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.

Magdalena Duhagon

I have always had a deep enjoyment for the arts and particularly of music, and that kind of admiration for other musicians that make you feel like you would love to do what they do for a living- perform for a live audience, make music- when I grew up. I was moved by music in a way I wasn’t moved by other experiences, very often moved to tears. My first instrument was the guitar, an instrument both my parents loved and my mom played to accompany herself while singing. Read more>>

Selina Albright

I had two signs. Until then, music was always a hobby for me. I was studying to earn my Masters Degree in School Counseling, but I would bring my homework to a local nightclub every Tuesday night, so that I could sing at this weekly R&B musical improv showcase. It’s funny thinking back on it, because I was so used to seeing things through, I missed the signs showing me that my true efforts and interests were toward music all along. Read more>>

Mary Morgan

I have always loved art and loved teaching art. However, there was never enough time to pursue being an artist because I was a teacher. I also had a husband and three children who demanded my time at home. Therefore, I found myself a little short on time and finances to pursue a painting career. When I decided to go back to school to get my graduate degree, a Master’s of Art, I was middle-aged and still teaching full time. Read more>>

Elizabeth (Betti) Brillembourg

I always know that my life will dance around art and my love for being around pencils and paintbrush. Since I have memory mi happiest time where drowning and in Italy where I grow up, art is important, and your daily life it’s surrounded with something beautiful to see or listen . And after studying in the Fine Art Academy in Rome, it was simply the natural path. Read more>>

Marc Hansen

When I was finishing college I had 2 paths I felt I could go down. I wanted to join the military and fulfill this sense of service in my heart or follow the music. I had a lot of mental conversations over this but ultimately I decided that I had to join the military and see where that path lead… and if I couldn’t escape the music, I could pursue that when my service was up. Read more>>

Enrica Guana Tseng

I took my first ballet class when I was very young, age 6, and from what my mom tells me fell in love with it immediately. I continued my study and training in my country of origin, Italy, and I knew that I wanted to become a professional dancer since a young age. Ballet performances always had a magical effect on me, left me mesmerized and wanted to do and see more. Read more>>

Devon Hillary

I knew I wanted to be a creative when, in my free time instead of relaxing I would always want to create fun things with my fiancée. We would see so many cool things online that we could not afford to purchase ourselves but could afford supplies to make it, so thats what we did and then Hype Warehouse was created after that. Read more>>

Khafre Linwood

I realized that this could be something I could pursue as a professional path when I did my first commissioned art piece. I knew I had a gift as a kid, because I was always drawing, but the moment I was able to capitalize off of this gift financially, then that’s when the light went off in my head, and I knew at that moment I could do this. Read more>>

Ivory Chana

For as long as I can remember I have always had an interest in fashion. I didn’t think of pursuing a career in fashion until I started college. I was caught up in finding myself and trying to follow the path that was meant for me. Throughout this process I realized all I could think about were clothes and what outfit I want to wear for all of these different occasions. Fashion was a therapy for me and allowed me to express myself in a way I couldn’t verbally. It is something that comes natural to me. Read more>>

Adriana Prieto

My best way to answer this question is for me to provide the audience with my personal experience. Unfortunately, the cause that has inspired me to pursue an artistic path professionally has originally came from a traumatic event in my childhood. Read more>>

Jupiter

I’ve always had a thing for the arts. Starting with music, my first love. My parents put me on to a lot of stuff unintentionally – they weren’t young when they had me so I grew up on a lot of oldies but they were as much as aficionados of music as I am now – they kept deep cuts in rotation. Growing up I listened to everything, different genres. Music was my first love. On top of that, I subconsciously gravitated toward other people who also had love for the arts, Read more>>

Jasmine Perry

I always love makeup, so for years I was always on YouTube learning how to perfect my look and how I wanted my face to look. Many people told I should do makeup on others but I didn’t really get the drive and inspiration to do it until 2020. I knew I wanted to do makeup because I knew that if other people saw how good I did, then there’s no doubt that i couldn’t do makeup on others and do great. Read more>>

Isis Brantley

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative artistic path when I was still in elementary school. I loved singing and speaking before people, and my mother strongly encouraged me to perform. I participated in plays at school and then later in high school I was in oratory and drama. I went off to college at North Texas University with a major in theater, Read more>>

Samantha Chaney

Starting at a young age, I always had an interest in the beauty industry. My very first freelance job was a hair model for Matrix and I think that was the moment I knew I wanted to be a beauty professional. I was fascinated by how hair and makeup could transform someones appearance, and would purchase books dedicated to beauty icons such as the late Kevyn Aucoin, Whitey Snyder and many more. When I graduated high school, Read more>>

Brandon Bowe

I’ve always been into following my creative passions but when I was coming out high school I hit a crossroad, unsure if I should take the traditional route and go to school to study the Arts or if I take the leap and follow a professional career in kitesurfing. I took the leap and followed the athletic side of my life, for which I’m very thankful for and wouldn’t change it for anything, but around 2016/2017 I came back to those same crossroads, burnt out from the kite industry I decided to take another leap, quit my job, moved back in with my parents, and went full on head first in creating my own art studio and finding a creative way to be finically independent. Read more>>