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

Aaliyah Johnson

Back in 2017, when I was about ten years old, I innocently was wandering around my grandmothers bedroom. I don’t remember where I exactly found this black wig, maybe it was on the floor, but I decided to put it on. I walked into the living room to find my mom on the couch. I know I did this to get a reaction out of her and it worked! She immediately started to record me on her phone, laughing loudly. The video must be still up somewhere, hopefully locked away inside a vault never to be seen! Eventually from there, I took the magical wig home and the rest is history as they say! Then I didn’t think nothing about wanting this as a profession. It was merely something out of fun. Well, I’m still trying to figure out what I would like to do! Read more>>

Alec Merlino

I had just come off of a traveling stint. 3 months in South East Asia, 2 months in Indonesia, a few months in Europe, and then 2 months in Fiji where I was a contestant on the reality TV show CBS Survivor. I was trying to figure out life at this point. I always knew deep down I was meant to forge my own path in this life and start something myself so I tried starting a clothing brand. Things went well but I failed, took it on the chin and moved on. Perhaps there was a loss of passion there as I wasn’t really sure what I was doing in the clothing space. I figured, getting a corporate sales job was the next logical step. I had just come off of a traveling stint. 3 months in South East Asia, 2 months in Indonesia, a few months in Europe, and then 2 months in Fiji where I was a contestant on the reality TV show CBS Survivor. I was trying to figure out life at this point. I always knew deep down I was meant to forge my own path in this life and start something myself so I tried starting a clothing brand. Things went well but I failed, took it on the chin and moved on. Perhaps there was a loss of passion there as I wasn’t really sure what I was doing in the clothing space. I figured, getting a corporate sales job was the next logical step. Read more>>

Shari Polis

It was September 11, 2001. I was teaching Kindergarten in downtown Brooklyn, NY. Because I had first period off, I was going to go to the World Trade Center to my friend’s office on the 72nd floor to pick up some physical photographs of my trip to Italy I had left in his car that past weekend. I was debating whether to head into school to do some prep work first, or go straight to the Twin Towers and then head to school. I decided to go to school first. As I was preparing to leave to jump on the subway, the Principal of the school ran into my classroom. The Twin Towers were under attack. Read more>>

Nubia Soul Goddess

I’ve loved music and the arts of various formats ever since I was a young child. But I made the decision to pursue it professionally after a couple of summers we spent taking cruises to different countries in my early teens. At the time, the plan was to attend the Art Institute for culinary arts and work on a cruise ship as a chef and an entertainer on cruise ships. Read more>>

COUS

Music and performing have always been in my life in one form or another. I was in the school musicals/plays growing up and played a few gigs when I was in high school and college. I went to college at CU Boulder and after graduating did the whole 9-5 desk job life for a couple years in the completely unrelated field of African safari tourism (photo safaris only – conservation > hunting). I co-founded and played in the electro-soul project No Touch during this time as well. Read more>>

Jubie Nash

One of first time I knew that music was something I was good at was back when I got suspended in High School for a diss track. Me and one of my homies was chillin in the back waiting to get picked up, and there was this female that like to “pop her gums.” So my homie says something to her and their immediately start going back and forth talking s*** and I chime in laughing and she start grilling me. So now all of us in the back going at it and she ends up getting picked up and me and my homie sit there like we not gonna let her get away wit this. Read more>>

Freddie Lee Jones III

Ever since I can remember when my Grandmother use to tell us (the grandkids) bedtime stories, I wanted to do the same. Growing up in New Orleans, gave me a better understanding of how people can appreciate other culture’s stories. I believe that my mental release was going to the movies. It didn’t matter what type of day, week, month I was having, the Cinema 8* would solve it all! Read more>>

Jorge Blanco

In my childhood home there was no artwork anywhere, When I was 12 years old, I saw my first abstract work of art: a painting by Auguste Herbin which impacted me and inspired me to become an artist. In high school I created the graphics for the school’s newpaper which I turned into a three-dimensional free standing structure inspired by Naum Gabo’s sculptures. After I graduated from high school I was awarded a scholarship to study Industrial Design at a prestigious art school in Caracas, Venezuela. Read more>>

Aric Dohm

I have always been attracted to logo design. When I was in high school, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I would create these collages all over my notebooks of my favorite bands and skateboard companies. There was actually more ink on the outside of the notebook than on the inside. I pretty much new I wasn’t going to be a scientist, doctor, or mathematician, I just liked to doodle, I’m pretty sure I had ADD but who diagnosed that back in 1990 in Watertown, South Dakota…I guess you could say I was considered a problem child. Read more>>

Richard Hitchler

When I was a pre-med major in college, my professor/advisor told me that I should “try new things”. I left his office, walked over to the fine arts building, auditioned for the leading role in a play and got it. Right then and there I knew what I wanted to do. The next day I changed my major and never looked back. The year after college was over, I found myself waiting tables, like 99% of the actors in town. One day, when I was asking for an extended period of time off because I was cast in a show, the owner happened to be walking by and said, “You better decide if you’re going to work here or do that theatre thing!” — I turned in my apron for the last time and decided that I was going to “make it” no matter what that meant. I learned how to do every aspect of theatre to ensure that I would be kept employed. Read more>>

Quincy Jackson

I knew I wanted to be an artist around the age of 15. I wanted to go to the NBA but music was something I loved more. The history, the wide variety, and the fact I can bring my own creativity. I remember only having a radio an listening to east coast rappers, after that the rest was history. Read more>>

Brandon Hughes

Well, for me, this particular path came to me. I’ve always enjoyed singing. It’s been something that has been in my soul since the beginning I do believe. As a kid, any and every chance I had to use my voice was taken. From talent shows in school to singing in church…I never missed an opportunity. As a pretty shy kid, music was my voice. However, around my teenage years, that changed. Read more>>

iiiYansaje T. Muse

I knew when I was was a child that I wanted to make a living creating, but I wasn’t sure if it was possible. I never saw myself doing just one profession. I always saw my professional life as a mosaic, an infusion of many gifts into one. I can admit that I wasn’t specific. I had more of a “What does God/Goddess want me to do with my time here?” …kind of approach. Some of my natural gifts and my dreams went hand in hand. Read more>>

Judi Bagnato

I think I have always known that I would create art throughout my life, whether it was professionally or not. Painting, drawing and creating is such a part of me. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. When I became a believer, I wanted to share my faith and relationship with the Creator with others through my artwork, so they too, can be inspired to live their lives to the fullest and have a sense of peace and jubilation whether they were a part of the nonsecular community or not. Read more>>

Jwoodz

First time I discoverd the idea of taking my talent and work towards a professional career was when a old friend of mine brought over his recording equipment to my home and asked if i could help with recording at the time, I had little knowledge of how it all worked but i did it anyway. He ended up leaving the audio equipment and never came back to get it so i ventured off and started to record and write my own music , then months later dropped my very first single! . Read more>>

Lindsey McNeny

To be honest even as a kid I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. I’ve always been fascinated with nature and wanted to play outdoors. From the moment I could walk and explore I was chasing wildlife in my backyard. As I grew older and learned of all the many jobs available working with animals I started to move towards being an animal trainer but I still knew I wanted something different. After working for years with other animal organizations and zoos I knew it was time to branch off and start my own non-profit. Read more>>

Adam Jabari

November 2018 I get a message from someone on Facebook asking me if I’m available to be in a film with an artist. I am a little apprehensive because around this time I don’t have much free time for modeling/acting. But I agree. I arrive to set and this is the first time I ever felt important in this field. They have a makeup artist, hair stylist, stylist and a private area for us to sit in. Then we finally get to meet the artist. It’s Solange Knowles. Read more>>

Tricia Battani

Both of my parents are celebrated musical geniuses, so no one was surprised when I fell head-over-heels in love with music as a child. I spent my entire childhood running around band camps, choirs, musicals, marching band festivals, and drum corp competitions. My dad was the band director at my high school, my sister was the star of every musical, Mom was an opera singer, my brother was a drummer, and I was a singer and dancer. Our house was filled with music.  Read more>>

Dev Wulf

It start with Willie. I was around the age of four when a re-run of Austin City Limits, 1981. There was Willie Nelson, singing Whiskey River in those cross-flared lights caused by old television footage. I telling my mother how much i wanted to be like “that guy on tv.” I spent a lot of years growing up in church, playing in praise bands, while sneaking off to play in punk, emo, even hardcore bands. …yes, jet black hair, band tees, all of it. Read more>>