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.

Sean Santeri

I started self-teaching myself the guitar around age 19 after graduating from high-school where my sole focus at the time was basketball and trying to play on a college team. At the time, it was just something I thought was fun and challenging, but never aspired to do professionally as I never had any prior music training. Read more>>

Which Craft

When I first knew that being on the stage in front of thousands of people and performing a show was when I first seen “ TOMMY” by the Who . The only thing that brought me true faithfulness besides God was my music . It never once let me down . It was always there if I needed it or I was always there if it needed me . It was all I could think about even before I could barely think ; meaning a seven year old kid lol . I was basically that Kid in the house using the bamboo stick as a microphone or a guitar . Read more>>

TIAN GAN

Before 2016, I was a product manager in an IT company, but I am always passionate in art and love video games. I believe that I should pursue the career where my passion lands. So I saved money, quit my job, and studied in Entertainment Design Department in Art Center College of Design from 2017 to 2021. In School, my major is Concept Design, which would train my how to design characters, environments, props, and vehicles for video games, films, theme parks, and animations. After graduation, I am working in video game industry as a concept artist. Read more>>

Jacyn Tremblay

We’ve all known since we’ve been little kids that performing and taking a creative path was where we were meant to be! Read more>>

Joshua Sohn

As corny as it may sound, I feel that music has chosen me. It wasn’t really my choice to become a composer. However, I didn’t that it was going to be exactly composing as I was a performer and a music teacher before entering this profession. Being a drummer for a band where I wasn’t in the spotlight was a perfect transition to being the composer behind the scenes for films, TV and game music. Read more>>

Andre Bradford

The seed was first planted when I took my very first bow after being the male lead in a play my freshman year of high school. I was originally cast as the understudy, and when the cast lead got in a fight and got expelled I got jumped up to the lead in my first ever play. I was exhilarated and terrified. I went home and memorized all of my lines that night, before any of the cast had fully mastered theirs. Read more>>

Jonathan Burke

I first knew that I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally when I was in the 6th grade, at Cardinal Sheehan School (CSS) on Loch Raven Blvd. I had sung on my church choir and in church plays growing up, but it wasn’t until I began school at CSS when the drama and choir teacher, Kenyatta Hardison, noticed a special quality in me when I auditioned for the school’s choir. Ms. Hardison then encouraged me to audition for the school’s annual musical that she directed. Read more>>

Lucille Llewellyn

I think the first time I knew I wanted to pursue art was when I first entered high school. As a kid I was always creative whether it be through drawing and painting or creating mini sculptures with clay, I just never thought about pursuing it as a career. By the time I got to high school I was inspired by the cool graphic novels I would see in the library and animated movies had become so cool and I wanted to know what it would be like to be part of an industry that creates something so beautiful and to some even lifechanging. Read more>>

Jake Baine

Growing up I aways had an affinity towards cameras. I would capture videos of summer adventures I had with my buddies on a GoPro and make short edits. That passion grew and persisted throughout high school until I was aptly given the nickname “GoPro” by kids at my school. Read more>>

Imer Santiago

Although I began playing trumpet in the 5th grade, it wasn’t until my sophomore year in high school that I realized that I wanted to pursue music as career path for the rest of my life. I really enjoyed playing and singing in a variety of styles and languages, gained a stronger self-esteem through the successes I had musically, and loved encouraging/inspiring others with music. Read more>>

Michelle Volz

I had a degree in Communications and worked in Marketing in my 20’s but realized it felt out of place as a career choice for me. On the side, I was singing in a jazz band and teaching piano lessons which satiated my creative needs for the time being. I took an art class or two as part of my degree but I wasn’t very good at it and never had a proclivity to draw or color or be artistic in that way growing up so I didn’t ever think it would be the direction I would take later in life. Read more>>

Michelle Mansour

I always loved creating from a very young age, but I think my mentors over the years have really put me on the path I’ve followed professionally. My high school art teacher– Jack Walther– had a really lasting impact via his encouragement for experimentation and creative problem-solving. I grew up in a family of health care practitioners, so had always thought I would pursue medicine, but I made the decision to select Art Theory and Practice as my major in undergrad right from my start at Northwestern. Read more>>

Dee Simone

Around the age of 13, a co-worker of my Dad threw a Labor Day weekend pool party at his house. In one of the rooms, there was a remote drumkit. I asked if I could play, and the first drum beat of a song that came to mind was Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” As soon as I started playing, my heart started racing. After my Dad watched me play at the party, he saw the potential and went with his gut! I gained an audience that day which was super shocking as well. The following weekend that same remote drumkit was at my house. Read more>>

Tamara Mechael

I have always been a word-fanatic. As a baby who played with books like they were toys, I always pretended to be reading and flipping through the pages, as I had seen others do in person and on television. I became too impatient to wait until I was old enough to go to school to learn how to read, so at age three I actually taught myself how to read. Read more>>

Denis Maronga

If you were young kid from Kenya in the 90’s and living in Nairobi City, you probably witnessed political assassinations , income disparity, unemployment , government censorships and getting chased down the streets by the police for no reason, At 13 I met a drama teacher, a woman named Miss Omondi, who sparked something in me . I remember just being fascinated by the concept of using storytelling on stage to talk about issues affecting my fellow students and my community. Read more>>

Karen Culi

When I was 8, I saw Tony Meléndez perform live. He is a guitar player that plays with his feet. There was a standing ovation and my brother caught a drumstick. From there I was set on getting to a guitar one day and play in a band. Read more>>

David Reeves

I first learned that I belonged in something to do with the creative arts when I was young struggling with ADHD and what I now know is you know anxiety and depression, it was hard to not feel awkward I guess is the best way to put it and any setting I was in I was really good at school but I hated to be there. So I would say it was very early on I knew that all I wanted to do was create things you know I wanted to draw a lot I also lived most of my days with a set of headphones in and I mean I still do and I don’t just mean when I’m you know working if you want me to be honest. Read more>>

Slikk Flock

I knew I really wanted to pursue my dreams as an artist when I started getting good feedback from the people around me plus strangers. That gave me the motivation to take it serious the more I stuck to it I feel in love with it. Read more>>

April Rucker

The middle school I attended had each student choose an elective for their remaining two years before high school. Some electives required auditions. I’ve been a singer since I could form words and sounds so auditioning for the Select Choir was an obvious choice. I wasn’t clear on the structure for the next two years and also had an interest in Drama. Read more>>

Jessica McEachern

I have always wanted to sing and write. I have been writing books and songs for years. I have written multiple children’s books on various topics. I have written multiple songs. I can write a children’s book or a song in thirty minutes when I am in my creative space. I sang around the house when I was young, listening to Rhythm and Blues, Neo Soul, and Gospel music. I had multiple cassette tapes and CDs. I slept with my Walkman or portable CD player playing at night enjoying various genres of music. Read more>>

Blight Hernandez

Remember when we were kids and we’d say “ when I grow up I want to be”… My answer was always ..”an artist!” It’s always came natural and through the years been a therapeutic sanctuary that continues to save my life. I am 100 percent self taught in all mediums of creativity. I didn’t start painting until my 20s, and shortly after is when I started sharing my Art with the world. Immersing my entire self into my creative outpour, I subtly evolved my designs into a fashion Brand called “Be The Light”. Read more>>

Tuan Anh Le

I think after finished my graphic design degree, I think graphic design and nails are link together. I also like to draw in small canvas specially in a tiny surface like nails. Read more>>

Ven Miercy

Singing was always pure necessity to me. Some of my earliest memories are of singing outside while I picked dandelions, swung on the swingset, or spent time with the many animals we kept at our country house. When I first saw footage of Selena performing back in the 90s, I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do. Read more>>

Kajal Zaveri

I am not a formally trained artist and neither have I always been a full-time artist. In my early life, art was a part-time hobby which has now become my passion and a full-time career choice. I grew up in a close knit, happy family in India, blessed to have my amazing dad, my first guru, who always believed in me and imbibed in me the confidence to follow my heart and work hard for what I wanted, and my mom who always was and still is my biggest cheerleader and proud of me, no matter what. Read more>>

Taylor Hunt

I first knew I wanted to peruse an artistic career ever since I was a kid. My dad first taught me to draw when I was about 6 years old and from there I began to develop my artistic skills from there. Once I got to middle school and high school I made a small hustle selling my artwork to my classmates and I even started drawing pen tattoos on my classmates arms. Read more>>

Craig Blackmoore

I’ve been an artist of some sort all of my life. I remember that as a little kid, maybe around 4 or 5 years old I use to draw Tom and Jerry as little cat heads and mouse heads with happy faces and simple legs dropping from under their chins. I remember my mother showing me how to draw a person, complete with hair, a body, arms, and legs. Read more>>

Renee Macdonald

I was the weird midwest millenial Walmart-goth nerd of my high school and undergraduate programs – and to have found my way into opera of all things was pretty unexpected from almost everyone I knew. Music was always all around me, both of my parents raised me pretty solidly in the sci-fi/fantasy folk scenes, and conventions and renaissance faires – but even in those areas, opera wasn’t anywhere in my field of vision. Read more>>

Ollie Ruel

For as long as I can remember, the goal has always been to be an artist. As a child there wasn’t anything else that I’d rather spend my time doing, I was always drawing, painting, writing comics, designing game concepts, anything I could do that required my hands and my imagination to make the worlds that exist in my brain come to life. Read more>>

Ben Traverse

I knew I wanted to pursue a career in traditional music after attending an after-school music camp called The Quest in high school put on by SEEDs, Blackbird Arts, and Earthwork Music celebrating Alan Lomax coming to Michigan and Wisconsin in 1938 to collect music from working people. I’ve played guitar since I was a kid, but I was much more interested in history, especially history through a cultural lens. Read more>>

Rachel Ross

I can say I found out I wanted to pursue the passion for arts after quitting my highest paying job of my life. I was working at the airport, as a supervisor for my department. I over seen over 10 plus employees. I was get to be paid almost $20/hour. I did that for like two years comfortably but then I felt stuck. I felt as if I wasn’t using all my skills there. I wanted more and I wanted to be electrified. My thrill to go to work wasn’t exciting anymore. Read more>>

Jailiene Vazquez

I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally since I was a child. I’ve always been interested in drawing, pictures, stories, music – things that would challenge and awaken my creative thoughts. While I haven’t gone to school for a specific fine art type degree, I am always wanting to learn about the history of art, learn all sorts of techniques to elevate my projects, and learn about those who pioneered their art specialty. Read more>>

Kelly Mabee

Our little family started growing and I knew I wanted to be home with the littles. My husband is in full time ministry which is more of a lifestyle than a job, so I sought something flexible, fun and friendly to our family’s needs. Baking is therapeutic, joyful, creative and surprisingly social. It creates many connections, friendships and memories. I’m so thankful I get to do this as my job. Read more>>

Monique Madison

I started doing drag in 1996 when I was just 18 years old. I always knew that I was destined for the stage, however I never thought I could make a full time career out of it! Here I am, 27 years later, a professional drag entertainer. Read more>>

Taqwa Hasan

I knew I wanted to pursue a career as a creative at a very young age. I was always watching.BBC fashion shows and events and loved flipping through magazines looking at editorial shoots. I was heavily into the arts. I used to attend the YWCA where I can remember taking Art classes, and doing tons of coloring paper Mache , and collages as a child. Read more>>

Anu Sahar

My passion for acting was born when I was seven-years old and portrayed Nala in a local production of the Lion King. It was my very first time acting and although it was over a decade ago, the feeling remains fresh. It felt powerful to be able to use my voice and body to share a story that brought me immense joy. I remember bursting with excitement and longing for more. Read more>>

Vasu Tolia

I discovered art as a vocation after retiring from a very fulfilling and successful medical career. I started to learn some basics about drawing and painting. As a beginner, making art was not easy at all, and I discovered that painting was more of my forte than drawing. It took a few years for me to begin seeing all the nuances necessary to create a satisfactory painting. I started with realism in nature and with the elephant headed Indian demi-god, Ganesha. Read more>>

Tim Eightay

The Boondockers is an acoustic trio formed by myself (Tim Eightay) and one of my best friends Dray Harris. The gig cancellations and everyday life disruptions caused by Covid-19 inspired me to rethink the traditional approach to booking gigs. Restaurants, clubs, bars, and events were shut down, but after having purchased a used motorhome, I saw the popularity growth of camping and a boom in luxury RV campgrounds being built. Read more>>

Brynhild Blottsdottir

It was about 4 years ago when I truly felt called to pursue and create a path of creativity and helping others. I had been studying the Runes for 6 years as a Germanic and Anglo-Saxon Heathen and really wanted to start making a difference for people in my studies. Wanting to share the knowledge I had collected over the years and the knowledge passed on to me by mentors and other creators, I really felt I could reach a lot of people with creating Runes, being a Spiritual Guide for others just discovering themselves and holding space for them as they sought themselves. Read more>>

Kree Thawley

I think I’ve always known that I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic professional path, but that path has zig-zagged, taken u-turns, and manifested in a handful of different ways as I have grown. In my youthhood I would draw, design, and put things together with my hands, mesmerized by a dream of what being an artist or being a creative meant. Read more>>

Mark McKinney

I studied art history in college while taking as many studio art classes as I could fit in. I had an internship at an art gallery in Santa Fe the summer before senior year, and another internship at an art gallery in Manhattan spring semester of senior year, which resulted in a job offer upon graduation. Getting a chance to jump right into the New York art world at a top-level gallery and working with the artists they represented had me feeling I was right where I wanted to be. Read more>>

Lance Horwedel

I realized it the first time I heard the Abbey Road album at age four. My mother had a huge album collection and I tuned in to music very young. Read more>>

Dannie Saines III aka Bleezie

I think I always knew somewhere in my mind that I wanted to pursue a creative path, but it wasn’t until I lost my job as a vinyl installer late 2019 that I decided to put all my time into my craft. I wasn’t about to wait around or keep struggling while trying to find another job. So instead I was drawing, painting, making logos even but, somewhere in the midst I started to practice tattooing. Read more>>

Jpoetix Wrld

I’ve always had a creative passion within me, it followed my every step as a child but I never tapped into it and pursued it. I remember writing poetry as a teenager, I knew I loved the art and I definitely had a passion to express my emotions in this form, although it was just my hobby and I never considered it to be more than a hobby. Read more>>