch. My mother had gifted me a tiny, 3.5”x 5” Strathmore sketchbook so I’d have something to do during my lunch period. Believe it or not, I got in trouble for this; my middle school had a rule that no books, papers, or pens were permitted in the lunchroom. This rule was enforced to prevent students from finishing (or copying) homework at the last minute before class. Read more>>

Lucien Aleman

It took me a long time to recognize that pursuing an artistic path professionally could be a logical choice for me, despite always gravitating toward creative activities.

Growing up, I felt most comfortable engaging in music and the arts. I played several instruments and could spend hours drawing. While my supportive mother and family members might have you believe otherwise, I was no child prodigy when it came to drawing but it was a skill I excelled at. Sketching visuals that I saw in books or television shows was something I would spend hours doing outside of the classroom; inside I would frequently doodle in my notebooks to distract myself from the lessons I was supposed to be engaged in. Read More>>

Diamond In The Rough (dir)

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved music, and in particular, singing and playing the piano. I was really shy growing up, and being born and raised in the US with Japanese parents, I think music really became one of the biggest ways I felt I could express myself and connect with both my Japanese and American backgrounds. Read more>>

Kristen Carrow

I’ve been an artist since I could hold a pencil, and spent most of my younger years creating, but I never wanted it to be my career. My parents were both accountants and didn’t believe that art was something I could make a career out of. So I focused on my studies and went to college for game design, but it didn’t make me happy. I turned to graphic design, since that could be a viable job, but that also didn’t make me happy. I realized the only thing I really enjoyed doing was creating, not for a business or to make a sale, but for myself. So I changed my major to art, inevitably dropped out of college due to other circumstances, and turned away from it as a career again. Read more>>

Linda Post

I was always the child daydreaming in the back of the classroom, drawing pictures instead of taking notes. Secret portraits of my classmates, fashion design, geometric forms, even making up illustrated stories and books. I was a good student despite my general lack of attention. My public high school didn’t give college-bound students the option of taking art classes – it was considered a “trade”. I enrolled in occasional private art classes, and did attend summer school for art one year. Heading into college I was, basically, self-taught as an artist. Read more>>

Khadijah Glover

I would say it was during my high school years when I discovered you can go to college for animation. It was that point in time where high school teachers had you start thinking about your future career. At the time all I knew is that I wanted to make cartoons and researched everything under the sun to find a job that lined up with that in mind. Through my research I discovered that you can have a job as an animator, concept artist, background painter, character designer, storyboard artist and so much more. And each of these roles contribute to a completed cartoon or animation. At the time I did not know which role I wanted to do as a career, but used those roles as a starting point to find colleges who taught the skills for them. That is how I discovered a slew of universities that had animation specific degrees that taught the skills of those different roles. Read more>>