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.

Kunu Bickal

I knew I wanted to pursue the fashion scene while I was living in Los Angeles. I had recently moved there to play basketball at a post-grad hoping after that year I’d go play pro overseas. Then, while I was there, I got to witness more of peoples love for fashion. I seen all different types of clothes, accessories, models, etc. and I loved the streetwear look so I decided to leave LA and stop focusing on playing basketball because that was, at that point, the old goal. Being seen on a big platform for my unique, tattooed look was the new goal. Read more>>

Madeline Kiel

In my creative journey, I’ve experienced the desire to pursue a career in the arts two times. The first being a foundational moment of when I realized that paint could make my heart come alive. At early age of 8 years old I remember taking my first and only art lesson(s). My class took place in the basement of a higher end art gallery in the heart of the historic gold country town of Auburn Ca. My teacher was so inspiring. I remember sitting at this little table, surrounded by other artists (from all age ranges) and being challenged to draw a horse, without using lines, but only using dots and upside down. This intimidated and excited me. My teacher explained this was helping my brain unwire from the obvious to really seeing the image I was referencing. I remember being locked into the moment of drawing this horse. I loved it. I remember flipping the horse I had just drawn “upside down’ right side up and the feeling of pure bliss rush through my body as my 8 year old eyes took in my newest masterpiece. My guess as to why this is a core memory is because in that moment I saw I could succeed challenge of seeing something and bringing it to life. Read more>>

Imani-grace King

I’ve always resonated with the quote, “The universe whispers until it shouts.” For me, the whisper was clear: “The stories inside you need to get out.” That whisper started early, stirred by the emotional pull of movies like Life Is Beautiful (La Vita E Bella). I remember being completely captivated, feeling something I couldn’t yet name. Was it the actors’ performances? The ingenious writing? The incredible set design or the seamless production? Whatever it was, it consumed me. But those questions—”Why does this move me?” “Why does it matter?”—felt too big to answer then. So I let the whispers stay low, focusing on more practical paths like law, marketing, and technical services. For a while, that was enough. Then in 2020, I watched Lady Bird – written and directed by Greta Gerwig. I was working a marketing job downtown, living the “young professional” dream—snazzy outfits, black Americanos, and happy hours. I had distanced myself from movies and TV because they opened me up too much. If I let myself truly feel, I’d have to face the truth: I wasn’t living my purpose. And who wants to deal with that when you can distract yourself with career milestones and cocktails?  Read more>>

Isaac Bar-jonah

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue an acting career was the first time my father asked me “ What do you want to be when you grow up? I can’t even say I was old enough to have a full understanding of the word pursue at the time. But I can say I answered his question with “ An actor or a football player.” I was probably around 4 or 5 when he asked me that question. I really never had a chance to know I wanted to pursue a career in acting because I really didn’t have a choice. In second grade I was in the g.a.t.e. Program standing for gifted and talented education. And every year the school had one night assembly and all the parents came to the assembly that was supposed to represent the school. We were the class that represented the school in that assembly. One day Ms Buckhorn called me to her desk and said “ Do you know what a play is?” I said “No” and she said “Do you know what a movie is?” I said “ Yes” and she said “Its like a movie only in real life. And this year we have to do a play and you have to be the lead.” I said “ Ok “ and then I went back to my seat.  Read more>>

Johnnie & Jaylon Gordon

Johnnie: Well, I’ll answer this one since I’m the reason Jaylon and I are apart the of the entertainment industry. When I was three years old (almost four), I told my mom, I wanted to be a “Model man”, she had no clue what I was talking about, so I picked up a JC Penny sales ad and said, “See they model clothes.” My mom wasn’t really listening, because she was preoccupied with cooking dinner. I then went to my dad and said, “I want to be IN the TV like Zach and Cody.” After realizing I was serious about this, our parents decided to cultivate my dream. However, Jaylon was not interested, until I went to my first audition. When the talent scout called my name to come down to the front, Jaylon jumped up and ran down with me. The rest is history! I seriously believe me asking to be IN the TV was a whisper from God, because our parents never talked to us about the entertainment industry. Funny thing is, Jaylon and I booked our first movie “A Christmas Blessing” together I believe we were five and six. Not only was it our first role but we played brothers, like Zack and Cody. That was pretty dope and the beginning of our on screen chemistry! We are so grateful for our parents’ obedience and decision to cultivate our dreams. Read more>>

Zoey Chen

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was during a moment of unexpected joy. It happened when I made a bouquet for a friend . At the time, I had no formal training in floral design—just a curiosity and love for aesthetics. I remember selecting each bloom thoughtfully, trying to create something beautiful that would make my friend smile. When I finally presented the bouquet, their reaction was unforgettable. They were genuinely moved, and I could see how the flowers spoke to them in a way that words couldn’t. That moment left a deep impression on me. I realized the power of flowers to convey emotions and create lasting memories. Despite not having an art background, that simple gesture opened my eyes to the beauty I could create and share with others. It planted the seed of a dream in me, one that grew over time into a passion for floristry and led me to embark on this incredible journey filled with blooms, creativity, and connection. Read more>>

Joshua Ferguson

When I was a child, growing up on the East Coast, I was in the theatre and played many instruments. Art was in my blood. When I became a high schooler I booked a couple films but because of the subject matter of the films as a whole I was not allowed to be in them. I was bummed out about it. My mother told me at that time “Don’t worry. If it is meant to be, it will happen.” Read more>>

Chantel Sings

I knew when I was a young girl, in elementary school that I wanted to be a writer. I believe that I saw so much around me that I felt so confused about. Growing up in poverty, seeing violence around me on a regular basis. I remember feeling scared alot and feeling very high anxiety as a young girl. I remember being in elementary school, living in Chicago and there was an opportunity presented to me to tap into writing of some sort. I felt good about the thought of that, possibly being a story teller when I got older. I thought about the idea of being able to talk about the things that I saw around me on a regular basis. Being poor, gangs, drugs, violence, even death. It was alot for a little girl to take in. Read more>>

Aryan Jolly

In my final year of high school, I realized that making music was what I wanted to do for a living. Music had been a lifelong passion, and over time, I’d also developed a deep love for music production. Telling my parents felt daunting, though—I worried they might not understand. So, I confided in my brother, and he shared my dreams with them. To my surprise, they were incredibly supportive, embracing my decision wholeheartedly. Read more>>

Micah Mccuistion

At 15, a transformative concert experience ignited a deep-seated passion for music within me. I begged my parents for an electric guitar, promising to master the basics on our old acoustic first. Little did I know, those early chords would unlock a future filled with endless musical possibilities. Read more>>

Maria Schafer

Truthfully, I intended to go into healthcare when I was younger. I did all the rigorous academic things: honors classes, AP tests, prestigious scholarships, avid volunteering, you name it – all with the aim of getting through university at an accelerated pace, making a better life for my family through higher education, and hoping to change some lives as an eventual Nurse Practitioner. But I discovered in my late teens that despite having lived in the States since I was a small child, I needed to navigate the citizenship system for both me and my brother because we were born in Canada (to an American parent) – I wasn’t able to get a legal job or driver’s license, and had to give back multiple scholarships I had won in high school because of this. Read more>>

Emily Haddow

Growing up, I always loved drawing and painting people, particularly faces. I watched my mother, a portrait painter, create beautiful pieces of art that captured every intricate detail of the subject’s face and their unique personality. I loved watching her mix paints, which made little sense, but somehow always turned into the perfect shade. It fascinated me so much that I began trying it out for myself. Eventually, I learned about the color wheel and experimented with balancing colors and creating new ones. Then, when I was fourteen, I discovered YouTube videos where people did their makeup, explaining the process, which I would follow and recreate myself. Soon after that, I began to record and upload my own tutorials, which got little to no buzz. In the end, it still felt fulfilling. As I continued to learn more skills and improve, I began to understand that it wasn’t so much about the viewership numbers, but about documenting my progress and being able to reflect. The things that I had learned online and the lessons from my mother about facial structure and the color wheel allowed me to get started in the world of colors and makeup, and I only wanted to learn more and eventually begin my career as a professional makeup artist. Read more>>

Tamica Atterberry

My introduction into the industry was a roller coaster rode from the very beginning. One day while out with my husband this white guy approaches me and asks if I’m a model, because he was a photographer (at the time there was a stigma the photographers were creepy). My response was actually kind of rude and I was making jokes with my husband. We didn’t believe him! He still gave me his business card. I did my due diligence and looked him up. Turns out he was one of the moderators for Model Mayhem and he was an amazing photographer. While waiting for our scheduled season; I had created a profile and got information about Sac Fashion Week. I auditioned. The same day I auditioned was also the day of my first photoshoot. The best part was IT WAS A BODY PAINT SESSION. Upon bad advise from models I didn’t eat, because I didn’t want to look bloated; but needed to have are more due to the fumes. I ended up getting sick. Most embarrassing thing ever. After cleaning the bathroom and myself up; I ate and the shoot continued. Read more>>

Elizabeth Tutu

Growing up, many people in my family were into photography; my grandfather, my uncle and father always had cameras around. I was never really interested in cameras til I grew closer to my uncle, Prince Agyemang, who is an amazing photographer and designer. I remember when my eldest sister was going of to college, he brought his camera. After playing around with it that whole trip, he told me I had a “great eye” and so for my 15th birthday, he convinced my parents to get me my first camera. This camera never left my side and he even let me photograph his own designs. For my 16th birthday, he gave me my first film camera. The camera I first thought was a toy but years later, would be the reason I get to work on movie sets and bring film back to life. For my 17th birthday, he gave me my first record player along with records he saved for years and years. He never hesitates to make sure I know everything there is to know about my culture, and is the reason I know who Fela Kuti, the father of afrobeats is. For my 18th birthday, he gave me my first sewing machine. The sewing machine that taught me to really reduce, reuse and recycle. I am able to take something old and make it beautiful, put my own spin on fashion. For my 19th birthday, he upgraded me and gave me 2 new film cameras. Cameras I know are going to open even wider doors for me. Somehow every milestone I hit, I can pinpoint something back to him whether it be big or small. He is the inspiration for creativity. He has been my encouragement for taking my creativity to spaces you might think they don’t belong. Read more>>

Ex Peterson

When I was wee, 3 or 4 years of age, I was fascinated by how my mother could take some flat fabric and make it into clothing, and I wanted to do it, too. She gave me a needle and thread, scraps of fabric, buttons, and a pair of scissors and sent me on my way. This led to my making vests for all my stuffed animals. They were rudimentary, a strip of fabric with two holes cut out for the arms, the button sewed on and a slit cut for the button to go through. My own design. Clothes needed to be taken on and off after all. I occupied my time with drawing and sewing, and being instilled with the directive that everyone needed a skill to be monetized, something to pay for food and housing, I pursued the dream of becoming a fashion designer, an artist. Read more>>

Madison Brenneman

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue makeup artistry professionally was probably in 2022. I used to dance and would always be doing other girls’ makeup for the shows as well as my own. After I graduated from dance I had to sit down and think about what I wanted to do as a career, and that was hard for me because I didn’t feel like I had any valuable skills for the “work world”. So, I sat down for a bit and really thought about what I enjoy and what best I could apply the skills I do have towards a job. That’s when I realized becoming a makeup artist IS a job, and I’ve been working on making that into a stable job since. Read more>>

Brittany Jones

I was a senior at Howard University studying Theater Arts Administration, and you’d think I’d already be committed to a career in professional artistry—but honestly, I still had doubts. My previous internships hadn’t truly sparked joy for me, and I wasn’t sure if the creative path I’d chosen was the right one. Then, 2020 happened—the pandemic hit, and everything shifted. For our senior project, I wanted to do something that genuinely excited me, so I created a digital music festival. That experience changed everything for me. I got to collaborate with artists, directors, photographers, and other creatives to bring this idea to life. Despite the challenges of the time, the project felt incredibly fulfilling. People were eager to get involved, and I received so much support from my community. Read more>>

Gerri Lindsay

Funny enough, I’ve always had a clear vision of my path. As a kid, I’d flip through my mom’s Macy’s catalogs, picturing myself in them. At my kindergarten graduation, there was this moment where we got to announce what we wanted to be when we grew up. The usual answers rolled in: doctors, police officers, firefighters. Then it was my turn. I walked up to the mic, and without missing a beat, I announced to everyone that I wanted to be a supermodel. The room fell completely silent for a few seconds, and I remember scanning the audience as my words sank in. My family still loves to tease me about it! For the first eight years, it was just my mom and me. She’s a publicist, so when I started talking about my goals, she signed me up for dance, showed me the basics of piano, and found some modeling gigs to get me started. Read more>>

Cassie Ramone

I knew ever since I turned on the radio in the summer of 1994, when I was 8. My family and I had just moved houses, and the radio was the only object not in a box to play with. I was obsessed with this one radio station – 103.9 WFAS-FM, an “adult-contemporary” station – all summer. I heard female pop singers (Mariah Carey, Madonna, Whitney Houston) and their beautiful songs. I knew that is what I wanted to do. More into my young adult years, I was very blessed. Vivian Girls was formed when I was a junior in art school, and through a combination of stars aligning and lot of hard work, we started getting noticed right around the time I graduated. We embarked on our first full US tour – that we had booked ourselves – the day after my graduation ceremony. Six weeks later, we were back in Brooklyn and by that point it seemed like everyone in the indie world knew who we were, and everything just grew from there. It was extremely fortunate. I graduated college and immediately had my dream career. Read more>>

Christina Hanks

Growing up I always liked to sing, but I thought becoming a professional singer was like being a princess… that you had to be born into it, because not just ANYONE could become a singer. But I loved music so much, and I had a bluegrass band with my three younger sisters when I was a teenager. Our first album came out when I was 15, and music felt like something that I just HAD to do. I think I knew even then that I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally, I just didn’t realize how much work it would be, or how many years it would take to try and figure it out the “how.” Read more>>

Amanda Ruiz

My artistic vein has its roots back in my childhood when I enjoyed crafting tiny dresses for my dolls. Later at school, I discovered I had natural talents for painting and drawing that I explored mainly as a hobby. Even though I did not decide to study arts as a formal career, the artistic pulse was still alive during my twenties and I nurtured it by taking some short courses in ceramic, craft board, and photography, as well as participating in singing groups and the university chorus. Later in 2022, after a long time of reflecting on my career as an Economist that I pursued for more than ten years, I decided to take a sabbatical year. It was a moment at which I wanted to dedicate time to pursue other goals in my life such as spending more time with my family, cultivating better habits to connect with my body and emotions, and retaking up the hobbies and dreams I had left aside. Read more>>

Anjali

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative and artistic path professionally was rooted in my experience as a first-generation Indian-American. When my parents immigrated to the U.S. from India, English wasn’t their main language. At home, we primarily communicated in Hindi and Punjabi, which naturally shaped my exposure to Indian culture through movies and music. Listening to and singing Indian songs became a regular part of my life, and it sparked my love for music at an early age. In kindergarten, I joined the school choir, and that passion carried me through my senior year of college. Through choir, I explored a variety of musical styles, from classical to pop, which opened up my creative boundaries and influenced my current work as a musician now on Spotify and Apple Music. Read more>>

Brendan Gardiola

I feel like I’ve always been a creative, even as a child. I was always the one that all the aunties and uncles had dancing or singing to entertain the party. I’m sure there are plenty of old VHS tapes of my performances. It wasn’t until high school that I rekindled my innate love for dance. I joined my high school all male dance team and a few other junior dance teams outside of school. Shoutout to Pride Rice, Natural Vibes, and ILL Habits for helping cultivate the dancer I am today. I knew I loved to dance. Being around so many like-minded individuals all just in one room trying to obtain a certain goal was everything. It was always about the journey and never really about the destination. When I was old enough to join an adult competitive dance team, that’s kind of when things started to shift for me. Not only did I love to learn and perform but I started to create and lead. I do give flowers to my old team, 220, for taking a chance on me and allowing me to share and have my visions come to life. I started teaching more. Read more>>

Maribel Galvan

Growing up in East Los Angeles as the youngest of 6, art and personal creativity was something that we always had in the home but was seen more as a hobby or hidden escape. My mother was a home decor DIY queen. She and the tias would sign up for the free art workshops held at our local park, looked forward to putting her personal touch to every holiday season, and even made our prize-winning Halloween costumes as kids. My brothers and sisters had talents of their own. I remember sneaking through my older sister’s sketchbook and being in awe of her cyberpunk and still life art sketches. When one of my older brothers served time in jail and later in prison, I looked forward to the sketches and calligraphy work he adorned his letters, drawings or hand-made birthday cards. When it came time to do any art projects for school (whether in California or Washington State), I quickly learned how to be resourceful with the guidance of all the creatives that surrounded me. Read more>>

Kenard Johnson

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was when I realized that I see everything in life through a creative lens. All that fulfills each physical and mental sense we have is a product of creativity. This understanding fills me with an invigorating feeling that anything I touch has the potential to be art itself, even in the rare instance that it isn’t already considered as such. Read more>>