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.

Marquise Butcher

I knew I wanted to pursue music professionally when I was 18. When I was 18 that’s when I started to notice that I could write songs pretty quickly and music was always second nature to m when I was growing up. When I was working at Mcdonald’s at that time I would write songs in the back drive thru during my shift cause I was just so motivated to be the best at what I wanted to do. I always loved to sing and was always interested on how music was created on the backend. Read more>>

Carol McSweeney

I discovered that I wanted to pursue an artistic path professionally when I began taking art classes in 2001, and soon after couldn’t imagine a better way to spend the rest of my life! As I gained skills and experience, my convictions about the creative life being right from me only strengthened. At present, I don’t separate what I do from who I am, ever! I live, breathe and feel my art every day. It is something that I am beyond grateful for discovering in my life. Read more>>

Andrew Introna

When I think back on my younger years, I feel like there was always something in the back of my mind guiding me toward a creative path. It began with me sketching the characters from my Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokémon cards onto a couple of sheets of looseleaf paper I had found in my elementary school book bag. As time passed, I began to draw more things related to my interests at the time. I transitioned from recreating the characters I saw on my TV screen to crafting my own illustrations. It wasn’t until my high school years that I realized I could turn my passion for art into a profession. This realization motivated me to continue developing my skills, explore various art forms, and ultimately start a creative career path for myself. Read more>>

Maurice Houston

It was shortly after the transition of my mother. She was/is a big inspiration of me striving for my goals whether it was in school or navigating my way through life. That’s my girl I just know she looking down smiling at the fact that I’m operating out of my purpose and doing something that I love. Read more>>

Cody Dear

I was very fortunate to get to play my first music tour with a jazz big band in Europe during the summer of my junior year in high school. During that time, I simply loved playing music and performing on the occasion, but I had never thought of it as a possible full-time career. This experience of getting to travel overseas to perform inspired a whole new outlook on music for me. I distinctly remember the joy and anticipation of stepping on those festival stages for the first time and really feeling a connection with the audience as we played through our set. These experiences were definitely the catalyst towards my interest in pursuing some sort of career in the music industry. I never thought that my love for playing the saxophone and piano at a young age would allow me to meet so many different people and to experience so much more that the world has to offer. Read more>>

Coxy

From my earliest memories, I have felt an unwavering calling to the world of artistry. I’ve always been very creative and I’ve always loved drawing and inventing stories. As a little kid, my favorite game was stealing clothes from my mom and my grandma’s wardrobes, dressing up with my friends, and acting out different characters. My mom and my grandma were two very elegant Italian women with impeccable taste and a sense of style. Opening their closet was like opening a door to an enchanted world where I could find all kinds of costumes.  Read more>>

Frank Bauer

In March 2017 I was in 37 and thought about my 40s, 50s and 60s since they were so close by. As a construction worker, I felt this wouldn’t be my “Dream Job” to retire from, nor would it be good for my body. At that moment I thought about what I really enjoy doing most, and that’s entertaining people. Making people laugh is something I was accustomed to and the more they laughed the more I was satisfied. Read more>>

Aairo

I discovered I wanted to pursue a music career professionally in 2018 after graduating from high school I always had played music in school, whether that was school band or choir, but later into my high school years, I began teaching myself to produce. It started off as a fun hobby and also a way for me to see the songs I had envisioned come to fruition, but at first I was unsure if it was something I could do seriously. Read more>>

Bobby Cuff

Ever since I was 5 or 6 years old I’ve been a music lover. I was addicted to the radio, buying records, and dancing in the clubs. Although, I loved music, I was not moved to play and instrument or sing until I was 16 years old. On my 16th birthday I went to a club called The Zoo which was in Mac Arthur Park area, northeast of downtown Los Angeles, and there was a band playing called Wall & Bridges. The band had a Hendrix-like sound. The singer had a fuzzy afro, and the guitar player, Dan West, played a white Fender Stratocaster painted very pscychedelic. Read more>>

Phoebe Chan

For a lot of my childhood, I had mostly sung as a side hobby (with a sliver of hope that I’d get lucky and debut one day). I posted covers to my YouTube channel, entered singing competitions, performed at local events. I eventually got my first part-time job for the sole purpose of getting singing lessons, attended an idol training academy for a year or so, joined an idol group, and kept pushing myself into the spotlight despite that fear of failure or judgment. I even got to sign on and release music with a small Japanese record label called HAF Records for a time! But all this was a mere afterthought compared to my “real priorities” – pursuing my degree and getting what others would consider a “real job.” Read more>>