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.

Robert Kuang

I grew up in Beijing before immigrating to America at 9-years-old. I started taking piano lessons not long after, and found a space where I could cultivate my creative expression, talent, and sense of wonder. It helped me feel and stay connected to my world, even when there was a language barrier. As a child, I didn’t think too much about being a musician or artist professionally, except that it involved luck, being well-received, and lots of practice. Read more>>

Yimei(Emair) Zhu

Well, that decision gradually matured after 2019. From a young age, I was encouraged by my mother, who believed I had a natural talent for art, giving me a certain level of confidence in the field of art. However, even until 2018, I still had doubts and struggles about whether I could truly turn art into my profession. Read more>>

Amanda Camps

I don’t remember the first time I dreamed about art as a career. I’ve wanted to pursue art and photography as a career for as long as I can remember but was worried about it as a career choice. For a long time I kept my creative endeavors and career separate. Read more>>

Daniel Watson

My journey into the world of art commenced at a tender age, a passion ignited by my mother’s own love for crafting pottery during her youth. I must have been around 13 years old when I found myself at the crossroads of choosing electives upon transferring to a new school district. My mother, with her customary wisdom, suggested, “Why not try an art class?” Initially, I hesitated, unsure of what lay ahead, as I possessed minimal knowledge of the artistic realm. However, I decided to embrace the opportunity and explore this uncharted territory. Little did I know that this simple decision would set me on a path of artistic discovery. Read more>>

Nadia Lando

I first knew that I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path since around the age of 9 years old. As a child, I played piano and violin. My grandfather was a musician who played saxophone and trumpet, and I would go down to his studio and play the drums and piano, and he gave me my first violin, which I used when I was in the orchestra. I started writing my first song during my freshman year of high school. I actually kept the lyrics over the years and I recently finished writing that song. I am looking forward to recording and releasing it in the near future. Read more>>

Sheek

I realized my passion for pursuing a creative career during my freshman year of high school. While my peers were discussing their future professions after graduation, I was drawn to the arts and sports, areas I had always been passionate about, and knew I wanted to continue exploring those paths professionally. Read more>>

Jake Reny

Honestly, I think it was when I started going to see my favorite bands after COVID once venues had opened back up. Being an independent artist and seeing some of my favorite musicians preform with such a high level of energy I had never seen years prior, really lit a fire under me to start taking my music in a more professional approach. I was at shows singing along and thinking “I can do this”. So in late 2020, I buckled down and really started to write and record with my then producer in ways we never had before. Intentionally figuring out who I was as an artist through the entirety of the recording process, and being so vulnerable and humble to learn from myself. Read more>>

Nicolas Bizub

I grew up with a piano at home and was entranced by creating my own music on it. I remember at a very early age, something like age 4, I realized I could write down notes and play them back. I couldn’t read music but I knew the note names, so I’d write down sequences of note names and play them. The feeling of creating something was so exciting to me. That was my first experience with writing music, which lit the fire for me to stay interested in learning. Read more>>

Jayson Okanlawon

My freshman year in college, I used to post funny videos on Snapchat. It was my first time away from home and in a new city and state, so posting funny videos about my thoughts at the time was a way to pass time. The videos weren’t even edited, they were just Snapchat stories. The more people who would reply to the Snapchat story, the funnier I knew the video was. A friend from high school at the time, Chamelea Haynes ( I’ll never forget her name ) replied to the story with laughing emojis and said I should start posting the videos to other platforms like Instagram and YouTube. At first I just brushed it off and didn’t think much of it. But on one random day in the Student Center, I decided to post one of the videos I had previously made on Snapchat. The response was overwhelmingly good. I didn’t know I had the ability to make people laugh that much. From that day forward Jay The Entertainer was born. Read more>>

Maurice Scarlett III

The moment I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path was the moment after working with Pyer Moss in 2016. That was a big opportunity for me at the time early in my career. Cause during that time painting was just a fun hobby for me, I wasn’t taking it professionally. The fact that I got the chance to work with them really gave me the courage to embark on this path. That opportunity not only shown me it was possible to make a living from my gifts, but I got to experience firsthand. And that experience lead me to where I am now. Im forever grateful for that. Read more>>

Kristin Nobles

My art career started as a form of therapy, to help me deal with a chronic illness. As a result of debilitating disease I had two cardiac arrests, more than 40 surgeries, and spent hundreds of days, if not over a thousand days in the hospital and isolated at home. About 18 years ago a friend encouraged me to try art therapy as I was an avid artist in high school and really depressed. At first I played with the paints, colors and canvas and eventually found my style. I realized I loved painting people as black and white contemporary portraits, that allow us to embrace that people are truly shapes, not just colors. Read more>>

Olga Shutiak

I started my sport career as an acrobat when I was 3 years old, so, basically I grew up in sport school being trained by my mom. So basically, I would say I´m acrobat since I was in my mom´s belly. I remember once she brought me to a circus show in my hometown and then, I realize my dream about to be an circus artist. I clearly remember this magical world and atmosphere of the stage, performers, artist and this feeling got me really stunning and inspired, when your a kid around 6 years, the only thing I wanted to do at that moment it was to be a clown or a monkey trainer (I still want haha!) Read more>>

Susan Karhroody

I was born in Iran, into a large family, with a mother who had a passion for the arts and a father who served as a Sargent. I displayed a strong interest in art from a young age. I enjoyed drawing, painting, or engaging in other creative activities, and this early fascination sets the foundation for my artistic journey. My family had a significant influence on my life. My mom played a crucial role by supporting me in providing paints and art materials. Despite facing their own challenges and problems, my family was always there to support me in my artistic endeavors. Their unwavering encouragement and selflessness had a profound impact on my journey as an artist. Read more>>

Cindy Brideau

I had never aspired to share my art with the world. For many years, I painted primarily for the personal fulfillment it provided, serving as an escape into the realms of my creative mind, leaving behind the burdens of analytical thoughts of life’s complexities. My art was a well-guarded secret, to the extent that I distinctly recall feeling disconcerted when my husband showcased one of my paintings to our dinner guests. Read more>>

KRISTENICOLE ENTERTAINMENT

Like so many, my music journey started at a young age. The music opportunities faded away as I got older but was always a spark inside my heart that I would visit from time to time. Music found its way back to me personally as an adult during a time of personal growth and healing for which I am truly grateful. With education and guidance from songwriter, Cooter Daniel, who learned the craft of songwriting from Kim Williams, co-writer of Randy Travis’ “Three Wooden Crosses”, and the influences of having grown up in a very musically rich area in East Tennessee where you will find names like Roy Acuff, Chet Atkins, Lois Johnson, Kenny Chesney, Morgan Wallen and many others have been the impact for me of how important music can be. Read more>>

Burly Bluffs

We (Mona & GG – co-founders/producers of Burly Bluffs) both have backgrounds in the performing arts (dance, music, theater) so transitioning into burlesque became a natural pursuit being that there is quite a bit of cross-over/community between dance artists and drag artists in the Twin Cities. We were both part of a production entitled “Holy Doña” – a creation by Minneapolis-based Venezuelan dance artist Pedra Pepa – in 2019 that incorporated burlesque into the performance. We began networking with other local performers and then both took our show at “Nudie Nubies”, a monthly amateur burlesque show at The Black Hart of St Paul – the longest running amateur burlesque show in the country! – and we immediately felt supported by everyone involved. Read more>>