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.

Di Liang

I told my parents for the first time at the age of 12: I want to be a fashion designer! Although I am now doing something less related to fashion design, in general, it was a decision I made early on to pursue a career in the creative industry. The reason why I wanted to be a fashion designer at the time was that I grew up as a kid who was very conscious of what I wore, even being late for school because I spent too long picking out clothes. Read more>>

Justine Menter

I was already well in to college by the time I knew I wanted to a path in the professional dance world. I went to college to study psychology and business, and just couldn’t shake my passion for dance. While I didn’t think it was sustainable at the time, I continued to make moves to further my training and connections. I decided to apply for a summer internship at the famous Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Read more>>

Kham Rembert

I had just graduated high school and was preparing to go off to college in the fall. A couple friends and I started a group and were making music. We had the opportunity to do a few performances around my city and I remember the feeling I felt seeing that my words were impacting those we performed for especially the youth. I started to fall in love with the opportunity to make real impact through music. Read more>>

Ayo Abigail

Honestly? I think I always knew I wanted to be some kind of creative. I distinctly remember when I was first learning to read, I used to read the lines of the books as if they were lyrics to songs. Songs that I would in turn perform for my parents (often by force) every night before bed! I think I was always looking for some reason to put on a show, you know? Read more>>

Ridge Banks

Since I was 6 years old listening to Elvis. I started lessons and performing on stage by 10 years old. I would wear a giant foam cowboy hat and go to neighbors dinner parties to play songs they requested and a few of my own. I did extremely well in musical testing in school and figure out most songs by ear. Unfortunately, I had an abusive father and childhood that hurt my self image. It became terrifying to be on stage although I knew this was God’s plan for me. Read more>>

Carli Robe

I WAS 8 YEARS OLD WHEN I TOLD MY FIRST JOKE TO A CROWD OF PEOPLE. I WAS IN CHURCH AND I HAD A CHRISTMAS SPEECH WHERE I DRESSED UP AS A CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE CROWD LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF MY PERFORMANCE; THAT’S WHEN I KNEW WHAT MY CALLING WAS. I HAD A HARD TIME CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE AS A CHILD; Read more>>

Latoya Lashae

When I graduated college ( over a decade ago ) I counldn’t find a job directly out of college. The hustler in me knew I had to do something to earn a living so I wrote down a few things I was good at. In college I use to sell dinners and baked goods so I decided baked goods would be the best path to pursue. Read more>>

Kristin Gilbert

I almost have always wanted to be a creative in many different ways. I originally was taken with the modeling industry, as well as the fashion, photography, makeup and hair artistry that all came together to create appealing ad campaigns and fashion shows for various companies/designers. Read more>>

Vega Smith

There are levels to everything. The first time I knew I was different and really had talent was shooting with the BadAzz Syndicate Camp CEO Boosie Badazz. People within the camp welcomed me like family. People such as Jay Cooper, Kali Shots, Chuck Star Films, and Walik Gibson. The First shots I ever took for the camp ended up on VladTV which is something I am very proud of. Read more>>

Rafael Moras

My first exposure to opera (and a huge part of what eventually led me down the path as an opera singer) was through my parents, who are both originally from Mexico (my father is from Córdoba, Veracruz and my mother is from Monterrey, Nuevo León). They grew up loving zarzuela (the Spanish equivalent of opera or musical theater from Spain) and the giants of Mexican song, such as Agustín Lara and María Grever, and even though they never pressured me into a music career, Read more>>

Aleksia Johnson

I’ve been on social media since I was 13 years old. I started on Musical.ly just for fun, and when I turned 16, I knew I wanted to take social media more seriously. Since I’ve been on social media for the past six years, I want to influence others to believe in themselves and let them know that they can do anything they put their minds to. I started on Instagram and then started to turn to the app that is now called TikTok. Read more>>

They Love Indyy

I realized when I was a kid literally I was about 3-4 years old I’ll never forget it. I use to watch the little mermaid musical everyday and I would visualize myself in the musical. I saw all those kids in that musical and I would always close my eyes pretend I was in the musical and sing along with them I knew then I wanted to be a actress in the industry.. as I got lil older I would write my own music lyrics I created a girl group with my friends at recess I joined chorus in school and I joined ballet and drama class. Read more>>

Cara Harjes

I have always been creative in the way I live my life but it wasn’t until much later that I found an outlet for that creativity within the arts and later still when I began to pursue it professionally. I remember dressing up as an artist for career day in the third grade. But over the years, my attempts at finding my artistic niche were snuffed out. Read more>>

Margie Marie

I first knew that I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally during my senior year of college. I had the opportunity to intern with an international artist, who owned a local art gallery here in Savannah, GA. I saw the way that she infused creativity and business into a beautiful experience. Read more>>

Quay Walden

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative artistic path professionally was literally all my life but I put action behind my thoughts and words May of last year. I’ve always been a creative , I’ve danced all of my life, I auditioned for every High School For Performing arts in New York ,was enrolled briefly then, Unfortunately I was forced into my zone school , later graduating college with a legal studies degree. Read more>>

Alicia Rodriguez

Honestly, I had never given art a thought as something I wanted to pursue. I didn’t think I even had any artistic talent. Few years ago before the pandemic my mother was telling me about this fun game that she was always doing with my son about painting rocks and hiding them. I assumed like geo caching. It didn’t seem that interesting to me at the time but, they were so excited about it. It was my sons new favorite thing. Read more>>

Ayanna Niambi

When I was growing up, I had a ton of creative hobbies – drawing, sewing, writing, creating music, the list goes on. I always tell people that it’s actually funny I pursued illustration because I hated art classes as a kid. I would’ve taken up some kind of creative career path (I actually planned to go into fashion design), but up until I graduated high school I hated the idea of other people telling me what to draw or paint. Read more>>

Antoinette Mayfield

I always knew I was created to create but I had a stutter that kept me from being social for most of my adolescent years. After years of speech therapy I overcame my stutter and started to participated in plays, sang in the church choir, and would make people laugh at ever opportunity I got. My love for people and the arts grew into a passion and that is what lead me to Dallas. Read more>>

Danielle Coe

I’ve always been a creative person. Anyone who knows me personally can attest to that. When I was younger I was always the kid in school who leaned toward all things art. I loved drawing and making things make sense. I loved when school projects meant we could get creative. Most kids my age would ask me to draw them a character or make them something fun. Read more>>

Erica Peebus

I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to be an artist but I didn’t think it could be possible to make a living as a painter until I met a few people who were actually doing it. I grew up in my father’s shadow. He was an abstract painter and a very serious artist who was never able to make a living from painting alone. He carried on odd jobs to make ends meet but ultimately wasn’t able to support a family from his income. Read more>>

Oscar Lopez Jr.

I was (and still am) a big fan of Daft Punk. As a kid in the early 2010’s I would listen to their music constantly, but rarely were other kids my age interested in electronic music at all. I wanted to share my love and excitement for Daft Punk’s music with everyone around me, but no ever seemed to feel the same way I did. Read more>>

Alexandra West

My path started with knowing I wanted to create something of myself. I could create the life and path I have always wanted for myself. This first began in high school when my friends and I would take pictures and portraits of each other in nearby open spaces. I then knew that I wanted to open myself up and aim to be with a modeling agency, hoping to be represented by the agencies here in Denver. Read more>>

Maile Miyake

Iʻve always doodled since I was a kid and entered school contests just because I was artistic and it was a passion of mine. It wasnʻt until my sophomore year of high school when I realized I could create a path for myself in the creative field from one of my art teachers. I was always pursing to become a lawyer and major in criminal justice, I knew that was where the money was at and also had a passion for that. Read more>>

Suzi Blake

Ever since I could remember, I have wanted to become an artist in some capacity. Some of my earliest memories involve my brother and I watching Pokémon on our box TV downstairs, trying to sketch our own cards to battle each other. I was never great at expressing myself verbally, but drawing became the perfect medium to capture my thoughts. Read more>>

Samantha Lux (she/her)

I remember being in 1st or 2nd grade and coming home to binge-watch YouTube videos with my friends and loving the sense of community that the old-school YouTubers were able to create, it was an escape for myself and so many other people who didn’t feel connected at school. Read more>>

Mikey Wells

As a young child, I was always intrigued by ambient sounds and movie soundtrack music. Whether it was the sound that leaves make while a breeze is blowing through them, crickets chirping on a warm summer night or a cinematic score to a movie, I was always amazed by it. Read more>>

Summer Breeze

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had this dream of being something more in this world. Looking back, I’d say it was this innate need to express myself someway somehow. My life as an artist has been a series of exploring different mediums – anything that gives my spirit the platform to create and keep my mind and hands busy. Throughout elementary and middle school, Read more>>

Regina Jazz

It was about 5 years ago and it was honestly the most beautiful decisions I’ve made. I’ve lived a purpose driven life since that day. It started as a silent prayer that later on manifested into a dream come true. Initially, I had no clue on what or how I was going to pursue a music career. I didn’t allow that to define me; I pushed myself to believe that I could do anything I put my mind to. I’ll never forget sitting my car one night writing a letter to future self pleading to myself to stay focused. Read more>>

Arnaldo Guevara-Marfisi

Since I was a child I liked to sing and I was always motivated by my parents who sing, by my brothers, by my elementary school music teacher and by participating in children’s music groups. Growing up and supported by people from the artistic world motivated me to think more strongly that I could become a professional singer. I still maintain that motivation and continue making music, especially singing. Read more>>