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.

Ricco Soares

The Moment I Knew: From the Streets of Rio to the Creative World of Film The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was a moment I’ll never forget. I was about 14 years old, living in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Life was tough, to say the least. My mother was raising me and my three sisters on her own, working long hours as a house cleaner just to make ends meet. My father wasn’t around, and the struggles of daily life often felt overwhelming. We didn’t even have a television in our home, which, for a kid who dreamed of escaping into the world of stories, was devastating. But that didn’t stop me. I would go to my friend’s house just to watch movies. I remember sitting there, completely mesmerized by the stories, the visuals, the music, and how it all came together to create something magical. I didn’t know the technical terms back then—cinematography, directing, editing—but I knew one thing: I wanted to be a part of that world. I wanted to create something that moved people the way these films moved me. Read more>>

Racquel “radcity” Lee

It was 2017. During my senior year of high school, while many of my peers were planning for college or moving away, I felt a strong pull towards pursuing a music career. I’ve always had a deep connection to music and people have often remarked on my natural talent for music production. It all clicked for me when I started sharing my beats on Instagram. It was like a lightbulb moment – I knew I wanted to be a full-time music producer and singer-songwriter. This feeling compelled me to take a gap year after high school to explore this passion. Preparing to graduate, I shared my aspirations with my parents. To my surprise, they were very supportive. Shortly after 2018, I traveled to New York to work with artists and producers to gain insights into the music industry, particularly as an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Kwamise Fletcher

I have worked in corporate America for 20 years and at about the 16 year mark, I found myself in a position within my company that I was completely unhappy in. I was being unsuccessful in getting out of the position so I turned to poetry & spoken word as a form of work life balance…While it originally was just a creative outlet & de-stressing technique I quickly realized that I wanted more from it & I began to see I COULD do so much with it…So within two months I just kept learning more & more about the poetry & spoken word professional options available & I literally kept saying oh you can do that with poetry & performing, let me try that…I had always written short stories, poems etc since a child but never anything seriously….I performed sporadically at events for friends that knew I wrote poetry but it was extremely random when it did happen…In late 2022 is where I fully immersed myself within the art form… Read more>>

Kathleen Carbonara

I suppose my first realization that the beauty of color was something that truly moved me was in kindergarten. I was peeling the paper off of a Crayola crayon- ‘Carnation Pink’- and the color was so beautiful that I took a bite! My mother said that if I was ever sad or upset as a child, I’d go missing and eventually she would find me surrounded by my drawings. Art and making art is part of who I am, not just something I do. When I am not making art, I feel ‘off’… As a college student and young adult, I honestly did not know that I could choose making art as a way to make a living. IThat was for hippies and fringe people according to the people who were giving me advice. So I tool the traditional path and earned a BA and then a masters in advertising and marketing. If I had it to do over, I’d go to art school and launch right into life as a painter. I often wonder how different my life and career would have developed had I taken the direct route. Read more>>

Nikki Dunlap

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was when I got my first TV placement on the FX show *Atlanta*. I was still in the Navy at the time, out in the field, covered in dirt, running on adrenaline, and just trying to get through the day. I wasn’t thinking about anything except the task in front of me. When I finally got a break, I checked my phone and saw the call and text that would change everything. One of my tracks had been chosen for *Atlanta*. I remember just standing there, completely stunned. I’d been making beats on the side, pouring everything into my music whenever I had a moment to myself, but I never thought it would land on a show like that. I felt a mix of excitement, disbelief, and pride. Up until then, making music was something I did to keep my sanity, to keep a piece of myself alive in the midst of everything. But in that moment, it hit me—this could be something real. My music had found its way out into the world and resonated with people. Read more>>

Nate Eberhardt

I decided to pursue an artistic career to fully express myself. Hailing from Cleveland, I have always been exposed to rock and roll. I felt a calling for music at the age of 19. Attending a Kid Cudi concert at the House Of Blues was a life-changing experience that inspired me to pursue an artistic career. During my college years, I enrolled in numerous art classes, unaware of what life had in store for me at this stage. It was a period of self-discovery during which I wholeheartedly dedicated myself to finding my purpose. To anyone reading this and still searching for inspiration to chase their dreams, remember that we are only at this stage of life once. Seize the day. “When you squeeze an orange, you get orange juice. But when life squeezes you… What do you become?” – Rick Rubin Read more>>

Jamal White

I knew when I was 17 years old in my senior year in high school when I was in show choir. Their was a performance night that the choir had called “Cabaret Night”, and I was one of the solo acts in the show. The song I performed was called “Magic” by Robin Thicke. I sung and danced my heart out on the stage and got a standing ovation from that performance. After that, I had a feeling that it was my calling to become a music artist after high school ended. Read more>>

Taylor-brinaé

I knew I wanted to be a professional singer when I would watch my mom sing on stage all the time and the first time I sang on a stage when I was 5/6 years old. I loved the feeling I got when the crowd was clapping and supporting me. I noticed that the nerves went away once I heard people clapping for me, because that meant they really liked my singing. Read more>>

Christy Phillipps

My art career began in film and videography at S.U.N.Y. Purchase College NY. Purchase was a well-equipped school, because of Rockefeller’s initiation and Pepsico across the street continued support financially. In my time at Purchase, my graduating class turned out the likes of Wesley Snipes, Stanley Tucci, and Edie Falco. The resources available to me were incredible. Film, Photography, and Printmaking was where I spent my time. I donned a new major with the Dean “intermedia” which allowed me to bounce in many differing majors at college. I created many wild installations on the school grounds and in the forests in Westchester County, using film loop projectors and scrims from Rosebrand in NYC. I was picked at the early age of 19, by John Hanhardt the curator of film/Video at the Whitney Museum to participate in a Video installation show in the Whitney Museum then traveled to the Pompidou Museum in Paris, I was the youngest participant and being an artist and student I could not afford to fly to Paris so had many telephone interviews instead. Read more>>

Darryl Cokes Ii

While I was a kid, I played a lot of video games and watched a decent amount of TV shows/ films. One thing that always drew me towards them was the the idea of other worlds to explore or take part in and how the affected the characters living in them, what they liked to do, and everything in between! The idea of creating something that maybe we haven’t seen before, or making a character that someone or myself could relate to, is truly a gratifying experience! Read more>>

Marc Baron

That time between high school and college. I had been highly active in the chorus, band/orchestra, theater club, acting, etc. Then came that moment when a counselor asked you to choose your path to best select your college. I remember saying that music and performance was what I liked and what I was good at. When I came home and told my mother, she replied, “Well, it’s in your DNA.” I thought that was a reference to her early life when she was a dancer, but later – when doing extensive family research for a biography on my grandfather who was a sculptor – I fully realized when that meant. My grandmother was a concert pianist distantly related to Gustav Mahler, and to Alma Schindler. My grandfather was a respected sculptor from Vienna who was also a concert singer. Then many of my ancestors were involved in the arts. So, I supposed mom was right. My biggest satisfaction from my family research was finding and connecting to family members thought dead since World War II. They have warmly welcomed me, hosted my visits to Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, and Zagreb, and remain in constant communication. Eventually my research will lead to a book. Read more>>

Kenneth Christian

It was back when I was in middle school. I loved music with a passion I just couldn’t live without it. Music was like a therapeutic outlet and that what kept me balanced. Then after some time went by I meet my brothers in Christ and that what really encouraged me to keep going. Whatever I struggled with they would be right there to keep pushing me to go harder than the last song. Telling me how I need fix and correct things that molded me into the artist I am today Read more>>

Audrey Berkowitz

I worked in the banking industry for over 25 years before I gave it up and pursued photography. Banking had disillusioned me as I wanted to help people and felt it had become centered on profit only. In 2016, my 29 year old son died tragically of an overdose in MD. I needed something to help bring me peace and serenity. Being a recent transplant to Wilmington, North Carolina. I had always wanted to live near the beach so was drawn to this area. Nature here gave me that peace . While visiting , I started my photography journey and 2 close friends who are artists encouraged me. One gave me the first opportunity to have a show with her at the Italian restaurant she owned with her husband in MD. She has been a mentor throughout my journey as has my best friend who started in photography many years ago. They both encouraged me to stretch my wings and try new things, Read more>>

Kevin Leysath Ii

As a child I was around music all of my life, but one moment stood out the most which I have reflected on as the moment I realized I wanted to write music. When I was around six or seven years old I remember that I was watching a movie and out of nowhere I started to cry. My dad walked in and asked me why I was crying and all I could think of was to say “It was sad” because I didn’t know at the time what gave me such emotion. From that moment and looking back, I knew I wanted to create music that could touch people’s hearts in the same way it touched mine whether it be through film or the concert stage. Read more>>

Marina Diaz Gallego

From a young age, I was surrounded by a rich artistic environment, thanks to my parents. My mother, a literature professor, and my father, an architect, both had a deep appreciation for art and design. Their creative influences and conversations about aesthetics and structure naturally sparked my interest in the arts. It was during my teenage years that I first felt a profound connection to the world of design. I vividly remember feeling a sense of fulfillment and excitement as I began experimenting with fashion, inspired by the creativity I saw around me. The idea of transforming simple fabrics into something beautiful and expressive fascinated me, and I realized that this was the path I wanted to pursue professionally. This passion led me to a decade-long career with Inditex, where I had the opportunity to work in various departments, including leadership roles, which enriched my understanding of the fashion industry from multiple perspectives. Now, as the Lead Designer at Cult Gaia, based in Los Angeles, I am excited to bring my extensive experience and creative vision to the world of high fashion. I look forward to continuing to explore and push the boundaries of design with the same enthusiasm that first ignited my love for the field. Read more>>

Chris Ortiz

Excellent question, I can’t point to any singular incident or day that I knew this was a path for me. What I can say is that the constant grind of being an educator can be a taxing one. In the eyes of many we are seen as public enemy number one and I really can’t understand why. On the other end we are constantly given “one more task” with nothing being removed from our already full plate. The kids are the redeeming portion of the job and quite frankly the biggest reason why we continue to show up. With all that being said there is a pervasive feeling of burning our candle at both ends. This is where the idea of making a career out of my creative streak was born. Teaching and coaching is fun and I hope to continue to do it for years to come, I want to do more though, and on my terms. The educational system for better or worse operates by putting people in a box. At this stage of my life that box has gotten way too small and claustrophobic. Creating a life built around my writing would allow me the freedom and flexibility to do the things I want when I want. It is becoming increasingly apparent to me that we only get one shot at this thing called life, so we best make the best of it. Tomorrow is not guaranteed so we must enjoy the now. Read more>>

Kay Kenny

I identified myself as a visual artist when in 3rd grade, at 8 yrs old, my teacher proclaimed that i was very good at drawing-I applied for a local scholarship to the arts center and won! That summer was the beginning of a very long career as a visual artist. I attended classes at the arts center, encouraged, I took more classes. In high school I received a scholarship to a special class at Moore College of Art, followed by a full tuition scholarship to Syracuse University. Needless to say, my parents and all of the teachers who provided me with instruction and support were critical. That being said, fine arts as a vocation is not an easy one- I don’t make a living from the sales of my work. I’ve had numerous art related jobs and I teach photography as an adjunct at NYU- but if i had to depend on my creative work, I would not survive. As a creative, no matter whether its visual or another media, the ups and downs of a career can be a real roller coaster. Rejections and rejections and then BAM! someone want to buy,collect, put your work in an exhibit. After nearly 70 years, I still can’t stop-the images just keep coming -the need to make them visual is just too strong. Read more>>

Kris Shaw

My grandmother owned a beauty salon when I was younger. It was pretty much where I grew up and basically one of the first jobs I had; answering phones, greeting customers and cleaning. My mom and several other women also worked at the salon. My grandmother was always intrigued with my sense of humor. So one day, she purchased a joke book for me that was as thick as a phone book from back in the day. I cherished that joke book so much! I would recite all of the jokes in the book to multiple other beauticians that worked there as well as their clients. It truly blew me away to see people respond so happily hearing a funny punchline. It was something I was addicted to from that moment on. The gift of laughter. Read more>>

Lauren Dietzel

Honestly, the first time I knew I wanted to do theatre was the nano-second I knew it was a thing! Growing up, I’d watch all kinds of movies and dress up like the characters and recite their lines to my mom who would start laughing when her 7-year-old was attempting a Hermione Granger impression. I’d hear that laugh and knew I was doing something right. And unfortunately (fortunately?) I was hooked. It honestly baffled me that some people didn’t want to be actors- it seemed like the greatest job in the world! And it kind of is! Read more>>

Erin Fox

I was born into a musical family so I grew up believing that music was a way of life from a very early age. I studied music in school (playing in orchestra/singing in choir) but also had the benefit of playing gigs in clubs and at local festivals from a young age. It was the best of both worlds and double the education. There were times where I worked regular jobs as a means to an end. But what I found was that whenever I tried to pursue a different avenue, it felt a lot like wearing shoes that didn’t quite fit. I could get somewhere…maybe even a decent enough distance, but it was always uncomfortable. I think the first time I can remember wanting to definitively be a musician was one night watching my Mother perform at a club as I sat side of stage. I was maybe three years old. She sounded heavenly when she sang and I remember feeling a sense of joy I couldn’t feel from anything else. I remember wanting the same thing…to be the same as her. Read more>>

Ben Ruzicka

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an artist. I wanted to create new worlds and bring my ideas to life. I grew up in the woods of Alaska, homeschooled and fairly isolated from normal opportunities. My access to traditional educational resources or mentors was limited, so I joined the Army when I was 19, planning to use the G.I. Bill to put myself through art school. It turned out that I made a good soldier. I became a Special Forces Medical Sergeant and earned the coveted Green Beret, so I decided to make a career in the military. But in a tale as old as time, life had different plans. Read more>>

Shravan Avyukta

The first time I knew I wanted to become a Martial Artist was when I decided to pursue martial arts after years of focusing on my engineering career. Growing up, I was fascinated by martial arts films from 80s, 90s and 2000s, watching legends like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. The discipline they embodied left a lasting impression on me, but circumstances kept me from pursuing martial arts as a child. It wasn’t until I experienced stress-related health issues as an adult that I found my way back to that passion. I realized that no amount of gym time or conventional stress management techniques was helping, and I needed something deeper. That’s when I sought out Wu Style Tai Chi and I knew I had found my creative and wellness outlet. Read more>>

Tenise Marie

As a child, I always loved singing and writing poetry. When I was eleven years old, my best friend and I sang “Dear Mr. President” by P!nk a capella at a talent show at our rural elementary school in British Columbia, Canada. One of the women in the audience subsequently gifted us an hour of her recording time at a local home studio, and we recorded a one-take, a capella version of the song together. We only ever recorded that song for posterity, for our own memories, but I will always be grateful that we did. It is so endearing to listen to it now. We were only eleven. We hadn’t even learned to harmonize yet. We sang the entire song in unison. It is so beautiful in its rawness and imperfection. Read more>>

Jacory Deshon

The first time I knew what I wanted to pursue and become as an actor, model, dancer, creator – I was 5 years old and I always knew that I wanted to be an entertainer. I was so into action movies and dancers. I always dancing around the house and I would use my wildest imaginations to pretend like I was playing a police officer or the good guy in a movie. My Mother enrolled me in different dance classes and I would have to perform them at recitals with my dance team. I did a lot of summer classes at the YMCA. I was so shy and would dance in the back of the class, but my instructor would always make me move to the front of the class because I was a fast learner and he would use me to be an example to all the other student’s. Read more>>

Alitha A. Alford

As long as I can remember, art has been my heartbeat and what has “fed my soul” for many years. Creating art, being immersed in it, and being able to share the joy and healing that art gifts me to the world, has always been a dream of mine to fulfill daily. The stigma of art being an unstable and not lucrative career was spoon fed to me by society since my adolescent years to present. It instilled that fear that I wouldn’t succeed and I will not be taken seriously as a professional for many years. After being creatively and professionally stagnant in the Midwest for majority of my 20’s and early 30’s, I was desperately craving a change in direction on my path of life. After careful consideration, I knew that I truly did not give myself the opportunity to explore or even pursue an art career. It was in that moment I felt an overwhelming yet invigorating need to take the leap of faith and pursue an art career. It was time for a major life change and transition in my professional development and career. I dabbled in education, banking, and retail and had not found any joy in thankless jobs. I wanted to pursue something that heals me but brings me joy on a daily basis. Art has always been my healing, joy, happiness, and escape from this chaotic world.  Read more>>

Carin Bernard

I picked up painting as a form of therapy to cope with depression and the passing of my mother. I would spend a significant amount of time by myself, with the exception of my cat. My thoughts would overpower me until I was lead to paint something. I used to say if I can inspire at least one person through art, I would be worth facing myself. Sharing my art led me to becoming a professional artist of 8 years. Through my summer internship, I’ve taught several teens and tweens how to start a career in art. I am currently teach middle school art and have never felt so fulfilled in my career. Read more>>

Margarita Vigne

The moment I realized I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally came when a local Moose Club near my home reached out and asked me to create a large mixed-media piece for them. I put my heart into that project, blending textures, colors, and materials in a way that felt authentic to my style. When they saw the finished piece, their overwhelming appreciation and excitement took me by surprise. That experience planted a seed of confidence, making me realize that my passion for art wasn’t just a hobby, it had the potential to grow into something more. Their response was the spark that made me believe I could truly pursue art as a professional path. Read more>>

Zayn Saade

Way back in the day, probably around age 9 or 10, I knew there was something special with movies. All of my hobbies and interests revolved around cinema. From Star Wars to Marvel to Pirates of the Caribbean to Batman and Indiana Jones, cinema was my life. I had grown up with it. So, slowly, I began to explore what happens behind the camera. From reading some short books and watching some behind-the-scenes specials on YouTube, my interest in filmmaking began to expand. Then spring of 2020 came around. I went to our local public library and picked up a copy of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. I got it mainly to play around with the DVD menu and watch the original cut of the film, but I stumbled upon something. I inserted the bonus DVD and clicked on documentaries. Then something caught my eye, “Within A Minute: The Making of Episode III.” The minute I clicked on that documentary, my career choice became A LOT clearer. The magic of filmmaking just struck me. I was just in awe the entire time. It was like seeing a part of the world I had never seen before. By the time the credits rolled, I had this feeling in my gut, this was it. I just knew this was what I was being called to do. From there I just dived deeper into the rabbit hole, watched more films, learned more about storytelling, and eventually got accepted into my high school’s media program where I began my journey as a student filmmaker. Read more>>

Tessa Kissick

For the longest time I always thought I’d end up being in a science or engineering job. It was the track I followed the closest in highschool although the further I delved into those things the less I liked them. I wasn’t the best at math so I slowly let go of engineering and I wasn’t super enamored with having to memorize stuff for the sciences. Eventually I returned to the thing that’d always comforted be despite my initial rocky start into it, Art! From there I majorly dug into my art studies my final year in highschool backed by my two unforgettable art teachers Mr Proctor and Ms Woodruff. The more I delved into it the more I realized it was the path that would fulfill me the most as a person. Read more>>

Maria Diebolt

I have always been a very creative and art-driven person. My mom put me in dance classes at the ripe age of 3 years old. Since then, I have never stepped off a stage. There’s always been a part of me that knew this was what I wanted to do. But this is not to say there haven’t been challenges and A LOT of decision making along the way. Everybody around me knew I was a born performer. I skipped sports as a child and went straight to music and dance. When I was young, I would make up a song with choreography for my mom before I even knew what songwriting really was. So, to say it’s in my blood is an understatement. As I got older, I started performing more, getting into competitions, writing and releasing my first EP, etc. I loved doing all of this and could very clearly see my future in music. I would daydream constantly about what it would be like and who I would become. I would watch videos of my favorite artists (specifically Selena Gomez, at this time) and imagine myself in her place. So, in reality, I have always known I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally. And then I grew up, and things got much more complicated. Read more>>

Yushan Jiang

I have been interested in four things since I was a kid: painting, photography, traveling, and Legos. So, when I entered college, I chose architecture and urban design as my major without thoroughly considering my long-term career goals. I believed, as everyone else believed, that this is the profession that allows me to enjoy what I love to do in everyday life. I love the design and making things, but I was not completely firm about committing to an architect career when I first started. Then, as often happens, a small moment confirmed my choice to pursue architectural design as my career. One assignment I had in college asked me to conduct thorough research on one traditional urban housing in Shanghai and propose an alternative design to improve living quality there. During my visit to the site, I was struck by the complicated circulation and messy layout, but was warmly welcomed by the local residents. They each shared their hopes and visions for bettering their daily life spacially, believing I was professional despite being just a college student at the time. That experience made me realize the profound responsibility and power of architectural design; the impact and agency of design are more than a beautiful space itself. I have been certain since then that I want to take this creative path as my life-long journey, as architecture is the profession that allows one to visualize and articulate even the most trivial thing in the most meaningful way. Read more>>

Alexis Medel

For me, making a living through my art was the only viable option. My immigrant mother envisioned a different path for me—one involving schooling, pursuing a career as a lawyer or doctor, despite uncertainty about how to manage the associated costs. I knew at an early age that that was not the path for me. I pursued various avenues to be push my creativity like nail care and graphic design, but it did not align with my true calling and left me feeling unfulfilled and depressed. After a significant period of self-reflection and with the support of my partner and friends, I made a pivotal decision: I left my full time job as a nail tech, tattooed my face as a symbolic commitment to myself, and resolved to make a living solely through my art as a tattoo artist. This decision was not only a personal inspiration, but also a commitment to never returning to a traditional 9-to-5 job. It represents my determination to fully utilize my artistic talent and ensure that my creative endeavors are both my livelihood and my passion. Read more>>

Neska Rose

When I was three, whenever my mom would play music, it triggered a strong response in me. It inspired me to create characters and stories in my head, leading me to write short stories based on songs. I started painting at six and wrote song lyrics into my paintings. When I began playing guitar at eight, I merged my passions for writing, painting, and music. Read more>>

Obenewa Obeng

I was in the youth choir at my church. We were having our yearly retreat, so we were getting our ministration songs ready. One song was a hip hop song, something we had never done before. There was a few rap sections in the song and our leader asked who would like to do the rap sections. So a few guys and myself volunteered. I had never rapped a day in my life other than rapping along to a song. Long story short, we went out and did our ministration which was a hit! I discovered how much I enjoyed the rapping process and everything that came with it. I still didn’t take it seriously until about a year after that and have been going ever since. Read more>>

Xianghan Wang

I have always been interested in aesthetics, such as photography, from a young age, but I never thought about making a living from it. It wasn’t until my undergraduate years that I realized I wanted to pursue a professional creative path, when I was introduced to the world of digital media. I was thrilled with the creative projects I was able to produce, whether it was graphic design, video editing, or animation. I realized that I truly enjoyed blending creativity with technology, and I realized this combination could not only express ideas but also innovate in ways that could deeply impact others. Read more>>

Amanda Boshard

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was largely influenced by my dad, who was a working artist. Growing up, I was always around art, and I was naturally creative as a kid. Initially, I thought I wanted to follow in his footsteps as an oil painter, but living in the shadow of a successful artist made it tough. I had a clear idea of what a “good” painting should look like, and when I couldn’t get there as fast as I wanted, it became frustrating. There was also a defining moment when I watched the movie What Women Want. It gave me my first glimpse into what being a creative director would be like, and it just seemed like so much fun. That movie was an eye-opener. As I started taking art and design classes in college, the assignments felt like fun. I found myself excited for the new challenges each project brought, and that’s when I knew I was on the right path. I began to drift away from fine art and moved towards graphic design, which felt like a perfect fit. Read more>>

Erin Russell

From the time I was young, I knew I wanted to spend my life doing something creative. I have never been “career oriented” and couldn’t envision myself in a corporate position or a 9-5. I pursued various art forms before I found tattooing, including acting and writing, When I found tattooing, it was a “right place at the right time” moment and I followed an opportunity that presented itself to me. The art of tattooing was something completely foreign to me, but I had always been a lover of tattoos in general and had been collecting them myself over the years. I was unsure if I had the artistic talent to pursue this path, but I started drawing and realized I had the skill and could continue to practice and improve. When I learned to tattoo I was immediately hooked. I found myself on a rocky path, learning a new craft during the pandemic and pregnancy, but I kept pushing forward and 5 years later I own my own tattoo shop.  Read more>>

William Deluca

When I was a kid around the age of 5 0r 6. I literally studied music videos growing up. I kept at it until I mastered their routines. Not only dancing but trying to sing their music gave me a better ear for it. Read more>>

Jenny Tolman

I remember hearing “We Danced” by Brad Paisley come on the radio, when I was 5 or so, on the way home from dance class. I said to my mom, “I love country music because it tells stories”. And ever since then, I knew I wanted to be creative and tell stories. There was never any thought about doing anything else. Read more>>

Irene Jung

The desire to create always pushed me forward, albeit at the start I did not realize what I wanted to pursue with this spark. Before I faced the revelation of the entertainment industry during high school, creating designs and illustrations was merely something I thought would stay a hobby or manifest into a different career. I wished for my endeavors to reach something, yet I had no clue what that would be. It was not until I decided to move on from self-taught skills to learning digital art that I discovered the path to pursuing my interests professionally. Read more>>

Nicole Rhodes

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t creating something. As a kid, I was always turning whatever I could find into art—making tiny kitchens out of old cardboard boxes, drawing my own paper dolls, and even sketching out these elaborate blueprints for imaginary amusement parks. Daydreaming and making things was just how I spent my time. My mom likes to say she knew I was destined to be an artist because, apparently, when I was little, I didn’t just scribble like most kids—I drew perfect little circles all over the page. Read more>>

Emeline Tate

As a child I was always creative. I made my own Cindy and Barbie clothes and before that a dolls house with furniture with the help of my father. Then I made my own clothes, I loved to knit and I even made a patchwork bedding set when I was a teenager. But living in a small village on the south coast of England I had no idea how to make a job with my talents. I went to art school and then fashion college in the hopes of getting a creative job. However I still didn’t know what type of creative career I wanted. The turtors were very good at helping me with my creative side but not with the practical side of getting a job. Read more>>

Brittany Bowens

Since my early years, I have been immersed in a rich tapestry of music and art, which ignited my fervent passion for all things creative. Looking ahead, my ultimate goal is to carve out a sanctuary for artists, whether through establishing a record label or opening a studio, where they can thrive and find support. Although the road may be lined with obstacles, I derive my strength from the remarkable talents of my father and brother, both of whom have been instrumental in shaping my artistic journey. Furthermore, I have dedicated myself to mastering digital drawing techniques, utilizing the Procreate app to unlock new dimensions of creativity. Read more>>