Winning comes in so many different forms that it’s hard to define, but you know it when you see it. The CanvasRebel community is filled with so many incredible folks who have overcome long odds, challenged the status quo and won. Below, you’ll find stories of these winners along with much of the accumulated wisdom on what it takes to succeed.

Jency Hogan

As a young budding actress at 16 I did my first one-woman show. Then I got a degree in Theatre at Louisiana Tech. After that, I moved to Los Angeles to purse my career as a film actress for ten years. I came home when I was 30 and met my photographer/filmmaker dream man-husband and we run our own production company and acting school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I am a creative that loves to embrace huge challenges, and I’ve always wanted to produce one film and one theater show a year. I love acting in other people’s movies and it will always be my first love and I plan to do it til I’m 80. I made a pact with God that if I could play impactful roles like the grandmother in The Boy With the Striped Pajamas when I’m 75 or 80, I would dedicate my life to acting and producing forever. I am a character-actor with a desire to tell great stories of unsung heroes throughout history. I’m always growing and evolving and open to where the grandmaster’s plan takes me next. Read more>>

Karen Jenkins

I’m not a natural risk taker, so starting my own home-based bakery business was unnerving, to say the least. Once my kids became more independent, I was able to visualize what I wanted to do and how to make it work with my full-time job. I started by getting my business license back in 2017, which was simple enough, but when I began researching becoming permitted as a cottage food business in Washington State, the rules were so limiting it didn’t seem like a good fit for me and what I wanted to do. Like so many others, I had extra time in 2020 and when I researched the cottage food industry again, I noticed many of the overly-strict rules had been relaxed and it now seemed possible that this path might work for me. After lots of research, recipe testing, note taking and paperwork, I finally got my cottage food permit later that year. Read more>>

Andrew Rimby

The origin story of my arts and culture business, The Ivory Tower Boiler Room began four years ago when so many of us were desperately craving creative connection during such an isolating period in our recent history, the pandemic. In August 2020, I released my first podcast episode about navigating academia and finishing a PhD in a virtual world. As I was teaching and working on my dissertation, I discovered the exciting world of podcasts. Listening to a variety of podcasts, from political to pop culture to artistic conversations, I felt less lonely and more creatively energized to complete my academic tasks. I remember when an intuitive inner voice spoke to me and said “Andrew, why don’t you start an arts and culture podcast?” I followed this gut instinct and taught myself basic podcast editing and reached out to creative friends of mine who wanted to talk about their creative process and finding community during such a unique time in global history. Because I was listening to five-ten different podcasts every day in 2020, I turned to these podcasters as a case study for how to find your audience, articulate your creative mission, and promote your material. Read more>>

Cloe Galasso’s Story

Sure! My journey into painting began unexpectedly during the COVID-19 pandemic. I found solace and inspiration in art. What started as a way to pass the time soon became a passion I couldn’t ignore. Driven by a newfound creativity, I decided to take a bold step and move to New York City. The city’s vibrant art scene and diverse cultural milieu offered me the perfect environment to refine my skills and pursue my artistic ambitions seriously. Since then, I’ve immersed myself in learning and growth, experimenting with different styles and techniques. Each painting is a journey in itself, reflecting my experiences and emotions during these transformative years. I’ve been fortunate to receive positive feedback and recognition, which has further fueled my determination to carve out a successful career in the art world. Today, I stand committed to pushing the boundaries of my creativity and making meaningful contributions to the art community. My journey so far has been both challenging and rewarding, and I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. Read more>>

Moe Murdock of Moebocop Visuals

A few years back while working various PM jobs in the advertising space (non creative) I was always taking painting and drawing classes and fantasized about living a creative life. Up to and until Covid I kept struggling with this duality of how to sustain myself financially and emotionally and make a change into something that I want to do. Finally one day during the pandemic I decided that I could no longer neglect those creative impulses and I decided to make the leap. I took the next three years after that to get where I am today. Now I have changed careers into the world of 2D/3D motion design and have been making my way there ever since and I don’t regret it. Read more>>

Nica Fazio

Of course! My name is Nica Fazio and I’m 26 years old, at this moment I live in New York. I moved here almost three years ago, from Barcelona, Spain. Both of my parents are Italian and I was born in Sicily and I guess I was inspired by my them. They moved to Spain and started from scratch and after college I decided to do the same and move to New York. Since I was little I wanted to work in film and photography and now I’m working full time as a freelance photographer and as a light technician in films, music videos and commercials. The journey to where I am today has been an adventure in itself. I began as an au pair for two years, which was an amazing experience, even though at times it felt like I was far from the career path I wanted to follow. But I learned so much, and little by little, I found a way to get a work visa. Read more>>

Julianna Hynes Ph.d. of Julianna Hynes & Associates

I started my career at a container terminal at the Port of Oakland. The leaders I worked under were primarily older men who led using a command-and-control style and used fear, intimidation, and humiliation to “motivate.” At the time, besides being Black and female, I was a young single mother, new to corporate America, who did not thrive under that type of leadership. The exposure to that toxic environment inspired me to study leadership and leadership development in graduate school and later in my doctoral program. I was interested in learning how to support leaders in being more effective and impactful people leaders. I also wanted to help women like me develop to their full potential, elevate their careers, and get a seat at the table. As an executive coach, I work one-on-one with leaders in diverse organizations and industries. I help them shift off autopilot into a more deliberate, purposeful mindset. I challenge my clients to test their assumptions, broaden their thinking, be accountable for their actions and decisions, and focus on achieving their goals rather than being distracted by the obstacles they’re invariably going to encounter. This approach enables my clients to be stronger leaders of their teams and in their organizations. I help people to be the leaders I wish I had in that first job. I love what I do! Read more>>

Tom Forker of tf_wrks llc Architecture and Landscape Architecture

After graduating in 2009, it was a challenging time to find a job. I worked for a several landscape architecture firms in the DC Metro region, primarily high-end residential and civic focused projects in the Washington DC, New York and Maryland region. Projects became tough to find and many firms didn’t have enough work to keep their employees busy. Many were working part-time, some were just let go. I began to explore the world of architecture and moved back home to pursue an architecture masters. Jumping back into the student mindset was tough after four years of working, but I adapted quickly. Upon completing my masters I joined another firm to finish my licensure apprentice hours. There, I learned the intricacies and nuance necessary for high-end residential home building; a solid understanding of drawing sets, details, construction methods and graphic presentation along with efficient communication skills for clients, contractors and consultants. These skills were important because the construction window in high altitude locations is very small. Piecing together drawings and specifications that are highly detailed and accurate, make or break the final product. Weather and road conditions affected construction schedules too; particularly when materials were delivered from overseas to a remote location. Read more>>

Marra Avery-drayton

My journey into entrepreneurship began with a decision to leave behind the toxicity of corporate life and undesirable leadership. Taking a leap of faith, I quit my job, launched my LLC, and headed from New York all the way to the West Coast in just 30 days. My background spans advertising, photography, marketing psychology, and graphic design. Years of crafting brand identities for small businesses, combined with my journey to obtain a Bachelor’s in Graphic Communications, revealed a new path for me. I realized I could forge a career in helping passionate businesses thrive while being my own boss. I’m grateful that through it all, I found a career that utilized every skill I had acquired over the years, creating the perfect fit for me. Read more>>

E’moni Tool-lammie’s Story

My mother taught me to cook at a young age but I think I really got into wanting to become a chef when I was hired as a cook at Waffle House in Atlanta. I loved making people smile and putting my all into the food as well as the service I would give to customers. As time went on I just got more and more into wanting to become a chef ; I started making big dinners for my family and friends then catering small events. I started making my own seasoning and sauces in 2019 and my baking business in 2021. I am still very much small but I love what I do. Read more>>

Michelle Cameron

I’ve always wanted to be a writer – but life all too often got in the way. I was about a third of the way through writing a novel when I joined a writing group and was challenged to say why I couldn’t finish my first draft. My response: a full-time job, mother to two young children, and a husband who needed editorial help while earning advanced degrees – had everyone in the group nodding. Everyone, that is, but the facilitator. She had two questions for me. The first – after learning I was a morning person – was “how early can you get up?” The second – which resonated powerfully with me – was “how much do you want it?”  That second question has been a kind of motto for me – encouraging me to wake up every morning at 4:30 am to write, to weather disappointments in publishing and continue to persevere, to leaving the security of a full-time job to take a chance on partnering in a company that offers creative writing to everyone from children through teens and adults. I’m extremely proud of the writers I’ve helped along the way and the fact that I have four – soon to be five – published books to my credit. Read more>>

Cornelius Boeder’s Story

Creatively I started working with music in high school back in Germany. Mostly silly electronic things but enough to motivate me to start teaching myself piano composition and go on to study audio engineering. I was doing some music and sound work on short films when I started jumping in as an actor as well. I always accredit this switch to the simplicity and collaborative aspect of it all but I keep finding that my curiosity gets sparked by almost any creative endeavor. Nowadays I’m bouncing around quite a bit -in terms of medium and also quite literally location. I went to Vancouver, then to New York now back to Frankfurt doing acting, writing, music -anything I can get my hands on. Read more>>

Mardi Miskit

I’ve shifted gears many times in my “career” over the years, but creativity has always been at the core of everything I do. Along the way, I’ve discovered a love for photography, cooking, reiki, and most recently, web design. I think of my mom every time I shift directions. She was a clothing designer, a chef, a painter, and a jewelry designer among quite a few other successful professions and she encouraged me every time I discovered a love for something new that I decided to pursue—for this, I am forever grateful. I always held a full-time job in some area of marketing while I explored these paths. I worked in social media in the wine and liquor industry while I went to culinary school in the evenings and on weekends, and I worked in marketing at a meal kit delivery service while I studied reiki and started a small catering business. My creative endeavors were always side hustles. I dabbled in solely freelancing, but the fear of financial instability would often lead the way and inevitably I would always slip back into full-time gigs. But I never stopped creating on the side. While at my last full-time job, I was designing websites outside of work hours and began building a portfolio of work I was proud of—work that I loved doing. Read more>>

Mode Zhao

Mode Korvidae emerged from my deeply personal journey of overcoming hospitalization, where I faced the loss of language skills and memory. Seeking solace and a platform to share my struggles, I established this candle and home goods company. My journey into candle-making began in 2019, a year after my hospitalization. I had always wanted to express myself through design, and candles became my chosen medium. There’s something uniquely special about watching a flame dance and experiencing the meditative sensation of sitting in front of a candle. During this time, I encountered significant challenges in language processing, communication, and daily functioning. With unwavering support, I persevered, gradually regaining the ability to connect with others and care for myself independently. Read more>>

Adonis Moise of Adonis Fitness LLC

I became a personal trainer because I wanted to change people’s lives like I did mines. I love impacting people’s lives in a healthy positive way. Today I included being an Image Consultant to improve my clients’ physical appearances. Also I’m a Fitness Model for my brand and others brands too. Read more>>

Amanda Lien’s Story

When I was a college student earning my undergraduate degree in journalism, I knew two things: I wanted to ensure I was a marketable as possible in an incredibly competitive post-grad job market, and that I wanted to use my skills and talents to support my community as they supported me. So I began offering marketing content writing services to local businesses in and around Philadelphia, crafting web copy, social media captions and blog posts for brands in the beauty, lifestyle, sports, and health spaces. At the same time, I also took to Upwork and Fiverr to offer similar services, exposing me to a variety of clients all over the world – ranging from SMBs to Fortune 500 companies. Read more>>

Bryan York’s Story

I used to draw when I was in jr. high and high school. In my junior year in high school, I ended up taking a very basic film photography class. It was then that my love for photography began to bloom. I started loving it more than drawing and would soon discover I had an eye for it. I enrolled in a few community college photography classes and started learning more. Slowly I developed my interest in taking pictures of people by working with people within my community. Fast forward to 2015 when I moved to Colorado. I had been in my new home for just a month and I ended up hospitalized to learn I had suffered from a stroke at the young age of 27. I immediately thought I had lost my ability to do photography. Through a friend’s encouragement, I figured out how to adapt and do photography again. It soon became therapeutic since it turned my attention away from my limitations to something that felt normal. It was exhilarating to be able to do what I was sure I had lost! Read more>>

Brandi O. of Brandi O. Life Coaching

I discovered my purpose when I was a patient in a rehab/nursing facility. Once I realized what I was meant to do, I went all in and never looked back. When you’re living and working in your purpose, there’s no need to glance in the rearview mirror. Read more>>

Sarah Tudor’s Story

Like many artists, I was a curious and sensitive child. I was always outside, finding crystals, collecting moss and acorns and making enchanted worlds for myself. I often drew and journaled in my teen years. I wasn’t exactly your typical American teenager. I read classics, watched old movies and traveled to France. I cut my hair like Audrey Hepburn in the movie Sabrina. I immersed myself in poetry and literature. When I chose my college, I went to Bennington in Vermont for undergrad to study with nature poet Mary Oliver. I also wanted to be in the place known for inspiring my other two muses; Martha Graham and Helen Frankenthaler. When I left school, my art was really choked out by my other pursuits like building what I considered to be a more respectable career. At the same time, I carried tremendous regret about not using my talents. At the core, I was deeply afraid of the vulnerability and failure connected with being an artist. Read more>>

Gideon Kimmel

Sure. From a very early age I was the designated listener of my friend group, I always found their stories fascinating and I enjoyed offering my perspective, it was how I felt useful, in fact, before voice over my original plan was to become a psychologist. It’s what I was good at, and I enjoyed it, so it seemed like the natural next step. But somewhere along the way something shifted, not just because I’d secured my first “real” job in working for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, but also because COVID hit, and I felt like I could focus on what I wanted for the first time. It was here that I began the transition from listening to speaking. Read more>>

Slesha Patel

I started out as a dancer with Seva Dance in Kansas. We competed nationally and performed all over Kansas City at various events. I came off stage at a charity show we performed at, and an agent handed me a packet with a contract in it, and she said, “I really hope you’ll consider this path.” And if it wasn’t for her, I honestly probably would not have considered this path. Moments later, as I walked out into the lobby, there was a photographer waiting there, and he asked if he could pull me into a few projects he had coming up. That photographer ended up helping me build my initial portfolio and introduced me to the agency that I signed with first when I was in high school. Read more>>

Micah Knapp

I began making movies at the young age of 8, inspired by an obsession with Steven Spielberg and Jurassic Park. This passion only grew stronger over time. I started creating home movies with my family and friends, continuously learning and experimenting with the craft. In 2012, I founded a company with my brother, which eventually paved the way for my freelance career in the Seattle film scene by 2015, working as an independent filmmaker. There, I gained experience on larger sets, learned industry etiquette, and refined my skills as a Director and Producer. As my network expanded, new opportunities emerged, allowing me to work on short films, documentaries, narrative features, music videos, and commercials. Now, I am working with Itchy Rodent Films, producing multiple feature films (narrative and documentary). Read more>>

Dana Carmel of Dana Carmel Group

From Hobbyist to Real Estate Success: The Journey of Dana Carmel In the bustling world of real estate, success stories often emerge from unexpected beginnings. Meet Dana Carmel, a dynamic entrepreneur whose passion for real estate transformed a casual hobby into a thriving business. For years, Dana’s fascination with real estate was merely a hobby, a pastime that saw her meticulously studying every house for sale in her local area. Friends and peers recognized her keen eye for properties and urged her to turn her passion into a profession. It wasn’t until 2019, after completing the renovation of her own home, that Dana decided to take the plunge. Armed with determination and a newly acquired real estate license, she officially launched the Dana Carmel Group in March 2020 – just as the world was engulfed by the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more>>

Alnev’s Story

I’ve always been a writer. As a kid, I would often write short stories and poetry, and loved Language Arts classes. When I was 15, I started writing songs; I had a lot to express and writing has always been such an important outlet for me. I’ve been releasing music since 2019 and it’s been an incredible journey, with lots of ups and downs. My fifteen-year-old self never would have imagined I’d be where I am today, making music I love and pursuing it as a career. When I was 18, I moved to New York and started working on my debut EP “Vincent”, which was just released two months ago. It took forever to make and I’m so grateful it’s finally out in the world. Read more>>

Jane Goodrich of Picsello

In 2010 I founded my own photography studio and my business grew steadily. However, I soon realized that many photographers struggled with the business side of their craft. This insight sparked a new mission: to help other photographers achieve success. Today, I remain passionate about helping photographers grow their businesses. As a dedicated mentor, I teach professional photographers how to launch and scale their businesses, helping them hone both their artistic and business skills in a highly competitive industry. I offer business mentorship and coaching, guiding photographers on all aspects of their business, including pricing for profit, marketing, and systems. My goal is to help photographers build profitable photography businesses. Read more>>

Julie Davitz of Plus Media Solutions

I’ve had decades of work experience in the impact space – nonprofit and for profit. Regardless of where I happened to be – in a remote village in India, sitting under a Boabab in Africa, on a sidewalk in Bangkok – I saw everyone consuming content. Much of the film & video available is inspiring, educational and motivational. And…then what happens? The film ends. We all go on with our busy lives. So I thought – wait a second! Because of the lack of clear ways to take action, we are leaving millions of interested, inspired, motivated viewers behind. And, most content producers expect viewers to take action. But viewers don’t. If they did, we’d be living in a very different world today. Without easy, relevant, contextual information given at the moment of inspiration, we lose critical human and monetary capital. On top of that loss, I saw that film impact is measured in likes, shares and impressions. These are definitely not moving the needle on positive social change! Read more>>

Linda Bloom

In 1968, I met my husband when we were both in our early 20’s. We realized right away that we had a strong connection and a lot in common, as we both wanted to dedicate our lives to being in service. We finished our undergraduate degrees and both went to graduate school in Boston to become psychiatric social workers. After having our three kids, we moved to the west coast for my husband to work for a personal growth seminar company. While he was working for that company, we wrote our first course and taught it through them. The course was called Partners In Commitment. It was the first of several courses we designed and delivered after we started our own company, Bloomwork. Some of the courses that we have designed and delivered are Secrets of Great Relationships, Love S*x and intimacy, Waking Up, Man to Man, The Empowered Woman, Thriving, Stronger at the Broken Places, The Art of Joyful Living and The Hidden Gifts of the Shadow. We are regular teachers at Esalen Institute in Big Sur California and Kripalu Yoga Center in Lennox, Massachusetts. Read more>>

Rudy Y

My start in Fashion truly began after moving to New York in the early 90’s. I mad the decision to move to the big apple to continue my education for Broadcast Journalism. In order to survive,I naturally had to find work. I was recruited to work at a boutique Patricia Field. During my time at the store, my boss would start styling the television show Sex in The City. She would ask me my opinions on looks/pieces, which in turn, boosted my confidence as well as opened my eyes to a field I knew very little about. Fast forward to present day, I continue to recognize her as the primary figure who inspired me to take the path of fashion as a career. Read more>>

Mel Beach

Both of my grandmothers introduced me to the needle arts as a young child. I especially enjoyed needlepoint and plastic canvas. Through my 4-H participation, I entered several pieces into my county fair and earned several blue ribbons. Fast forward to graduate school and a growing stack of t-shirts that inspired me to create my first quilt: A T-Shirt quilt. My mother gave me a crash course using her Kenmore sewing machine. I learned so much from the many mistakes made while making that first quilt—but the biggest takeaway was how much I loved making quilts! Once I finished it, I went out the very next day to purchase quilting fabric and started to plan my next quilt with many more to follow! For years, I made many traditional quilts for family and friends while honing my technique and building my fabric stash. While mostly self-taught through reading books and watching quilting programs on tv, my quilting skills greatly accelerated once I joined a quilt guild here in California and started taking workshops through the guild and local quilt shops.  Read more>>

Gabriel Mayers

While I can’t exactly pinpoint when I started picking up drawing, I do remember when I started excessively drawing on the family computer using default software such as MS Paint and Windows Movie Maker to generate wild ideas that I’ve conjured in my mind, influenced by the media I was consuming growing up in the early 2000s. As evident in my work, I draw a lot of inspiration primarily from the video games I’ve played growing up such as Sonic, Mario, Sly, Ratchet and Clank, Spyro, the OG platformer icons! Additionally, many have cited my work as “Looney Tunes” esque, and in a way, I suppose I have also drawn inspiration from that as well. I am a huge Looney Tunes fan after all! Read more>>

Veronica Gonzalez

How I started from my journey, is from the true beginnings of a young girl who saw a calling in my life. Music was something that had been apart of my life. Since then, I had build my name as an artist from doing shows, events, showcases, and other events. As of making over 7 albums and more projects to come. Read more>>

Hazelwood’s Story

I studied journalism in college, but it wasn’t my first choice. I never really had a specific career title or profession in mind growing up, other than the thought that I wanted to do something creative that would allow me to have fun and be “rich.” I wanted to live in a high-rise Manhattan building, wear designer suits, just like I saw as a child visiting family in New York City. As I got older and began looking at my options for a college major, I thought I should choose business management or something finance-related to focus more on the “rich” part of that dream. Read more>>

Valeria Aceves’s Story

For me, it all started when I played the witch of the west in The Wizard Of Oz in a school production. I was 7, and I already knew I wanted to be an actress. Fast forward to a teenager Valeria, who was about to finish high-school, and was building a presentation to show her mom how acting school was the best option, and the only option. I studied acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse, and since then I have been making my way in the concrete jungle. Since my graduation I’ve done musicals, straight plays, films. I’ve played 5 year olds, 27 year olds, Girl Scouts. I’ve been the villain, the hero, the rebel. I’ve danced, sang, and cried my eyes out. I’ve gotten frustrated, impatient, hopeless. I keep coming back to loving it. Read more>>

Dev11n

Hey! Thank you for this opportunity to reconnect. For those who don’t know me, I’m dev11n, a singer, songwriter, and Hip Hop lyricist born and raised in Buffalo, NY. My music blends smooth, 90s RnB-influenced melodies with thought-provoking lyrics, reflecting life as I’ve come to see it. Creating music has always been a part of who I am, and I love using it to inspire and empower others. So far, I’ve released three EPs—#The11thHour, #One, and Duality—and I’ve been fortunate to share my music on both national and international stages. In addition to being an artist, I’m a passionate teaching artist, sharing my love for music and the arts with the next generation of creatives. Mentoring independent artists and emerging entrepreneurs through my company, Muziqly Devine Entertainment, is a way for me to give back. I curate events, provide guidance, and help others bring their creative visions to life. In 2017, I founded Queen City Live, a live art exhibition series that celebrates creative women across all forms of art, from visual and performance to film. Read more>>

Arthur Woo

Growing up in a working class environment – family, peers, friends, etc. led me to thinking practically about the financial situation I was in. Although I had an interest in illustrating and music at an early age, I didn’t have a mentor or role model who would guide me on this particular path. When it came time to select a career, I went with the suggested advice of picking something that would be financially stable, and do hobbies of music, art, etc. on the side. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me. The practical side of thinking about finances, income, etc. shaped my thought processes and is what I actually credit to helping me start to working full-time as a cinematographer and director. I had purchased a camera as a hobby, posting small videos on Vimeo, Facebook, etc., and eventually my friends and colleagues who owned small businesses wanted me to start shooting little promos for them. They wanted to pay me too, which shocked me – who knew I could get paid and have fun? Read more>>

Brenda Flores of Two Moons Studio

Brenda Flores is the founder of Two Moons Studio, a holistic wellness studio located in the DC metropolitan area. She is a dedicated Spinal Energetics practitioner, Reiki practitioner, and advocate for self-love. Through her practice, Brenda helps individuals dive deep into their nervous system regulation journey, facilitating the reconnection of mind and body. She guides her clients to look inward, rediscover their innate wisdom, and harness their natural ability to heal. Brenda works with individuals experiencing chronic physical pain, those feeling disconnected from themselves, and those seeking transformative shifts in their lives to unlock their truest potential. She also focuses on high-achieving individuals facing burnout, helping them break through barriers, reconnect with themselves, and rediscover their purpose. Read more>>

Frank Frances

I was around the age of 14 when my mom’s friend Anita gave me her old Minolta camera, and I could not put it down. I was fortunate enough that my art teacher, Mr. Watkins, told me about a new boarding school called the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities that was accepting applications for the last two years of high school. For about 2-3 months Mr. Watkins stayed after school a few days a week to teach me how to make an art portfolio. At the time, I didn’t realize but he was helping me create a passion for making art. I was accepted to the Governor’s School which was the place that absolutely set my soul of fire with photography and art making. The Governor’s School was as if Juilliard and Black Mountain College had a baby and gave students freedom to explore any avenue to think creatively. Being surrounded by amazing students and teachers that had so many interests I was never exposed to like acting, music, and performing art made the possibilities feel endless. Read more>>

Kadeem Phillip’s Story

Art has been apart of my life from a very young age. My mom was pretty much my first art teacher, then it was my uncle. It was always seen as a way to express myself. It was an outlet for me to express things I couldn’t convey at a young age. For some time, probably between 14-21, I had stopped creating & drawing. What drew me back to doing art was how bad my mental health had gotten at a certain point. Once I started creating, it brought me so much peace that it became something I wanted to make my full time career Read more>>

Baris Yesilbas

I never initially considered becoming a tattoo artist. It didn’t seem like a conventional career path, especially after my parents invested heavily in my education. Plus, tattooing wasn’t as mainstream back then as it is now. I always thought I wanted to become an architect, but to be honest, I never really planned that far ahead. I preferred to take life one step at a time and make the most of each moment. Things took an unexpected turn when I traveled to Istanbul for a game and decided to get a tattoo. What was supposed to be a three-hour session turned into something more significant, as my tattoo artist and I became close friends. A few years later, he would become my mentor. It felt like fate, especially considering that my original plan was to stay with my cousin that night. However, she forgot about my visit and went to a festival two hours outside the city. With nowhere else to stay, my tattoo artist offered me a place at the studio for the night, a gesture I will never forget. Read more>>

Sarah Cogan

My journey as a Film Designer and Film Design Educator began when I was in elementary school. I started being curious about performative storytelling, taking acting and singing lessons, training in mixed martial arts and horseback riding (among other things) to be able to do my own stunts. That all changed when I was at UC Santa Barbara, where I fell in love with costume and lighting design. I loved how as a designer, I get to be a part of every character’s journey. That was it; From the age of 19, designing and telling stories through design has been my main squeeze. After achieving my master’s in costume and lighting design, I moved to New York, where I’m still based, to pursue my career. Read more>>

Eloise Hooper

My mother was a trained opera singer who married a man who wouldn’t let her sing. For her it was very important that her children have an appreciation of the arts. The fates were kind and my brothers and I were all born with the aptitude to be artist and the desire for what our mother had to give. We fed one another’s needs and our mother raised us to sing, to dance, to draw and write. To have a sense of wonder about the world and be creative people. I went to Pratt Institute studying fashion illustration and design and worked as an illustrator and then book illustrator for a few years. For me, being an artist is more of a journey rather than a destination and each room I enter has doors to other rooms of creating. In my thirties I wanted to make the move from commercial art and began working in clay moving into fine art..  Read more>>

Xuan(kristy) Huang

My name is Kristy Huang, and I am currently working as an FX artist in the film industry. I have had the privilege of working on several award-winning shows such as The Changeling, The Diplomat, and American Horror Story. I grew up in Guangzhou, China, where I developed an early interest in the arts and media. During middle and high school, I worked as a content creator for the student union, solidifying my desire to pursue a career in a media-related field. My first job was at Guangdong Television Station as an animator and broadcasting motion graphic designer. There, I gained extensive experience in TV production workflows. After two years, I decided to return to school to refine my skills and focus on visual effects. Read more>>

Elisabeth “beth” Kramer

I began planning weddings in 2016 after two friends asked me to be their “day-of wedding coordinator.” I had no idea what that was (I was a magazine editor at the time) but they were friends getting married. Of course I’d help! During their reception, two of the wedding vendors came up to me and asked for my business card. “You’re really good at this. We’d like to refer you,” they said. I was like, “Um, what?! I’m not a wedding planner.” It took a few months but eventually I connected the dots that people had told me I was good at something that other people would pay me for, and it was a time in my life where the extra income was particularly helpful. So, I decided to try. I count the first day of my business as the day I published my Squarespace website: December 11, 2016. Read more>>

Shelly Shell Williams

I love this question because it actually took me back down memory lane. When I think of how I got to where I am today, I would have to say God played a pivotal role. As a child growing up plus-sized, I often found myself saying “no” to things I longed to do out of fear of being teased. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be considered a “legend” in Philadelphia, but God had other plans. My mom had a clear path for me: go to school and get a job—a safe path. However, destiny led me to 3900 Main Street in Manayunk at WGTW TV 48. This happened by chance, traveling with my sister, Monica, and through my friendship with Ed Brunson, founder of Urban X-pressions and son of Dorothy E. Brunson, the first African American woman in the nation to own a TV station. Read more>>

Yossi Assouline of The Gavi Team

My name is Yossi Assouline, and my journey has been anything but conventional. Coming from a tough background, I faced significant challenges after high school, including a period of drug rehabilitation. My path was marked by struggle and adversity, as I navigated a world without the support of a typical education. These experiences, though difficult, instilled in me a resilience and determination that would later become the driving forces behind my entrepreneurial spirit. Despite these obstacles, I never gave up hope. I knew that I wanted to create something meaningful, something that would allow me to build on my strengths and create a positive impact. With this vision in mind, I founded The Gavi Team in 2021. Read more>>

Teresa Bergen

My parents were in the position where my mom could stay home and raise their three daughters while my dad’s work supported the household. Before having kids, Mom had been a first grade teacher. Her favorite thing about first grade was teaching her students to read. So we spent endless time reading together, and also writing and illustrating homemade books. No wonder I always saw myself as a writer and an artist! As I grew up, I continued to write and paint. I got a BA in journalism and an MFA in fiction writing. I’ve explored many different types of writing but for the last 12 or so years I’ve mostly focused on travel. I write for print and online publications and have published a few books. Within travel, I write about outdoors, eco and sober travel. This last is a niche I’ve been working on as part of my campaign to normalize sobriety in an alcohol-obsessed world. I had the good fortune of getting out from under addiction problems early in life and want to encourage others to do the same, and to know that there’s a wonderful full life available without using drugs and alcohol. Last year, Microcosm Press put out my Sober Travel Handbook as a zine. They’ve decided there’s enough interest for a full-length book slated to come out in fall of 2025. I’m illustrating the book with drawings of my alter ego, Sober Cat: a hairless, nonbinary Sphynx cat who overcame a rough life in the alleys and now travels the world sober. Read more>>

Hadiatou Wann

Like many immigrants, I had to start from scratch when I migrated to the West. Although I took ESL (English as a Second Language) classes when I moved to the United States, I was made fun of in school for not being fluent in English. In the beginning, when people made fun of my English, I responded and ridiculed them in French because I was more fluent in French. They didn’t understand a word I said in French, but it gave me a peace of mind that I stood up for myself. Some days, I had to explain to classmates that back in Africa, I didn’t live on trees. Despite all the embarrassment I endured, particularly in middle school, I still showed up to class and completed my studies. Alhamdulillah (all praise is due to God). Read more>>

 

Allison Conway

I am is a Brooklyn based artist who grew up next to a swamp in Wisconsin where I would stare at tiny organisms in the murky waters for hours. Three times I was able to save a painted turtle nest that didn’t hatch at the end of the year. On hot summers the mosquitoes could be so bad that the backyard sounded like a spaceship from the hum. My illustrations are inspired by swamps and delve into worlds hidden within worlds like wildlife concealed in the grass or microorganisms that are impossible to see. My detailed illustrative style explores the serious and fanciful often combining elements of humor and horror to convey my message. I graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration in 2016. I have worked with clients like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Merry Jane, Believe LIMITED, F(r)iction Magazine, The Arkansas International Magazine, Last Podcast on the Left, The Process Podcast, Bone Sound Inc, Yale University, and for over two years I published a comic strip in Vice about a pillbug named Millie. My first graphic novel, The Lab, was published by Top Shelf Productions in March of 2020. My second published work is The Island, published by Fieldmouse Press in September of 2023, and my third and latest published work is A Pillbug Story. A Pillbug Story features the character, Millie from my Vice comics and is published with Black Panel Press and just released in June of this year. Read more>>