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

Lili Donovan

I’ve always been connected to art in one way or another. Whether through visiting museums, attending expositions, studying art history, or through classes and workshops – and throughout it all, creating my own art. Read more>>

Daniela Hundley

As long as I can remember (and the drawings my mom saved) I have been a creative flower child. I remember that in high school (I wasn’t a huge academic) art was always something I pursued.  Read more>>

Heather Caufield

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally when I realized I was going to pursue a college degree and decided that continuing with my passion for art would make me the happiest. Read more>>

Steven Rashan

For a while, I was an only child. My mother used to buy me a lot of action figures to keep me entertained. I would sit in front of the TV, watching movies, and then imitate what I saw on the screen with my action figures. Read more>>

Nolan Davis

In early 2014, I was working at a record store in Fresno, CA (my hometown). We would get these promotional CDs sent in to our store and I grabbed a copy of this one sampler CD that highlighted different up and coming Bay Area rappers. Read more>>

Suzan Globus

When I was five years old, my oldest sister started publishing a newspaper which we sold to the neighbors. She printed it with some of the neighborhood kids in the carport on what must have been a mimeograph machine. Read more>>

Patrick Pizzolorusso

I can’t say there was this defining moment where I said to the world à la Michael Scott, “I declare I want to be an actor!” Instead I think it was a slow realization during my childhood. Read more>>

Miranda Fontana

I knew I wanted to pursue a career in film and music since I was 8 years old. Since the moment I found my dad’s old electric keyboard in the attic one day and I asked if he could fix it for me so that I could learn how to play. Read more>>

Wesley Ericson

My first job, fortunately, was with ArtWorks Cincinnati. I applied to work in their mural program one summer and ended up in a project they had operating at the time called, Hero Design Company. Read more>>

Mark Garcia

Around 2013 is when I realized that there was a shift towards digital media and there was a demand into the area of commercial and documentary work. Read more>>

Crafty Amy, Amy Angelica

I always loved arts and crafts in elementary school. At that age I would cut up my old clothes and turn them into something new. When I turned 13 I was gifted a sewing machine for my birthday because I showed interest in learning how to sew because of a youtube channel I found. I was so inspired by the channel Threadbanger. Read more>>

Kodi Gonzaga

I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember, and I began writing them down when I was about nine years old. However, I was twelve when I realized that writing and telling stories was something I could do for a living! Read more>>

Jessica Arden Trehy

I feel like I am a bit of a different breed. I’ve known that I would be a photographer since my darkroom days. I fell in love with the whole process, and it became a part of who I was and who I am today. Read more>>

Hungyu Kuo

Hungyu Henry Kuo formed a film production company, Angels Near Death LLC, in 2024 because he has always been passionate about filmmaking. Read more>>

Brianna Clay

Since childhood, there was always a part of me that felt drawn to a creative path, but I found myself grappling with the pressure’s of societal expectations and the pursuit of what seemed conventionally secure. Read more>>

Elaina Scott

I think I knew I wanted to be in the creative arts from the age of 6 or 7. I started drawing when I was about 3 and I always disappeared into my art, even from a young age. I was an awkward child, shy and inquisitive. Read more>>

Cecilia Mericis Peña

In 2013, I decided to move to Los Angeles from Miami Beach. My friend had an empty room and was looking for a roommate. I started to look for a job as soon as i got there, but two months later, I was still unemployed. Read more>>

Deborian Ramsey

I got suspended a lot in school so I was home a lot I couldn’t go anywhere so I stayed in the living room were my dad would bring his friends over and they would make songs and just dancing around getting lit just seeing that process Read more>> 

Christopher Lane

As a sixteen-year-old high school student I auditioned for, and was cast in, a show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for their children’s theater program. Read more>>

Danny J Martinez

I think it all started the day I heard my daughter tell her friend, “That’s my dad’s office. He yells at people in there”. In that moment, I’m pretty sure you could visibly see my heart break, like when Lisa Simpson broke Ralph Wiggum’s heart on the “Choo-choo-choose you” episode of The Simpsons. Read more>>

Cynthia Platt

I started college without much of an idea of what opportunities and types of jobs were out there in the world, so was firmly convinced that I was going to become a lawyer. Read more>>

Rickey Turner

I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative path in elementary school. My older cousin, who goes by The Legendary MIC from the Welfare Poets, is a rapper, producer, educator and mentor. Read more>>

Samantha Zimmermann

Ever since I was a kid I absolutely loved art, I would constantly be drawing- sometimes on the walls to much of my parents’ chagrin. Read more>>

Stephen Rowe

I was born in Broken Hill, a remote mining town nestled in the Australian outback. Growing up in such an isolated yet tight-knit community left an indelible mark on my perspective and aspirations. Read more>>

Danae O.

Well, the very first time was as a child. We had class journals in the second grade, and every day we were given a prompt to write about, and I always drew pictures to go along with my entries. Read more>>

Parker Clements

I started back in fifth grade through a OMSI camp called desert documentary. It was a five day camp where you went out to John Day Fossils Beds, and shot a short documentary about the environment. Read more>>

Perri Ford

Ah, the memories of my first foray into the world of imagination and glamour! Picture this: a young, wide-eyed dreamer, pen in hand, scribbling away at the pages of her first short story, “Mommy, I want to be a Model”. Read more>>

Grecco Buratto

I was 12 years old on a winter break from school. I was staying at my cousins’ house for the week – they had a band and we had the same music teacher. Read more>>

Oriana Perón

We’re sort of trained while we’re growing up that you have to fit into a mold in order to benefit society “correctly”. In the 3rd grade we did a huge class-wide project about: getting a job, making money, and paying your bills. Read more>>

Debbie Bennett

I’ve been singing since the age of 3 and At 8 years old I wrote my first song. I am the middle of 5 siblings. And I always felt like I had to do things extraordinary Read more>>

Myles Thoroughgood

I first discovered my passion for artistic expression during my freshman year of high school. While attending William Penn in Philly I was enrolled in the Communications Magnet Program. Read more>>

Karine Fournier

I actually never wanted to fit in the system, i.e. have a regular job. In my twenties, before, during and after my bachelor’s degree in Visual arts, I was always trying to figure out a way to earn a living with my creations. Read more>>

Samantha deSuze

It all started when I was literally 7 years old. I went to work with my dad very early one morning. He did Morning radio in Boston and had to be at the station at 430 am, to wake up New England at 530 am. Read more>>

Milan Bobinac

My first introduction to art as a profession came from my father. We lived in Maryvale, which limited our exposure to the art scene, but my father always tried to include us. Read more>>

Ninette Maldonado

I’ve had an interest in creating content since I was younger. It looked very fun and I knew it was something that I would excel in. I started off making funny videos at a young age displaying my personality and establishing a fan base that still supports my social media platforms. Read more>>

Maggie Wei

In Asian families, parents send their children to study various talents, but I was only interested in drawing. I was the student who was not good at math and only drew on the books in class. Read more>>

Chase McGill

I’ve been interested in art ever since I could hold a pencil, but it was never more than a hobby until about 6 years ago. Everything from oil-painting and drawing, to live-action film with VFX I loved doing. Read more>>

Robert Celaya

Music has been around me my whole life, I’ve listened to plenty of rap music growing up and my dad was also a rapper along with his friend group. Read more>>

Diane L Silver

My story begins with a childhood passion for painting, creating, and exploring ideas. I was brought up in both the Boston area and Miami, Florida with two very contrasting cultures. Read more>>

Jesi Rok

First, let me start by giving thanks to God for this opportunity to share my story and a big thanks to my lovely Louisiana mother and my late Nigerian father for providing me the tools and mindset to get to where I am now. Read more>>

Issielle Johnson

I knew I wanted to be an artist when I first started to sing as a little girl. Than I started to learn how to play violin, viola and bass. Than I developed an intrest in guitar during my high school years. I fell in love ever since. Read more>>

Terence Julius

I was always being Creative and Artistic there were many moments that made me want to be an Entertainer and artist I remember going to a catholic school in 4th grade and I joined the choir and we did a Christmas song in Latin and we sang gospel hymns. Read more>>

Italy Ja’rae Lee

Many people don’t know but Spoken word and poetry are relatively new in my life. Growing up I’ve always written songs, amateur screenplays, and unknowingly poetry. It wasn’t until 2021, when poetry came into my life. Read more>>

Marley Lake

I’ve loved clothing since I was a young kid. I was the kid who disliked getting his clothes dirty and always took pride in his style. However, the years of going shopping with my mom and frequenting art museums with my family spurred my love for art and design. Read more>>

Roman Cabaong

I discovered my passion for acting at the young age of six playing in Bye Bye Birdie as a sweet apple townsperson with Center Stage Productions: Read more>>

Missy Rogers

Prior to my life as a creative business owner, I considered myself the least craftiest person alive. Like a lot of people, I spent my waking hours working like a zombie with empty purpose just to survive. Read more>>

Nia Lee

Drawing Blue from Blues Clues was one of my earliest memories. I think I was one of those few kids that knew I wanted to be an artist pretty early on, probably around four-five years old. Read more>>

Mehwish Mahmood

Firstly, I never knew I’d become a makeup artist or even think about going down this path. What I did know was that I always wanted to become an entrepreneur, or have something of my own that represents me. Read more>>

Dee Lightfull

About 12 years ago, I went to a local burlesque show to see the troupe Whiskey Tango Sideshow. I was entranced! I was absolutely gobsmacked at the sexiness, boldness, humor, and fun. Read more>>

Amy Kaplan

For as long as I can remember I’ve created stories, pictures, and sculptures. I was hooked when I won a prize for illustrating a story in first grade. Read more>>

John Tucker

The moment I knew I wanted to chase my photography journey is when I was 20 years old I fell in love with ART and I couldn’t see myself doing anything other than that. Read more>>

Reina Hondo

My first time encountering music was at five years old which started my musical journey at a young age. I listened to tons of classical music around my childhood which developed my love for classical music. Read more>>

Jennifer Ryan Kelly

I discovered my passion for an artistic career during my final year of secondary school. While I struggled to find interest in most subjects, my imagination was relentless. Read more>>

Sarah dela Cruz

Behind the scenes. That is when I realized I enjoyed creating – when I discovered what entailed being “Behind the Scenes” was. I was in grade school, 1st grade to be exact. Read more>>

David Becker

I made the conscience decision to pursue a career as a touring and recording artist when I was 16. Having grown up in a musical family, the path to becoming an artist actually chose me. Read more>>

Able Six

On January 3, 2020, as the sun began to rise over the rugged peaks of Denver, I was running up a mountain, feeling invincible. The crisp air filled my lungs, and my legs moved with a rhythm that had become second nature. Read more>>

Waves the Rapper

Music has always been a HUGE part of my life. From hard rock to metal. From 80’s pop to oldschool country music. From HipHop to Irish Drinking Tunes. I left no stone unturned, so to speak. Read more>>

Jessica Kroes Cooper

Growing up, I was always drawn to anything creative. From the moment I could hold a pencil, I was immersed in drawing and painting. As a child, I was introverted and self-conscious, but creating art provided me with an escape and a source of self-assurance. Read more>>

Lauren Reaves

I think I knew the second I started drawing on everything during my classes. No notebooks or printer paper were safe. By the time I hot 9th grade I was certain what ever field I entered It would be creative, and by senior year I settled on the Illustrative comic arts path. Read more>>