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.

Suneha Balasubramanya

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was during my time in architecture school. I vividly remember sitting in our history of architecture class, completely captivated by how spaces tell stories—not just through their design, but through their ability to evoke emotions and create atmospheres. This fascination became even more pronounced when I started exploring movies and set designs. Watching films, I realized how environments were crafted to complement narratives and shape the viewer’s experience. Read more>>

Paige Danner

I first knew I wanted to be a singer / performer from the age of 13. I dreamed about it all the time and sang whenever possible. Read more>>

Viola Fu

I’ve loved drawing since I was a child and have been taking art classes consistently. However, to my parents, drawing was just like music, dance, or chess—an extracurricular activity to cultivate interest and develop thinking skills, not something they considered a viable career. It wasn’t until I joined the art specialty class in my high school that I realized how expansive the world of art truly is. There, I met many talented and passionate peers. Some had tens of thousands of followers on social media, others came from artistic families, and a few had already discovered their artistic aspirations early on. They helped me see that drawing isn’t just about becoming a fine artist—it can also lead to careers in product design, concept art, environmental design, fashion design, and more. Read more>>

Susan Harding

As a young mom, who had grown up in a working class family, I never considered college. But as I encouraged my kids to pursue their own degrees, I decided I should follow my own advice and enrolled in a photography class at a community college simply for fun, but it ended up changing everything. That single class sparked a deep passion, leading me to take one course after another until I completed all the photography classes De Anza College offered. Realizing I was just a few credits shy of an AA in Photographic Arts, I decided to pursue the degree. With my AA in hand, I continued my education at San Jose State University, where I earned a BFA in Photography with a minor in Pictorial Arts. Read more>>

Daneira Zuniga Sandoval

It all started when I was about 12 years old. I remember being completely fascinated by hairstyles and how they could transform someone’s look. I’d spend hours teaching myself how to braid my own hair, especially cornrows, which were my favorite. It wasn’t easy at first, but I was determined. I’d sit in front of the mirror, redoing a section over and over until it was just right. Once I felt confident, I started practicing on my close friends. They trusted me, and I loved the feeling of creating something beautiful for them. It was more than just a hairstyle—it was a way to express creativity and make them feel special. Read more>>