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.

Giana Paolino

The arts played a major role in my childhood; painting and playing the violin. I grew up watching my maternal grandfather carve molds of his designs at the kitchen table for Monet, Trifari, and Corocraft, costume jewelry manufacturers at the time. My maternal grandmother, Nonna, was an oil painter and sculptor. She studied in Rockport, Massachusetts with Foster Caddell and Antonio Cirino and became a member of the prestigious Providence Art Club. Read more>>

Trenton Wayne

Funny story … I did not always plan on pursuing the arts like I am doing today. I’ve dreamt of it, but never really knew how anything would happen or how to get started. I planned to attend university as a Chemistry major. However, once I started dancing in 2013, it was as if a light switch was flicked. I couldn’t imagine a life without the arts or integrating the arts in my work in some way, shape, or form. I officially made the decision to pursue dance professionally after graduating high school. At first, I thought it’d be better (and smarter) to double major in Chemistry and Dance. However, I ended up going with what felt right, which was dance. Read more>>

Sharron Lou

Realizing I wanted to pursue photography professionally was actually a bit of a slow burn. It wasn’t a single moment of sudden clarity, but rather a gradual process that made me realize I could turn something I loved into something that could sustain me. It all started when I was just getting into photography, and I began doing free portrait shoots for friends and family. At first, it was just a way to practice, experiment, and get better with my camera. But what really stuck with me was the way people responded to my photos. I’d see how their faces would light up when they saw the final shots—they felt confident, appreciated, and beautiful. There was something incredibly fulfilling in that. Read more>>

Parinaz Ziai Bahadori

I had been a practicing architect for 25 years, but always took art classes on the side as a hobby. For my fiftieth birthday, I decided to treat myself to a watercolor workshop in Morocco. A week before the trip, my beloved father passed away , but my mother kindly encouraged me to go on the trip anyway. Naturally I thought of my mortality and how I hoped to spend the next decades of my life – if I would be lucky enough to live as long as my father. I knew that I wanted to continue being as creative as possible and not just in an occasional class. Upon my return, I purchased my parents’ home which had a run-down barn on it. I renovated the barn and closed my architecture practice. Now I create art in the barn but also teach workshops to people who have often been discouraged at a young age from making art. Eleven years have passed and I don’t regret the decision even one day! Read more>>

Taylor Kottke

I dipped my toe growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, singing and acting in our church productions every winter and spring from 5 or 6 years old. When I was 12, I remember watching one of my now-favorite films, Uptown Girls, and being obsessed with Dakota Fanning’s performance. I copied down her monologue in the kitchen scene and learned it, thinking, wow – how fun would it be to be like her? With my sparingly-allowed internet time (lol) I started researching agencies in Chicago (the largest industry city close to me). I had my also 12-year-old friend take “headshots” of me in front of a white sheet in her basement, printed those out at Walmart with my mom and started sending them to agencies. Read more>>

Uche Abengowe

Where do I even start from? My name is Uche Abengowe. I’m from the eastern part of Nigeria. I’m an Igbo boy. Growing up, I always wanted to be a scientist, at least that’s what i always said. I’d either end up a scientist or at worst an electrical engineer. I ended up getting a Bachelors in Computer Science. When I was about 14 I had a friend (may his soul RIP) . At 14 MTV base was my favorite station and my friend would mime a song that just came out yesterday. I remember when Drop it like it’s hot by snoop dogg dropped he would rap the whole song from start to finish a day after the song was out 🔥 & he’d also sound like snoop too. Read more>>

Kasie Auten

I’ve been in the dance world, like a lot of young girls, since age 4. I danced at a local studio in the town I grew up at and was enamored with dance at such a young age. I grew up competing and spending every minute possible inside of the dance studio. My dream since I was a child was to dance, teach dance, and ultimately own a dance studio. I grew up dancing at my mother in law’s dance studio with my (now) husband’s aunt as my main teacher and his grandmother as the studio director. I studied studio art, specifically printmaking, and dance in college. After school I moved to New York to train and expose myself to as much of the dance world as possible. I was able to work, perform, and train while living in the city, as well as travel to teach. Ultimately, I moved to Charleston to dance with a contemporary company and teach a local studios. Just a few years later my dream of opening my own studio came to fruition. Dance has always held a special place in my heart that allows me to connect with others through my art form. Read more>>

Jack Harvey

So when I was about seven years old the icon Michael Jackson had passed away. I remember it was all over the news and my family was really sad about hearing this ,but at the time I didn’t know about his impact on the world and who he was. No one introduced me to his music or showed me any of his videos, so I took it upon myself to learn who he was. And when I did I was so obsessed with everything he had worked on. Discovering him for myself was really a turning point, I was so inspired that I wanted to dance and create music myself. And when I started to practice and try things myself it’s like it just came naturally to me. Since elementary school I have been writing songs, and studying those I look up to and what I love about music. Flows, melodies,lyrics. Read more>>

Yasmin Elzomor

I always knew I wanted to take the unconventional creative route ever since I was kid. The “9-5” matrix programming never appealed to me. Interestingly enough, I grew up feeling very disconnected from my creativity because my parents really valued intellect, logic, and structure. It wasn’t until I was 13 that my parents realized it would be beneficial to my growth by placing me in acting classes. I was extremely timid and socially awkward growing up so acting really helped me gain more confidence and I transformed deeply after discovering a different side of my identity. Read more>>

D’arcy Johnson

I’m not sure if there was really a first time. I feel like I was just born this way. I would doodle every chance I got and started writing my own music when I was 5. Art, in all of its forms, is the one thing that’s kept my interest throughout the years. Read more>>

 

Skyler Smith

During my third quarter at my local community college, I realized I wanted to pursue an artistic path professionally. I had enrolled in a random photography elective and needed action shots for an assignment. That led me to the baseball field, where the team was practicing. As soon as I stepped onto the turf, memories of playing ball came flooding back. I was hit with a wave of nostalgia and a deep realization of how much I missed being part of sports. Not playing anymore had left a hole in my heart that nothing else could fill. Injuries and age meant I could no longer compete at a high level, but in that moment, I knew I needed to reconnect with the world of sports somehow. After taking the shots for my assignment, it all clicked—I wanted to become a sports photographer. A few months later, I had built up a small portfolio of sports and non-sports photos. With that in hand, I walked into the Sports Information Director’s office and told him, “I have a job here now.” To my surprise, he simply said, “Okay.” About a month later, I was shooting collegiate soccer, and I’ve never looked back. Read more>>

Hali Sablatura

Ever since I was a little girl all I wanted to do was play dress up, craft or paint! Through high school I noticed the way I was dealing with emotions up through painting. I went to college for liberal arts then shortly changed my major 3 times. I had no idea what I wanted to do but all I knew was that I hated school. I dropped out and instantly got a job at a bar in our home town. From then on out I loved the thrill of bartending. Five years later I’m working at a craft cocktail bar and expressing my art through drinks. As of the end of 2024 I wanted more for myself. I love fashion so I knew I wanted to do something along the line of that. That’s when Birdies Denim was born. Birdies Denim is a custom Jean jacket line I started to showcase one of a kind pieces made exactly for you, you see a piece and instantly say ohh that’s me! So now going into 2025 I want more for my denim line, I want to make a staple for my brand in the fashion industry.  Read more>>

Cassie Carey

I’ve always wanted to work in the film industry. At the age of four, I dreamed of becoming a director just like my hero, Tim Burton. That shifted toward wanting to be an actress, then a screenwriter, and eventually an editor. Along the way, I also discovered my love for documentary filmmaking. Read more>>

Shelly Christiano

When COVID first hit, I worked in a healthcare office. I remember my husband saying to me, “You can continue to work at your job or you can see your parents. You can’t do both.” Knowing that my parents were far more important to me than my job, I quit with no real idea of what I was going to do next. I taught myself how to crochet as a way to help my anxiety during this uncertain time and to give myself something to do while I planned out my next job steps. Pretty soon our house was filled with yarn and all of our neighbors, their kids, and their grandkids had hats and scarves. One of my friends encouraged me to start an Etsy shop. Read more>>

Meaghan Hetherton Lyon

I’ve always been in love with creating art, from the time I was a very little kid. The first “illustration” my mom saved of mine was from when I was 2 years old, and I titled it “very scary spider.” If you ask me what my favorite toy was growing up, the answer would be a close tie between my art set or sidewalk chalk, depending on the season. So when did I know I wanted to be an artist professionally? Probably as soon as I knew what a profession was. Read more>>

Patience Murray

I knew since I was a little girl in Philly, sitting in church with my Great Grandmother, that I wanted to sing. She was a true worshipper with a heart devoted to the Lord. I would sit at the front of the church with her, watching her sing and praise God with such passion. Seeing her moved me deeply and made me want to join the church choir. But at my childhood church, you had to be 18 or older to sing, so I wasn’t allowed to join. Read more>>

Dominic Zamora

My passion for the creation of music, with an instrument, started in December 2013 with the soundtrack for the “Last of Us” game. The introduction theme was the first song I learned on my first Fender acoustic guitar and the Official Sound Track continues to be some of the most emotionally moving music compositions I have ever listened to. Up until 2015 I wasn’t considerably invested in the guitar until I came across a five-minute video of my high school woodshop teacher improvising on guitar (Revelation Mother Earth by Ozzy Osbourne and Mean Street by Van Halen). This inspired me to develop my passion by teaching myself through reading tablature and educational YouTube videos. It would be years until I was given the opportunity by a friend to start recording music in his bedroom studio. Unfortunately, we were only able to fit in a few sessions before my friend became too occupied with other non-musical work. Although, the little time I spent recording with him changed my perspective on the creation of music dramatically and was my initial exposure to the world of digital audio production. Read more>>

Alyssa Deloera

I knew that I wanted to pursue being an influencer/content creator when I lived in Japan. I saw the opportunity to create content that revolved around my life being an American living in a foreign country. However; as much as I wanted to pursue being in the creative space, I didn’t feel I had the talent nor the life people would be interested in. This was when TikTok first came out and I remember being in quarantine telling myself just to start somewhere, yet I never could figure out what it was that I wanted to show to the world. I saw so many people starting to pursue TikTok and make a living off of it and I just kept telling myself that if I started sooner, I would be where they’re at. I let time pass me by without creating any content, and eventually moved to Hawaii. This is where I turned my dreams into a reality. Read more>>

Dj Wiedrich

I was a very quiet kid growing up. Always kept to myself and anyone who knew me back then knows that if I wasn’t at school, I was probably in my room drawing or playing with clay. Art was always an escape for me, but for years, I kept being told (by well intended people) that “there’s no money in art”, and the schools I went to growing up didn’t have strong art programs, so for the longest time I didn’t pursue it very much. Read more>>

Donaven Medina

As a child I was always drawing and doodling. From sketchbooks, canvases, to homework and school work. My mother would always push me to keep drawing and creating, as I come from a family of artists. One day (must have been in elementary school) she came home with a patch that had some blood on it. At first, I thought she was hurt until she pulled the cover off to reveal she had gotten a tattoo. I had a slight idea of the existence of tattoos but had never really seen one up close. At this point, the gears started turning with the realization of being able to have living canvases that could display beautiful and meaningful artwork. It became more than a want but, a need to spread the beauty of art on people instead of traditional canvases or walls or paper. Read more>>

Bryan Washington Jr

From a young age, my journey into artistry was almost inevitable. Music wasn’t just a backdrop; it was the very air I breathed. Born and raised in the birthplace of jazz, I found myself surrounded by the vibrant rhythms and soulful melodies that shaped my worldview. The very essence of music permeated my childhood, as I was immersed in a community alive with bands and local musicians, each note and lyric leaving a lasting imprint on my soul. Read more>>

Eugenio Cerrosi

It seems that I have always been into all kinds of artistic expression. I grew up in BraziI, and I started drawing and painting in elementary school. I also played the flute and the piano at a young age, and I danced and acted then as well. I always wanted to be an artist of some kind, and I was particularly attracted to music and painting. While the other kids in school were drawing and painting rudimentary houses, dogs, trees, and the like, my drawings and paintings were far more abstract and colorful. Due to family and other pressures, I decided to abandon the arts, and I went to college for Mechanical Engineering Read more>>

Rocio Ruiz

The moment I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally happened unexpectedly during a pottery class I attended with a work friend. He had just started a home studio, and during that class, I made a coiled mug. I enjoyed the process so much that I immediately asked if I could come back for more classes to keep working with clay. Read more>>

Jiaqi Tang

I have been passionate about drawing since childhood. Growing up in different places and experiencing varied environments has greatly impacted me and my art. My parents, who work in the retail jewelry and jewelry design business, influenced me with their creativity and passion for art and design. Artistic tools were my constant companions, and I spent my early years immersed in crafting characters and worlds of my own. Read more>>

Adaris N.y.l.o

I knew I wanted to pursue an artistic path professionally in 2015 at 20 years old. Two weeks away from being enrolled fully into the National Guard. I was on the floor contemplating my future, and I kept reminding myself about what I wanted versus what other people wanted for me. I wanted to be happy regardless of my career choice. At that moment, I considered becoming an artist. It was unclear how I would make money, nor did I know about the art world. Then, I considered the possibility of not making much money as an artist. Then I thought I wouldn’t care. I just wanted to feel gratification and purpose in whatever I do. Read more>>

Dwayne Moyer

From a young age, I’ve always felt a strong pull towards music and dance. Growing up in a small town just outside of Philadelphia, my journey took a unique turn when I was adopted at the age of six. By the time I hit my early teens, around 12 to 15 years old, I was fully immersed in the vibrant world of DJing and dance. Read more>>

Jerrad Richardson

In middle school i wrote short stories about me and my friends you know? Going on adventures, having powers, epic fights that type of thing. Going into high school i started writing poetry more than the stories (I’d dabble in between the two from time to time). After graduating before going into the military some friends told me i should consider doing music since the poems i wrote were actually good, and just having a diverse musical palette (growing up in church, than diving into alternative/punk/emo THAN into hip-hop will do that haha). Read more>>

Sydney Smith

The moment I knew I wanted to take this path seriously and give it my all was when I started High School! When I was 14 I started my high school journey at Santa Susana High School where I got to take dancing at school. I’ve only been dancing for about 2-3 years at that point and I it was still a hobby where I got to compete. But since I was being educated of the history of dance, I started falling more and more in love with it! From there I was wanted to take my dancing to the next level and take as many different styles of dance. As well as expanding more in Hiphop all the different hiphop styles! Read more>>

Zeek Sound

I never imagined music would become my life. Growing up in Mumbai, I was surrounded by the sounds of hip-hop and Bollywood, but it was just something I enjoyed, not something I thought I’d ever create. Life had other plans, though, and sometimes the most unexpected moments set everything in motion. Read more>>

Michelle Ficara

During my time in the Peace Corps, living with an indigenous community in Latin America. It was a transformative experience, but I found myself struggling to describe what my life was like to family and friends back home. Words just didn’t seem to capture the richness and depth of the culture, the people, and the experiences I was living every day. Read more>>

Melody Chen

I was born and raised in Shanghai, and I’ve lived there for most of my life until I went to college. I spent a lot of time alone at home growing up, especially during winter and summer breaks. So, what can a kid do when they’re home alone? Watch TV, of course! Back then, people still watched live TV channels, and I was always glued to Japanese anime that was dubbed in Mandarin. In a way, it was my first introduction to visual storytelling. Read more>>

Kayla Banks

Coming onto the creative scene in 2016, I quickly realized I was stepping into a space filled with countless individuals chasing the dream of becoming full-time content creators. YouTube was the main platform, a place where many were building lucrative careers. I gave it a shot, but my journey there wasn’t as smooth as I’d hoped. Lacking the consistency and understanding of how to craft thriving videos, my initial attempt didn’t yield the results I had envisioned. Read more>>

Lindsey Holmes

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally before I got into the hair industry—as I’ve shared previously, I was a middle school language arts teacher before I became a hairdresser. While teaching is in many ways an artful craft, I was not feeling like I could fully be creative in that profession, and I was itching to feel inspired in my career. What I was most apprehensive about was leaving the safety of a regular paycheck and pursuing a path where my income was tied to how many clients I have and the services I could do. Read more>>

Sophny Sor

The first time I realized I wanted to pursue the path of a creative artist was in 2009 when I won a competition. At that time, I was still a student and only understood realism art. I have loved art since I was a child, but I never expected to become an artist. Luckily, I met many wonderful friends who were artists. They shared their experiences and styles with me, which inspired me greatly as an artist. Read more>>

Brie Austin

I have always had an artistic side from a young age. When I had first moved out on my own, money was tight. Instead of buying for everyone, I would paint something for each person as their Christmas gift. I may be showing my age but this is before YouTube. I was painting bricks as door stoppers, tiles into trivets, painting on glass ball ornaments and 2x4s into Welcome signs. I am a self taught artist. Read more>>

Dayo Ephraim

I grew up in a religious Nigerian household and started singing in church when I was eight. I’ve always loved singing, I can’t remember when I didn’t want to sing. I recall moments when I’d watched Michael Jackson on TV and thought to myself that someday I’d also be singing to large crowds. Fast forward to 2019, after moving to New York, I decided to start singing professionally, and released my first song – Show Me The Way. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Read more>>

Komal Patel

The first time we knew we wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was even before we got married. Our story as a couple began with a shared love for music—it’s what brought us together and became the foundation of our journey. From the start, we knew we wanted to build something meaningful in the music and creative field, combining our talents and passion. Read more>>

Hiromitsu Hubbard

I first realized that I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic career when it was time to start applying for colleges at the end of high school. Before that I had never seriously considered what I would do when I grew up and suddenly faced the decision of choosing art school or a regular college like the rest of my classmates. It quickly became clear that art school was the only option for me and I am very thankful that I had the support of my family to help make it happen. From that crossroads it has been a long, difficult, crazy, incredible and rewarding journey. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Read more>>

Katie Rose Witherell

Since I could remember. My parents are both creative people as well. Into art, music, film, etc. I think I was inspired by them from an early age. I have a sewing and crafting background from my mom, and a love of pop culture from both of my parents. In high school I wanted to paint so, in college I studied to be a fine artist and considered minoring in pop culture along with it, but didn’t follow through with either. Read more>>

Sanyukti Parab

I started drawing when I was three. I was a playful kid who loved spending time outdoors. In third grade, I made my first craft project, a “best out of waste” project. It was an art organizer that looked like a McDonald’s meal, yes, I made a paper mache burger and french fries that could hold my pencils and crayons. That project sparked my obsession to create fun things. I loved making things from scratch, whether it was accessories for my barbie, board games, books from scrap paper, or toys I could play with. Read more>>