We asked some insanely talented artists, creatives and makers to tell us about when they know they were going to pursue a creative career.
Rebekah Yang
Coming from a medical and scientific family, I was the first one to go towards a creative profession. When I was three years old, my grandparents gave me a copy of “The Sound of Music” for my birthday. It was on two VHS tapes. I instantly fell in love with the film. The music, the costumes, the dancing, the scenery, everything about it. Once I learned what acting was, I knew wanted to play Maria Von Trapp one day. As I got older, I kept falling in love with performing. Any school play I could be apart of, I was there. I always loved theatre. When I got to high school, I stepped back from performing. I let others tell me who and what I should be. When I began college, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something. Eventually, I decided to take an acting class. 1 lessons and I was hooked again. As I sat there analyzing the character, working with my coach, I knew I had to pursue this. I then left college, and began my acting career, starting with weekly classes. Read more>>
Ian Forster
As a child, I created stories with my friends. We drew comics, and I felt immense joy when the product was completed. “The Adventures of Ketchup Man, and Mustard Boy,” a work of genius, everyone check it out! People never seemed to be as excited as me, but I had unwavering belief in myself and what I created. Pretty soon, I was forced to take piano lessons. Those were somewhat interesting to me, and I enjoyed going to the lesson, but hated practicing. It was much too rigid. Little dots that told me what to play, and felt more like math than freedom. Sit here, hold your hands like this, and read these notes. I was never interested in reading, I had already memorized the melody anyway, why learn to read! I relied solely on my ear, and was usually able to fake reading the notes on the piano. My mother, embarrassed that she was paying someone to teach a child that wouldn’t practice, would put lots of pressure on me, which completely took the joy out of it. I’m glad she fought me as long as she did, that structure and what little I learned about reading has benefited me immensely. The discipline, the technique, and the musical understanding was all born from the structure, which are now all the tools I use to be creative. The order gave boundaries for my creativity to blossom, and without that I wouldn’t create anything, even if my my more basic instincts were to chaotically break all the rules in search of new ideas. Alas, it was a struggle which I eventually won, and she stopped paying. Read more>>
Quentin Mccullough
I realized that I wanted to pursue an artistic path toward the end of high school. I would look around and see beautiful things every day. I wanted to be able to capture these moments so I decided to take a photography class. My teacher asked to add one of my photos to the county art show. This class planted a seed of creativity that I never expected. When I saw my photo with all these other amazing works it felt beyond gratifying and I needed to feel that feeling. I Started doing photography for my schools yearbook doing portrait headshots for teachers and senior superlative photoshoots. That same year I got a job as a portrait photographer at JCPenney portraits enhancing my eye for composition and posing. I got accepted into Savannah College of Art and Design in 2022 with no idea what art field was right for me but I knew I was meant to make art. Growing up I developed a love of buying and collecting jewelry. Once I got to SCAD I asked myself “why I keep buying jewelry if I could learn to make it?” I then chose to major in jewelry design. Read more>>
Chisato Yanagisawa
I started my training in ballet at the age of 5. My ballet teacher was quite strict, but I never thought of quitting the training. In the same breath, I didn’t think I wanted to be a professional ballet dancer before I was probably 12 or 13. Read more>>
Andreux Micco
I was probably around 10 years old when I started looking at fashion differently and began styling myself with going against fashion standards for young boys in the late 90s. I was allowed to get fashion magazines when I was 12 years old and asked my grandma to buy me certain items that I saw in magazines that young male models were wearing and began piecing items together with what was in my closet already. I remember asking for certain key items (a certain type of jacket a young male model was wearing but pairing it with what I had in my closet.) My grandparents encouraged me to continue on my fashion journey which ultimately led me to the world of fashion when I got to high school. I worked at Abercrombie and Fitch during my senior year and worked there for 5 years. It was at Abercrombie where I understood colors, tones, lighting, styling, optics and aesthetics from a huge brand at the height of their fame. Also, I was a male model so I got to see how on-set stylists use their ‘fashion eye’ and watching them use their talents to create the overall mood of the photo shoot, videos, etc. It was so eye opening to see how their brains worked and seeing their vision come to life gave me such inspiration to continue my fashion career till this day. I work in the beauty industry now through Sephora but I still have a burning passion for men’s styling. Read more>>
Reyna Rios-starr
I suppose, I’m like every other person that goes into acting “it all started when I was a child…” you know, that bit. I have enjoyed performing in front of others ever since I can remember, from doing plays and singing in a choir at a creative arts elementary school to high school acting electives, I focused on trying to stay involved in some creative part of Acting, it fed a part of me that brought me joy. But it wasn’t until my early 20’s after a slight life detour that it sought acting once again and I haven’t looked back. I am now a decade into this career and I honestly don’t know who I would be without it. It’s the one thing that continues to bring me joy, I feel fulfilled. It fulfills me…even when things aren’t going so great, or I get stuck in a rut because of what it demands of you, and sometimes it really demands that you put on your business, admin, marketing hat on, and that can get a little stressful and doesn’t feel all that great…But that’s part of the process of being an actor. During these past ten years establishing myself as an actor, I am now growing a career in film producing and headshot photography and other avenues that tie into the film & tv community. Acting has played such a huge role in how it shapes my life, it’s probably one of the biggest roles I’ve had. I’m very fortunate to do this, however small, medium or big the project is, not a lot of people do what we do or dare pursue it, if you do and you’re reading this…you get it. Read more>>
Brianna Rigdon
I grew up drawing and creating and being the art kid. It was fun and it made me unique amongst my peers, opened up the door to learning how to do some really cool things like flint mapping and sculpture and sewing. My ability to draw and create grew up along side my faith, my parents encouraged me deeply in both. I really enjoy making things, the tactile feeling of laying ink on paper or clay into form always brings a certain sense of fulfillment, like I was doing what I was made to do. Unfortunately, fulfillment doesn’t pay the rent. Read more>>
Antonio Moore
I first knew I wanted to do Art professionally in 2003 at age 20. Me and my friend were looking to make money off of our art talent and heard of airbrushing. We went half on a basic airbrush kit and starting airbrushing shirts for sale. I did this for about 3 years than I switched to acrylic paint on shirts. In 2011 I painted my first portrait on canvas. I continued to paint on shirts until 2014,now I only do canvas,murals and paint parties. Read more>>
Nate Mercury
I think it’s always been around me as far as I could remember. My mom would sing at local gigs when I was super young so I always remember having a baby sitter at one point while my mom went and did her thing. I think I’m subconsciously on the same tip now. That’s probably where I get it from – my origins, my mama. Read more>>
Zakariya Abdul-qadir
I knew I wanted to be an artist when I was about 10 years old. I had a friend in the sixth grade who would draw X-men characters really well. We were both the same age but my renderings of figures was still anatomically symbolic. I was obsessed with the show. He was able to draw the characters with extreme detail. I knew then I wanted to be a comic book artist. A lot has changed since then, but what has stayed consistent is the drive to challenge myself in the studio all the time. Read more>>
Brandon Bruffett
I had done music event production & promotion for organizing edm & hip-hop shows for years. I was used to being behind the scenes, but i left the music up to others. In my late 30’s, i was going through a pretty dark time with depression. I had always been a huge fan of comedy, but it got to the point where I couldn’t watch a comedy special without crying. Id start one & the announcer would say “ladies & gentlemen, please welcome to the stage..” & od just lose it. I couldnt figure out what the problem was so i just attributed it to the depression. One day I was listening to Jordan Peterson & he said “when you come across something that makes you well up, that’s the thing you have to walk through.” A few days after that, the girl I was dating told me she wanted to take a position in Chicago, that she wanted me to come with her & that there was this place there called The Second City. She knew nothing of the history of Second City, but my dad brought me up on SCTV so I took it as a sign. I signed up for a couple of classed at the Second City Training Center & took off to Chicago. She & I parted ways, buy I’m still in love with comedy. Best decision I ever made! Read more>>
Alba Feinaj
I have always been drawn to art and as a kid I intuitively looked for ways to express my creativity, whether that was through painting, crafting, writing, acting or anything else I had access to. However, I didn’t seriously considered pursuing a creative career until it felt like the only option. I come from immigrant parents who didn’t have the luxury to pursue their dreams and who didn’t support my creative career dreams out of fear. In hopes of making my parents proud, I decided to study Business Administration. After a year of working in a corporate environment it became clear to me that if I continued on that path I would be extremely unhappy. That gave me the courage to finally go after the life I’ve always wanted. That of an artist. Read more>>
Traishaun Johnson
I remember listening to Mary J Blige, Boyz II Men, Joe Thomas, and Dru Hill in the 90s as a kid. At three years old the first song I recall singing was Mary’s rendition of “I’m Goin’ Down” originally by Rolls Royce. It was then my parents knew I could sing. I also later got into songwriting at the age of eleven when I discovered Shaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith as well as the many penned records by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. These two and several other artists/songwriters inspired me to embark on this journey. Read more>>
Nico Rockss
My name is Nicolas Calero AKA Nico Rocks. Born and raised in New York City , I inherited love for dance and music from my parents. My Dad is from a small town in Puerto Rico, called Aguadilla. Every Holiday we would take a trip to Puerto Rico, where the whole family would come together to celebrate with live music and fierce dancing. I especially enjoyed those crazy parrangas. That’s where I got my love for drums and Caribbean rhythms. Another big source of inspiration for me growing up was Michael Jackson. I discovered his music and dancing when I was around 6 years old . I performed his songs for my family any chance I would get. I guess that’s when my parents realized that being a performer is my path. Read more>>
Melissa Bean
When I was a little girl, I always wrote Artist or Teacher in my “School Days” binder on the lines “What do you want to be when you grow up?” … and I have done both all throughout my career. In college, I changed my major to art my junior year after watching an episode of Thirty Something, a show about designers in an ad agency. I was hooked to that idea, so I got my Fine Art BA in graphic design/photography and minored in Communication Arts. Ever since, I have been an art director, photographer and business owner, taught on the college level, created art pieces for galleries, sold my work in art booths and now I am also teaching art to young kids. Read more>>
Ludwig Izaguirre
The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative and artistic path professionally was during my adolescence. Music has always been an integral part of my life, largely because my father is a musician. Growing up in a household filled with music, it was almost as if it was in my blood. I vividly remember watching my father pour his heart and soul into his performances, and his passion for music deeply resonated with me. Seeing him work tirelessly, dedicating countless hours to his craft, made me admire him immensely. I wanted to be like him—someone who not only creates but also inspires others through music. Read more>>
Rip Passy
I was sitting in my car one night, just thinking about life and listening to music. I was also watching live performance videos of guys like Kendrick Lamar and NF. I thought to myself, “Wow — these guys have an amazing message in their music and they have all those people listening and relating to it.” I admired their audacity to stand on stage and lay it all out there for their loyal fans who needed to hear their message. At that point, I called my mom and started venting about how I wanted to be somebody and how I love hip hop music and thought I could do it personally. I had a great story to tell, much about social issues, mental health, and relationships. So, I believed that making music about these things could make a positive impact on the world. Read more>>
Seth David Branitz
I have a cassette tape recording from sometimes during my earliest eight years where I can be heard saying, “I’m Seth and when I get older I’m gonna be an artist….an artist and an actor and a musician, like Hal Linden!”. He was the star of 70’s tv show Barney Miller and I came to find out he was also quite the dancer and singer. I loved the idea of expressing my multiple gifts and hadn’t yet been confronted with any challenges to these root aspirations. I’d draw, sing, write stories, do skits with my friends, and as soon as I learned a couple of chords on the guitar, I’d write songs one after another. There was no boredom, no self consciousness and time passed without me noticing. Read more>>
Ashley Rego
Photography always been a hobby for me. I never thought I could pursue it professionally up until a few years ago. Perhaps I have always had the desire, I was just not aware I had the drive until recently. The first job I ever had was in a restaurant bussing tables. There was nothing wrong with the job itself and I still have the upmost respect for food service workers. I just recall many moments where I felt like I was not using my creative abilities to my greatest potential and did not feel satisfied in life. My job at the restaurant would then get in the way of these creative endeavors I had, and I was unable to be fully present while working. A little over a year ago, I decided to leave this job to focus on myself and my photography. I am now actively trying to pursue it as a long-term career Read more>>
Bharath Kanneganti
The first moment I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was during a pivotal experience in my childhood. I was always drawn to expressing myself in imaginative ways, but one specific moment stands out. Read more>>
Tabitha Merritt
I graduated with an Accounting degree and Music minor, having participated in many theatrical and choral productions alongside studying business. After working in public accounting for most of a decade, my husband and I moved to the Upper Cumberland. Years later while raising our daughters, we came to Peachtree for art class and fell in love with the mission and heart of what they were about. Fast forward another 10 years, and after serving on the Board (since Peachtree is a 501 (c) 3 Board-administered non-profit), they asked me to step in as Executive Director when the founding Director retired. Since I had gone to college for music as well as business, this was a great fit because I am passionate about beauty and truth in the Arts while also loving business and stewardship. Read more>>
Bok Nero
Growing up in North Philadelphia, music creative expression was my lifeline. It’ hard to believe some people fabricate life stories while I experience mine in real time.
I can share my journey and perspectives with others around the world and, in return, explore their stories too—sign me up!
My music journey began in fourth grade, when I made poems about the violence in my community. Read more>>
Ana Patitú
It all happened when I moved to Barcelona and went through a period of depression due to feeling uprooted.
I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I studied graphic design and worked in the field for over 10 years. At the same time, I took painting classes with various local artists. I painted as a hobby. I was good at it since childhood and really enjoyed the sense of disconnect from the world, that feeling of losing track of time. Read more>>
Megan Cook
From an early age, I have been naturally inclined toward creativity. My journey began at family gatherings when I was just two years old, playfully trying on people’s shoes and immersing myself in my imagination. As I progressed through school and took art courses, my passion for creativity deepened. I was fortunate to have supportive parents who recognized my talents; they gifted me a sewing machine to help me pursue my dreams of becoming a fashion designer and transported me to art lessons, nurturing my aspiration to become the next great Picasso. I also developed a love for make-up and special effects. Read more>>
Ja’cee
Hopefully not to sound too cliche’, but I’ve known since the first time I touched a mic in my home church back in Greenwood, MS that I wanted to use my creative talents professionally. Being on stage and using my God given gifts to uplift others brings me a joy that I’ve yet to find the words for. There’s been quite a unique path that I’ve taken to get where I am now, but here I am. I guess what’s meant to be really is what’s meant to be! Read more>>
Ashley Ephraim
The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally was as a kid watching movies and shows I loved. I remember catching interviews with stars like Jim Carrey and Eddie Murphy and I remember how watching a show or a movie would make me feel and telling myself, “I want to make people feel what I feel”. I was probably 8 or 9 when I realized that the people that created this content made a living from it. Read more>>
Omarray Lee
I remember years ago when I was about 5 or 6 years old I watched disney xd every single day. My favorite show was Lab Rats and you wouldn’t be able to get me away from that screen for hours once that show came on. There was one day I was watching the show and it clicked, “I want to be on this show.” I knew it was the job for me. I didn’t even care about the money I just wanted to be on TV. I wanted to meet the actors I wanted to do all those stunts they did, I wanted to wake up everyday and record an episode. I remember that feeling like it was yesterday. Read more>>
Jennifer Ryan
I first discovered that I wanted to pursue a creative path at the age of 13. A little backstory. My parents were both educators and always felt it was vitally important for children to have an extracurricular activity. They tried me in everything to find something that I was interested in and good at. I tried softball, soccer, cheerleading and gymnastics. I do not have an athletic bone in my body and I was not excited about trying yet another sport. My mom worked with someone who had a child in San Diego Junior Theatre (SDJT) and loved it. I was a shy kid but was willing to try. I started taking classes. I then auditioned for my first musical there called “Here’s Love” and I was cast in the chorus. I loved everything about it. The process of rehearsal, learning choreography and songs, and hanging out with other kids that were creative and different (like me). After the first performance I was absolutely hooked. I went on to do about 12 productions there throughout middle school and high school. I’m not a natural singer, at all, but I was disciplined and took weekly vocal lessons, dance lessons and acting lessons. I knew those were all things I needed to do to be cast in lead roles. And it worked. As my father always said, “hard work, works.” I knew ever since I was 13 that acting is what I wanted to do professionally. Read more>>
Karla Kieffer
I always loved photography; visuals of past lives and familiarizing myself through a limited amount of photos of family members I never got to meet because of illnesses and living in a different country. I remember spending a lot of time looking at photo albums treasuring different memories, reliving a life that felt so long ago ( it feels longer now!)I’m really going to show my age here, but I always loved using disposable cameras, capturing different moments, dropping it off at my local store and eagerly waiting the final results, which usually meant throwing a good amount away. My Junior year of high school, I was given the opportunity to join the photography class and at that moment I knew this was what i wanted to pursue. I never felt passionate about something like I did that very moment, developing my own film, working in dark rooms, and easels while waiting for the final shot to reveal itself in black and white. I spent as much time as possible in the dark room my junior and senior year. It was such a great time.Read more>>
Brandon De’sean
It’s other things I wanted to do and still to this day but I always knew really. It’s just so much things I can do professionally and not have stick to one certain thing. It reminds me of a creative freedom that I feel like everybody deserves to grasp at least once. I love the overall history behind music also, I like studying it like everyday and it doesn’t feel like I have too or I’m being force to do it. Read more>>
Ojo Francis Osas
That was when I handled a mic 🎤 in my mom’s church and it went perfectly
I was kind of shy at the beginning but I gradually got used to it and I’m grateful for that
I’m also someone who admires fame so much and since I was a kid I’ve always dream to be that big celebrity one day and make everyone proud Read more>>
Josh Friedman
As far back as I can remember.
Looking and seeing the world around me has always been a fascination. There is so much beauty in the world, hopefully I can help people see and observe that. Read more>>
Quiana Lewis
The moment I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was deeply tied to my mom’s passing in 2021. Growing up in a house full of creativity, she was the forefront of everything artistic. Whether it was the way she decorated the house, the projects she encouraged us to do, or the music she played, art and creativity were the heartbeat of our home. She nurtured that spirit in me from the start. Read more>>
Major Wednesday
I knew I wanted to be an entertainer for sure when I saw Michael Jackson perform for the first time. I was watching his 30th anniversary special on television. I just remember how excited my mom, and family members were just seeing him. Then watching the master at work I understood the hype. I saw in him what or whom I wanted to be. He was different, and made no apologies for it. He was a man in control, and a true original. The greatest entertainer that ever lived. Read more>>
Sidney Jacobs
The first time I knew, I wanted to pursue a creative and artistic path professionally was in high school.
I sing my first solo for my churches youth choir when I was 11 years old. The response was so positive that I was a bit bit confused at first. But, it was while I was in high school and on my way to football practice one afternoon, that I heard the piano being played in the music room beside the locker rooms. When I walked in running back was playing at the time seemed the most Beautiful music. I was so impressed that I asked him to teach me how to play. He showed me one cord, a C major seven cord, And told me to just let my fingers explore the different notes I can create with that cord. Read more>>
Omari Collier
After high school, I had no intentions of furthering my dance journey. I went off to college and did not train for the entirety of my freshman year. It was not until I attended my college dance program’s spring concert that I realized something had to change. I had let go of something that fueled my soul in more ways than one. Sophomore year rolled around, and I auditioned for the dance company at my university. I was selected to perform in two student-choreographed pieces, but they never got to see the stage due to the pandemic. I moved back to my hometown for four months, but that did not keep me from dancing. I spent lots of hours in my basement, improving to various genres of music and teaching virtual classes. This is when I acknowledged my passion for creating and sharing my artistry with others. As the world began to make its way back to normality, I found myself evolving into the dancer and choreographer that I am today. I would not have ever imagined pursuing an artistic career path, but I am glad that I did. Read more>>
Derrick Whaley
The first time I knew I wanted to pursue photography was when I took a 2 photography courses in college. When I took the second course called Digital photography, that’s where I learned how to do series/projects and I also brought my first camera as well because I had to have a camera to do assignments. That class really open my eyes up and make photography more seriously than I did before because back in high school I learned a little bit of it but didn’t take it seriously. Read more>>