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.

Renee Wilson

Before embarking on my creative career, I spent nearly 15 years in corporate America. Eventually, I realized that I was no longer fulfilled by my work and had been pursuing my creative passions on the side. When I found myself dedicating more time and energy to my passion than to my corporate job, I knew it was time to make a change. Read more>>

Alayna Morales

When I was little I was obsessed with watching the VHS tape, Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller. It had interviews from John Landis, Rick Baker, and Michael Jackson. It had all the behind the scenes from pre-production to the actual video shoot. I think I watched this at least 3 times a day. It was fascinating to see the transformation of all the characters in the video shoot. Read more>>

Ora Roberts

I went through a phase in my life of facing really bad anxiety in which I didn’t want to eat, I lived with my parents while paying rent at my house. I literally slept in the bed with my parents because I was afraid “I Was going to die”. Read more>>

Ewa Matyja

From a young age, I always felt a deep connection to art. Growing up in a small town, I didn’t know any living artists, so the idea of becoming one felt like a distant dream. I spent countless hours drawing and painting, turning my imagination into reality on paper. Read more>>

Hayley Lewis

I started writing songs at 15, but didn’t start performing any of it until I was 21. I was singing and performing, but it wasn’t until my parents urged me to record one of my songs from high school, “Summer Fling,” that I started to consider music as more than just a hobby or “side gig.” Read more>>

Devon Cardamone

Just this last week, I’d planned on attending a local art show in Venice. I’d applied to be a part of it myself, but didn’t expect any kind of response and had grabbed a few tickets to attend and support it. I do what I can to be at anything surf and art related in the area and it seemed like a really cool event. Read more>>

Joanna Kalafatis

I always loved being creative, ever since I was a kid. I grew up very involved in the arts; learning piano, learning how to dance, and performing in school plays. However, when I entered college, even though I wanted to study theater, I thought this was an “impractical” path to follow professionally. Read more>>

Gustavo A Santana

My first approach to art was to me 5 years old, thanks to Disney cartoons from that time and my arrival in kindergarten, where we were taught several creative options. The teachers noticed something in me creatively and being a very observant child when it came to capturing some art. Read more>>

Jenna Kohut

Beginning at just five years old, I wrote an entire neon blue binder worth of songs throughout my childhood. My very first one was titled, “Normal” & it was tremendously bad, but I still remember the chorus as if it were yesterday. Read more>>

Rachel Winnick

I knew that I wanted to pursue music professionally and take my craft seriously when I realized that, no matter what may be going on outside of my control in my life, making and sharing music just feels right all the time- no matter the circumstances. Read more>>

Richard A. Delgado

When I was a little kid, I would draw every day, to the point where my dad would constantly buy me new sketchbooks. Then at the age of thirteen, I found myself writing. There were constant ideas and stories that would come to mind, where I felt couldn’t be told in drawings. Read more>>

Martina Hanna

Art has been integral to my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I always preferred art supplies over toys or dolls. My passion for art grew even stronger when my family immigrated to the US from Egypt. Finding myself in a new environment with practically no friends, I spent countless hours after school drawing. Read more>>

Timi Olaloye

The first time I created a piece of art was in 2016. Creating art was something I did when I was younger but until then, I never knew how rewarding it would be to create something with my hands. After I created the painting, a friend of mine asked me how much I was selling it for. Read more>>

Sam Chambers

I was the kid who was always drawing in class. So much so that my mom was called into the school because of my doodles in the corners of my math homework. It’s hard to think of a time when comics weren’t in my life. My dad was a huge comic book fan and dressed me in Batman and Marvel t-shirts before I was big enough to fit them. Read more>>

Khamaaré

I grew up in the early 2000s with a family who appreciates great artistry. So musically I raised on the legends on the legends of today and the legends that came before them. I was a quiet shy boy but people were drawn to me I never had to say much. I was about 4 or 5 I just remember movies and listening to the CD’s my mom would play. Read more>>

Peter Miles

Growing up, I loved music. I could never stop singing around the house, jamming out to my favorite bands on my ferry commute to school, and taking control of the radio in the car with my family. I sang in my highschool choir and dabbled with songwriting but never delved into music seriously. Read more>>

Amanda McKnight

I remember the moment I fell in love with voice acting for the first time. I’m very much a Disney lover and my favorite Disney movie is “The Jungle Book”. When I was little, I remember watching a behind the scenes featurette on my Jungle Book VHS tape that played after the movie. Read more>>

Sofia Gillani

I’ve always been a loud person, so I wanted to be able to channel that energy and a creative spirit – and since my dad was also a musician, music naturally came into my life. It is through gradually navigating the music industry with the support of my team and organically progressing as a musical presence that I was able to pursue a passion of being able to contribute to music as the experimental ‘Sofia Gillani’. Read more>>

Braden Rickwood

The time where I truly felt I should take this more seriously only started a few years ago, Ive always made music before hand but just a few years ago is when I wanted to take this more seriously and turn it into a career.. Thats when I decided to start being more professional with my music all around, I upgraded my equipment, started writing more rather then freestyling, releasing albums, singles on all platforms and performing at events all around Ontario. Read more>>

Nick Ray

As a teenager, I discovered music through my father. He would play music from the late 50s and 60s like buddy holly and Elvis. That inspired me. Then I heard bands from the 90s like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Soundgarden. That was another wave of inspiration. Read more>>

Stefs RockShow

I went to college at University of the Pacific and studied Communication. I was really busy on the Dance Team and in a Sorority, I heard radio was an easy “A”. I’m also the class clown, and love music. I started my own radio show in college and it took off. Read more>>

Trey Jabari

When I was younger I got into writing poetry since that was the best way to expressing my feelings. Lady Gaga was an artist I admired back then. I learned her dance moves from her music videos and songs and tried to learn a lot about her like any huge fan would. Read more>>

Larry Wells

Ever since I was a little kid I knew I wanted to be in entertainment. For the longest time I wanted to be a singer. I grew up being in the school choir and doing plays. I always loved performing and putting on a show. I didn’t like school, I didn’t like sports practice, but I always enjoyed getting in front of people and “wow-ing” them with my musical talents. Read more>>

Julie Hunkert

Dance and Music have been in my life since I can remember. My dad would always play a mix of Pop and Indie Rock Music, which strongly influenced my music taste to date. While dance and music exist in correlation most of the time, I knew I wanted my life to be filled with a creative profession once I was grown up.  Read more>>

Jaye Jones

To be honest, I’ve always wanted to be in the music scene ever since I was around seven years old. I think the specific moment that I really thought about becoming a singer was when I was seven I was on the school bus and we were doing the routes to drop everybody off and I used to get bored just sitting there not really talking to anybody when my friends got dropped off so my mom had got me headphones and a MP3 player that works had radio on it. Read more>>

Nico Kang

when I was around 11 years old my older sister introduced me to artists like Skrillex, Deadmau5, and Dillon francis. I began to obsess over their music and i would watch youtube videos of them performing. At this young age I was truly inspired by the artists I watched. Read more>>

Christopher Cropper

Ever since I was young. I had an art mentor/teacher named Linda Regula who took me under her wing(along with countless other people), when I was a troubled teenager and she always encouraged me. She would always tell me to trust “the process” of making my art and to be ok with mistakes. Read more>>

Storm Cuff

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally was a moment of unexpected clarity that happened during my time in college. I’ve pursued the performing arts the vast majority of my life and when it came to choosing my field of study for college, dance and I had a strange relationship at the time. Read more>>

Colin Biz

From a young age, I was drawn to the creative arts, driven by a vivid imagination and a deep passion for hip hop culture. Growing up in Brooklyn, I frequently ventured into Manhattan, just a short 20-minute trip away, to visit record labels and immerse myself in the music scene. Read more>>

Paul Pedulla

Woke up one morning in 2006 with a sudden urge to paint. I had no prior experience as an artist, but always excelled in art as a grade school student. As soon as I made the decision to paint, doors began to open. I signed up for classes, had paintings accepted into juried art shows, attracted the interest of galleries, and received some great press about my work. It was clear I was on the right path. Read more>>

Eki Asemota

When I was between 7-9 years old, living in Nigeria, I felt a profound calling on my life. I knew I was brought into this world to inspire others through my way of living, which followed a path that God had set for me. This path was about embodying and sharing consistent love, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and understanding—essentially, the fruits of the Spirit. Read more>>

Zulay Carolina Rueda Rueda

Since I was little, art has been a priority for me in my daily life. I was born into a home of very creative people. My parents are both architects and have always drawn, my grandmothers are both seamstresses, and my older sister is one of the most creative people I know. Read more>>

Guillermo R. Tinajero

It all started when I was a little kid. I’m talking about a toddler. Then, I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, just like people do with toddlers, expecting them to take that decision since then. I used to say that I wanted to be a policeman! Read more>>

Lindsey Acree

I was born an artist but I feel like everyone is born an artist. We see the world through a completely unfiltered lens. Everything is new and fascinating and beautiful or frightening, euphoric or disgusting. I continued to gravitate towards all things creative as I grew up. Read more>>

Martigan

When I was about six years old I recall watching a show on TV called “The Wonderful World of Magic” and I was hooked, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. As a young boy I read every magic book at the local library and read about other magicians especially my favorite Harry Houdini. Read more>>