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.

Ben Tinsley

I’ve known all my life, really, but it was working with some of the greatest, most talented fellow student actors in junior college (Tarrant County Junior College South Campus in Fort Worth, Texas circa 1986) that really turned me into a believer. That’s not where my show biz career began, however.  For me, it began at age 9, when I joined the Texas Boys Choir of Fort Worth. As a second soprano, I toured across the country singing and dancing with them until age 11. Read more>>

Hansen Lin

I don’t clearly remember at what age it started, but I began participating in performances and hosting events from a young age. When I was a child, I felt happy, rather than embarrassed, when my parents would ask me to perform at the dinner table. I truly enjoyed the way I could take charge of the room and capture everyone’s attention. In addition to that, I’ve always had a deep passion for creative work. When I was very young, my mother enrolled me in after-school classes such as electronic piano and oil painting. Her initial goal was to channel my energy into activities that would teach me patience. However, as I immersed myself in these creative pursuits, I began to enjoy the process of focusing my creativity in a specific moment and space. Read more>>

Christine Jeanelle

I’ve always been a creative person. Back when I was a kid, I loved drawing, being in plays at church and in school. When it came to films and TV, scifi and epic fantasy stories always captured my imagination. I wanted to live in a different world like the ones I saw and read about. When I grew old enough to know to difference between actors and characters, I imagined myself bringing my favorite stories to life. It was all a far fetched dream, unattainable in the real world. Even so, I continued to act in church and school plays throughout high school. I even took acting as an elective. But it was just a fun hobby to me. My parents taught me the value of hard work and the importance of education. So I limited my self to having a “real job” for a career. Read more>>

Joel “bltn”

My musical journey began back in senior year of High School in the Bronx (shout out to Lehman!) when I first picked an instrument in beginner’s band. The audio weapon of choice was the alto sax, inspired by the sweet backdrop found in Yacht Rock, and through the 80s-early 90s. As far as the sax goes, I’d have to credit one individual, which is one of the greatest forces behind the scenes in music: Stuart Matthewman (Sade, Maxwell). Whenever I get an opportunity during live sets to cue up a soulful & jazzy track featuring this great instrument, there’s no denying the passion that radiates within. Read more>>

Peter Markham

I come from a working class background and nobody in my family in living memory had ever been a writer or an artist or a musician, at least professionally, as you put it. But I knew from my teens that I couldn’t handle doing a regular job—just the thought of it makes me very depressed. A part of me wouldn’t mind being respectable, but it’s too late for that now. I found that I wanted to follow an artistic path at grammar school in England and that took me to reading Drama for my undergraduate degree. Then, however, I worked in TV and film production. I think I was pretty good at it but it was really depressing and what I really wanted to do was direct. So that took me to the BBC Director’s Course in London and from then on I was largely able to escape the production route. I don’t like to think of myself as a professional though. There’s something about that word that suggests cultural and social conformity, which is boring and a failing I do my best to avoid. Read more>>

Arion Vanzego

It started back beginning of 2019, when I gained a real interest in wanting to display any type of creative work onto the internet. Around that time, I was making content for Youtube involving around mainly music and fashion. I was recording videos with my broken iPhone 12 and a cheap Amazon microphone, with hindsight, it helped me learned editing and the whole process of recording in a unique way. I eventually upgraded to a Canon Rebel T6, that I got from my friend for $350. It came with the whole bag, extra lens, everything original but he barely used it so I just bought it barely knowing anything about cameras. The moment I got the camera, I used it everyday after that and never looked backed. With Youtube being my best friend, I was already taking pictures and shooting videos before that summer came. While I bought the camera originally for the purpose of upgrading from the iPhone for the content videos, I quickly fell in love with photography. Read more>>

Angie Maserati

I was very young, probably 4 years old when I remember performing for family and feeling the joy it created in both them and myself. That moment created a curiosity and had me falling in love with this gift of mine! It sparked the dream and the dream was learning all about the voice and becoming a professional singer. I guess my dream came true! The dream when younger, when I was free of responsibility and full of naivety was to hit the road and tour the world! I had no idea what that actually required! The dream changed over time when realizing that I love my freedom! I love making my own creative choices and having balance in my life! I have three bands; my original music, a top 40 band and a disco band. Read more>>

Hakeem Bennett

It wasn’t till very recent I decided I was going pursue a creative path. I’ve dabbling around with music for the last 12 years of my life whether it was rapping, recording artist, djing, I always felt at home doing it. As a kid (15) I got a little studio bundle for Christmas with a microphone, headphones and interface and shortly started to record my own my music. Of course it wasn’t the greatest but that’s probably where the interest had sparked. Growing up having 2 older brothers that DJ’d I guess that came about subconsciously around the same age just an excited kid finding joy in learning the process. Over the course of the next 12 years I still recorded myself and fellow friends (artist) subconsciously tailoring my craft and passion. Read more>>

Raphaëlle Taccone

Since adolescence, I have always had the desire to follow a creative path. However, I was aware that the job market (illustration sector) was saturated and that it would be difficult to find a place. So I decided to study art history, another of my passions. I persevered and specialized in medieval history. After extensive studies, I became a medieval historian. The years passed but I never stopped drawing, I even perfected my techniques. Today, I went from dream to reality. I gave a new reality to my drawings by marketing them. Read more>>