We asked some insanely talented artists, creatives and makers to tell us about when they know they were going to pursue a creative career.

Jeanie Andronyk

Looking back, I think I always knew I would have a life that existed just outside of the normal realm of a 9-5 job. I’ve never felt settled doing things I didn’t have a very specific passion for, and I never really knew at a young age what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to do things on my own terms and my own way. Read more>>

Star

From as far back as I can remember. I believe Manu people share a dream where they can do what they love to do and its accepted by the masses. I’ve always loved music. Music rocks my soul-especially Reggae music. This guy that you know, Star-I’ve always had a strong desire to play music for people. As a kid, I would make tapes and cds for friends and family. I would dj little parties here and there. I love to share MY LOVE of the music with people. Elohim has worked it out in my favor to male sure of it. Read more>>

Jonathan ( Mc Da Don) McIntosh

What’s crazy is growing up. I never really thought about doing music. I mean it was all around me constantly being that I was raised in the church. I never really had the passion until I went to college. I had a roommate name Ryan St Hill. He was always writing. So one day we didnt have classes we decided to write to Jay Z and Kanye west Otis beat. We recorded it and a people actually liked it. So we decided to do a video with our dorm friends. After that, I really began to write and we did quite a few songs. Read more>>

Odd Wilson

I was introduced to music at the age of 14 by his father, who was an established bass player. His father’s mentorship, and passion, inspired him to do music. My first sortie into learning a musical instrument emerged at the age of 15 years when he started taking piano lessons and learned how to program audio tracks on music video games, and has never looked back. That when I knew that music is what I supposed to do in life. My first piece of equipment was DR 500 drum machine . I fell in love it . I had turntables when i was 20 years and dj for a lil. I love that as well. Music is a part of my life and it always is. Read more>>

Mara Whelan

By the time I was in high school I had already figured that I wanted to pursue art in some way. At that point I’ve already been drawing for 4 years. My parents were always incredibly supportive and with easy access to the internet, it just made it so much easier to find talented artists that I could look up to and immolation. At I wasn’t a very popular person, but even outside my social circles I was at least known as the “art kid”. Read more>>

Young Bail

When I was about 13 I was playing sports at first & when that didn’t really amount to anything other than injuries & average play I time to really put my focus on music & that’s when I started writing raps. Read more>>

Paula Lauzon

Well, when I was little, both my parents loved watching tv shows, movies, etc. As kids, we spent our days outside playing but in the rainy weather or when the streetlights came on, we were in the house watching what they watched on the television. We didn’t have the choices that we have today. I grew to love those shows and films. I pretended I was in them, interacting with the characters. It was incredible to me. Their passion for film ranged from Spaghetti Westerns to classic horror, suspense, musicals, and iconic films like Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, and King Kong. Read more>>

BJ Wingfield

I’ll have to say my senior year of high schoo (Cleveland Central Catholic, in 2013. Not only having the support from my immediate family members, having peers from my high school willing to purchase clothing I created was when I knew this was the perfect profession to pursue. Knowing your creations can turn a complete stranger into a supportive friends, that’s inspiring! Read more>>

Nina Trespalacios-Paris

My love for nails really started back when I was a kid. I was very crafty and always had a love for art and drawing. As I got older, that sort of manifested into a love for beauty where I found myself heavily interested in hair and nails. I experimented with both in high school and college for fun but never had all of the resources to take it seriously, so I eventually gave it up to focus on graduating and career building. After being in the non-profit world for about two years, I was itching to find something new so I began my search for a new job. Read more>>

Graciela Zolman

From a young age I was intrinsically motivated to create art. I grew more serious about wanting to pursue an art career in high school, but I had a lot of trepidations that prolonged my art career from starting. I steered in and out of artistic/creative endeavors and would stop creating art all together for lengthy periods at a time. Eventually, art found its way back to me. Read more>>

Stacey DeHay

I have always been a creative person, even as a kid. I love to make things, imagine new worlds and try every craft possible. I spent many years making stained glass, an art I loved. After losing my studio space and developing an allergy to the lead fumes, I had to give it up. I do miss it dearly. I started drawing again about 4 years ago, My husband gave me an iPad and a pencil and it took off from there. Read more>>

Anderson Daniels

At the time I was still in college. I spent my senior year playing bars and clubs all over the Midwest. During the week I would go to class Monday-Thursday, and then Thursday night I would take off to play shows throughout the entire weekend in Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Read more>>

Meagan Brown

I was working a full time job. A job that I had been at for about 4+ years at the time. It was call center work….need I say more? Around November of 2019 I started to really struggle with anxiety on the job which is a real thing. I was prescribed anxiety meds and everything but I believe I was already mentally checked out. I wanted to possibly promote to a different position which would have helped tremendously however bc it was during COVID season, the process was slow. Read more>>

Josh Cleveland

When I was 8 years old, I saw an a capella gospel quartet. Their voices were so dynamic and I could not believe the feelings stirring up within me. I remember feeling my heart quiver and then beat with such force I thought it would pop out of my chest. Read more>>

Susie Barrett

I think like many creatives, I have always had a calling to create. From an early age, I was drawn to beautiful aesthetics and design. I loved the order of color coordinated books lined up in a row, pushed to the edge of a shelf so that all the bindings were aligned. We had not one, but two libraries in our home, and I would play with the books in the children’s library for hours. Starting around age 12, I also fell in love with linen closets and would fold and refold sheets and towels so that all the shelves had a pleasing stacked symmetry. Reoccurring patterns fascinated me. Read more>>

Chase Butler

Throughout my high school and early college years, I found myself in multiple leadership roles. People often times looked to me for advice and guidance. I have no musical talent but I knew I wanted to do something in the music industry, so when I started to look into possible career fields, Tour Manager made the most sense to me. I had a few mentors that helped me break into the industry and thanks to them, I was able to get started on the road not long after moving to Nashville. Read more>>

Brenda Acevedo

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path was when I was a child. It was pretty natural for me. As a young child, I loved art, drawing, painting, and using my imagination. I even dreamed in color and remember the happiness making art gave me. I could remember feeling such a connection to producing something out of nothing. I remember looking at my art and thinking “wow” I made that. Read more>>

Daja Alexander

I have this vivid memory, I’m not sure what holiday or occasion it was, but I was 10 years old. My family was over my Mom’s house and for some reason everyone was hyping me up to sing. The entire family by this point in my life knew I loved to sing, but I had been singing to myself and practicing some of my favorite songs, so my range had progressed. I nervously stood in the middle of my living room and began to sing “Moment of honesty, someone’s gotta take the lead tonight, whose it gonna be…” Read more>>

Briana Rose Lee

I knew I was going to always work in the arts from a very young age. When I was six, I auditioned for an equity production of, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” with over a hundred other kids and I was selected. Two of the others had already had major roles. Knowing that I was cast next to a girl who had just played “Annie” made me realize I was just as good and I could do it too. I never was in a production of Annie, but I have had played many other incredible and challenging roles. Miss Hannigan would be a dream role though… Read more>>

Brent Chung

As a child, I was grown up in an environment full of music and creativity. Starting at the age of 5, I picked up piano and violin lessons which I continued all the way through high school. I had been in my school orchestra, as well as the Chattanooga Youth Symphony and have also been a part of multiple piano competitions. I always loved drawing as well and really felt like the creative/music industry was where I belonged, but never fully wanted to commit to it due to the high risks in the industry to make a stable living. ` Read more>>

Laine Gay

I’ve always been drawn to the arts, growing up I loved being in art class and learning about art history. I didn’t start making art outside of a school setting until I was about a junior in high school. I wanted to make a Christmas gift for my mom and I made my first painting that wasn’t for an assignment. I enjoyed it so much I started making more art in my free time. When I went to college I tried a few different majors but my mom kept telling me I should be an art major. Read more>>

Arica Nyamsi

I was in undergrad and I was an English major. I always make the joke “because you know you have to go to college to be a writer, you know?” but I don’t think anyone gets it. I just wanted to go to college, and I loved writing. I went to University of Missouri-St. Louis because it was affordable and accessible and I didn’t have any support from my family to attend higher education. I was signing up for my classes and saw that there was an Intro to Dance class. Read more>>

Bert Anderson

From the moment I learned to read and write I wanted to be an author. I was 8-years-old and it suddenly dawned on me that Little House in the Big Woods was written by a real person; she had not one, but many books she’d written about her life. Maybe it’s because I thought of Laura Ingalls Wilder as Melissa Gilbert but seeing Gilbert play the author on my television screen made the reality of becoming an author seem feasible. Read more>>

Kristen Ward

In 2016 I had enrolled into beauty school, suggested by my stepdad, because my heart was set on Architecture but a failed relationship and two kids had my finances telling me to just work my normal 9-5. I remember Him saying, “just go get a cosmetology license, it’s quick, and while you go to Architectural School styling hair will pay for it.” I was hesitant but I thought why not just take the tour of the school and see exactly how much the schooling cost and how long I’d have to attend. I signed the papers that same day! Read more>>

Flavia Lovatelli

I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t creating or inspired to create something. My creativity was all over the place, I made things constantly. As a child I made paper dolls and their clothes, I made jewelry out of anything and I remember vividly designing a line of clothing when I was 10 years old. It was all on paper, never having the chance to create the pieces at that age. While I was naturally inspired at an early age, I also had parents who, while encouraging my endeavors and sponsored all my early on ideas, they also discouraged following my dreams as far as a profession. Read more>>

Kary Francisco

From the time I was little, and could comprehend what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’ve only ever had three ‘careers’ in mind: surgeon, marine biologist, and artist. I don’t remember when exactly the first two options fell away, but I do remember solidifying the ‘artist career’ when I was 12 years old, and my middle school counselor asked me to think about my future. Middle school was my first chance to take art related electives in school, and I got to join the Art Club as well. Read more>>

Jon Vertullo

Whenever anyone asked me as a kid, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I never knew how to answer. I knew I wanted to be a Jedi, a wizard, or maybe a Jedi/wizard combo. I also knew that I liked performing with my sister in the Walpole Children’s Theatre plays throughout the year, but acting wasn’t a real job, right? Read more>>

Corynn Welch

My love for hospitality and event planning began in college in my early 20’s. I completed my degree at Coastal Carlonia University with Communication Studies, and a minor in both Journalism and Public Relations. I interned for the Carolina Country Music Festival and immediately knew the events industry is where I belonged. Read more>>

Asharah Damore

I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/ artistic path professionally when I was a little girl. I also dreamed of being on stage and in front of the camera. I loved write, sing, dance and act. I don’t think it was an exact moment I just knew. Growing up I as involved in the school choir and plays. I love painting and designing my own clothes. I’ve just always been naturally artistic. So choosing a professional career path was easy for me. Read more>>

Nai Turner

AHHH! Great question! I’ve loved art since I was 12 years old. However, I was interested in so many things that I never was sure about what I wanted to do professionally. I remember the exact day I decided I wanted to pursue art professionally. I was in the military and we were in the field for a week. I was laying in my tent asking myself I’m doing. I felt like I was on the sidelines just watching life happen. I didn’t feel like I was a participant in my own life. Read more>>

Rafael Castillo

Funny thing is although sports were always in the forefront, I always knew I wanted to entertain. I always knew I wanted to be in movies. I’d say “I wanna be like The Rock”, we’d see him on Smackdown one night, and then Scorpion King the next. That was my vision, but iI’ll never forget one night in class performing a scene, and it was an argument between partners. Mid scene I just screamed out “I LOVE YOU!” Read more>>

Emily Million

I wanted to be an artist as far back as I can remember. My mother is also an artist – nearly giving birth to me in sculpture class at Missouri State. Pursuing a career in art was never a question; it was always something I just knew I was supposed to do. Read more>>

Vanessa Wright

I have been writing and directing since before I knew what it was. When I was very young and had friends over to play, I would create a cast of characters and assign roles and create scenarios for all of us to act out. During recess at school, we would all get together on the playground and recreate the latest episodes of The A Team or V. In high school, I would often ask teachers if I could make a film rather than write a paper or give an oral report. Every weekend was filled with filming comedy sketches and short films. Read more>>

Matt Basler

I knew I wanted to pursue music when the devil came to me in a dream. “Matt,” he said, “I am the devil and I speak to you in the dream realm. Turn away from the songs that bind you to the heavenly coil and grunt and spit with me in the deep deep well of gloom.” It was a tempting offer, but I knew then and know to this day that the devil is the king of tricks. Still, when I tried to rebuke the him, no words would come. Read more>>

Jeff Nations

I don’t think there was ever a specific moment where the lightbulb went off and I went, “Yes, I’m going to do this for a living”. That feeling was always just kind of there; it wasn’t something I had to tell myself. I picked up the guitar when I was 11 and I took to it immediately and from there, everything just kind of fell into place. Ok, I’ve got the guitar, I’m going to learn how to play it. Ok, I can play some chords and leads, I’m going to play with some other people. Read more>>

Kristian Random

When I was a kid, I became enthralled with music and how it made people feel better, which led me to radio. I used to listen to the DJs and how they would have fun with people and deliver information and play music to make the listener happy and make their day more bearable. I became intrigued by a morning DJ named Dr Donald D Rose on 610 am KFRC. He was a typical old school morning jock with bells and whistles and telling jokes and having fun with people and helping them where he could. Read more>>

Emily Rocha

I was a comics-obsessed kid in the 90s, thanks to the Fox Kids programming that included the Spider-Man and X-Men animated series, as well as the Batman animated series. I began collecting and reading mostly Marvel Comics. When I got to college I really didn’t feel strongly about any one major, until I took a Photoshop class and colored line art for an assignment. I decided then that I wanted to color professionally. Through the years, my drawing became stronger and I wasn’t satisfied coloring only other people’s art any more. So I gradually shifted to illustration. Read more>>

Herston Milton

When I was a kid , I was always drawn to doing music. My family is fully of musicians and singers who mainly use their gifts in church. The drums were the very first instrument that I learned to play. As I continued to play the drums when I was in high school around 2005 , I became heavily intrigued by the keyboard. I would watch the keyboard player in church service , and just as I learned the drums , I picked up a keyboard , starting to play by ear. I began looking up YouTube videos and watching DVDs for beginners. Read more>>

Diamond V

I have always known that I wanted to do music from a young age. From what I can remember I believe I was around five years old when I saw my first instrument (a trumpet) that my brother had when he was in the 8th grade. I had become fascinated with the trumpet and would even try to attempt to play it. Music has always a big part of me and who I am. I didn’t really have too many family members that had a big musical background so a lot of what I saw or heard was from listening to some of the music that my parents would play. Read more>>

Fernando Ramos

I will be very honest, I don’t think I had a moment that I decided to make this my career path. I do know that since I started formally training at 16, I did not want to stop. I fell in love with this art form and the people in it. I just wanted to keep dancing and I did fall in love with the art of creating and generating work that could speak to others. The profession can be hard, but like anything, if you have good people around you, you can do anything. Read more>>

O’CEAN HILL

I learned at the early age of 4 years old that I wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment field. I would always be imitating great artists like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Tom Jones.. I would perform for my friends & family every chance I can get especially at family gatherings and also in school. By the time I was 12 years old I was already writing my own songs. Read more>>

Malik Greene

Honestly, my journey as an artist has been a back-and-forth pull. It’s like the universe called me to it from a very early age but in the past, I’ve often ignored the signs in front of me. I literally have one of those classic baby pictures and I’m just casually sitting in it holding a paintbrush and bucket. So it feels like my life has been one significant foreshadowing of that despite my initial rejection. Read more>>

Morgan Bissant

I have always enjoyed drawing since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I spent a lot of my time doodling, mostly characters I saw on TV, as animation always served as my inspiration for creating art. As I got older and started school, I drew so often that it distracted me from schoolwork. While my teachers weren’t exactly pleased with me drawing during class, they also noticed that I had a talent for art, and recommended that I be enrolled in art classes. Read more>>

Alexander Scott

As a child I was keenly into music and visual art. Growing up in Mexico City art is basically bleeding from its streets. Graffiti and street art are a big component of it’s culture going all the way back to days of the Aztecs and Mayans. My family surrounded me with good music and art. My father had an amazing LP collection and I would sneak into the living room and play his records. My mother played the Quatro and would sing me Beatles songs and folk songs from her home country of Venezuela. Read more>>

ashlee pitts

The first time I knew I wanted to take an artistic path in my journey of life was the moment in 2020 when I received the most honest letter from my son. Being an absent parent for a great part of my children’s life was not good for myself or my children. In the letter my son wrote to me he described me as acting like a ghetto teenager and being embarrassed to acknowledge me as his mother…Boy did those words sting, but in reality the truth hurts and truth is a hard pill to swallow. Read more>>