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.

iLxveDaHustle

I first realized I wanted to pursue my dreams with music when I started back making music and hearing the growth in my self and the music. Friends, family and even strangers would tell me I should take the music serious . After recently going through some traumatic events in my life I learned that music is my form of coping. I run to music when I’m angry , sad/depressed or even happy and I use those feelings and emotions as motivation to make quality music. Losing my daughter & father motivated me to be able to tell my story and finally be able to drop music for the world to be able to listen and relate to. Read more>>

Sarabeth Post Eskuche

As a teenager I was a bit of a wild child. Maybe more than a bit. I began to find a real outlet in 3D Art while in High School, and one of my teachers in particular, Mrs. McPoyle stood out to guide me down the the creative path. I was fortunate enough that my community college had a glassblowing program, it’s truly not common! I got bit by the glass bug, all thanks to the glass professor, Helen Tegeler, who was my mentor, teaching me not only in class but how to work with her in the hot glass studio on her personal work. It was all uphill from there! I had a realization that I could be an art teacher and help to guide folks like me and so I kept on the trajectory to undergrad and voila! Read more>>

Sophia Franzella

When I was a little girl, I would stand on toy boxes when my parents’ friends came over for dinner, and I’d force unsolicited entertainment on them. I would change costumes midway through the day. My childhood best friend and I would choreograph dances to perform for her family gatherings. I would often attempt to cast and direct plays at recess in second grade. I always knew I wanted to be an artist, and I am very thankful for the many opportunities I’ve had to perform, choreograph, and direct. Read more>>

Isaiah Anthony

Growing up, I always knew I was destined to be great in the Arts, I just didn’t know how to do so or what that would look like. I honestly didn’t come from the best neighborhood. There were times when I didn’t want to be “Isaiah”, simply because of certain situations my family and I had to go through to survive and not drown. I wanted to be somebody else at LEAST twice a week and playing a different character helped me with that and helped me through my struggles. Read more>>

Melinda Steffy

I’ve been making art and music for as long as I can remember. My childhood was filled with drawing, painting, crafting, singing, playing piano. Most people who knew me as a teenager assumed I’d go on to some art-related career. But at that time, the arts weren’t a career path I understood or saw as viable. I didn’t really have examples of people who made a career in the arts outside of teaching. So when I went to college, I majored in religious studies and ended up being interested in social work.  Read more>>

Derek Stroker

Music has always been my outlet! I first realized I wanted to pursue a creative path when I was very young growing up in Miami. As a kid, I was always fascinated with art and the world around me. As I grew older and picked up guitar and songwriting, it became clear that this was more than a passion. Every step, from studying music production in college to becoming a recording artist in Nashville. Then moving back to Orlando to start my beautiful family, has confirmed that creating music is truly my calling. Along the way, I ventured into the world of graphic design, becoming an art and creative director for several Fortune 500 companies. Both music and visual arts have allowed me to express my creativity in different ways, and together they shaped the professional path I’ve dedicated my life to. Read more>>

Ray Hicks

The truth is… I didn’t ever want to pursue this. Social media drives me absolutely nuts! I started the carnivore diet in hopes of easing joint pain, gaining mental clarity and health, and maybe lose a few pounds. Well, fast forward a month in, and I’ve lost 35lbs, my knee pain is gone, I’m sharp as a scalpel and I feel like I’m taking little happy pills. I thought to myself “this is too good to not share”. So I did just that. I shared a video of my experience and posted it to my personal Instagram & TikTok – not thinking anything would come of it. Well, TikTok RAN with it. I think it got some million + views? Many folks had questions, and I answered them to the best of my ability. Fast forward 5 months and I’ve got 100k followers on TikTok. It dawns on me; I should probably share this on Instagram as well. So, I start a new account, so I don’t bore my family and friends. And it REALLY took off. TikTok did it’s best to stay ahead – but Instagram quickly caught up. In 1 year of posting on TikTok my account grew to 460k followers. In 7 months of posting on Instagram my account has grown the same. Read more>>

Stuart Preston

I began public speaking 20 years ago to promote my business. Ten years ago, I took up stand-up comedy as a hobby. Four years ago, I started performing my one-man show on grief, healing, and resilience. However, I hadn’t truly committed to pursuing my creative path professionally until this summer. That changed when I watched an inspirational YouTube video by Earl Nightingale. In it, he challenged listeners to complete a 30-day exercise: repeat your primary goal in life, remind yourself that failure is not an option, and turn around any negative thoughts that threaten your dreams. I realized I needed to define my primary goal! Read more>>

Jobob Mcginney

To be honest, I didn’t wanna pursue a life on stage. I was behind the scenes doin voiceovers. It was my ex who pushed me into the spotlight. Quite literally pushed me, we were at a comedy show and we knew a couple of the comedians. She went and talked with them, got me a spot, and She pushed me out of my chair and on to the stage. It was and is the scariest thing I’ve ever done. But that first laugh from one of my jokes and it was all over. My pursuit and trajectory was permanently altered. I was only concerned with gettin that rush again. Turns out, I should’ve listened to my woman she really did know what was best for me. Now, I don’t know if there’s anything other than drinking beer and tellin jokes that’ll get me to leave my house. Read more>>

Olivia Irigoyen

I always joke and say flowers found me. I always enjoyed art, I come from a family that is very open to art and culture. I never realized that design and floral design specifically fell under being an “artist” until I became a florist. I started at an incredible space in West Palm Beach, Hive Home Gift and Garden and then decided to lean into my own business and freelancing. I think I realized I wanted to peruse floral design, event planning and event design when I was almost itching to move out of the original space I was in. The design style no longer aligned with what I was falling in love with, and I found that I could exercise my creativity if I tried it on my own. It was the scariest and most courageous thing I ever did for myself! Read more>>

Tesia Williams

Since I was a young toddler, I have always known that I wanted to pursue music. I came up with my rap name and rhymes at the age of four. I no longer go by that name anymore (haha), but I created songs with my older brother, Larry. He motivated me to continue on pursuing music because he would tell me that he seen the potential in me and my talent with regard to music. I became more serious about investing in my music career during my college years. I worked to pay for my studio time and eventually, I was able to purchase studio equipment for the first time. I am a self taught engineer. Read more>>

Jordan Yates

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative background when I was at least in middle school. But I never pursued until maybe two years ago because I also just did what I thought I was already good at or knew how to do , not what I truly liked or wanted. Don’t get me wrong I still did things I was interested in like football , science , I even played a semester in college for football, but interest really do change with time . Not just change but also come out . I thought since I was pretty good at football , science , and math I should just do that, but it wasn’t fulfilling me . Now when I’m in my craft , it’s something I love doing 100% of the time and I’d do it everyday. Read more>>