We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Austin Heath | Music Producer

I decided to pursue an artistic career because I feet like that’s what my purpose is. It felt like that’s my only way to success. I don’t feel right when I work for corporate companies, I don’t see myself working a 9-5 if it isn’t making music at home or the studio. Read more>>

Leslie Saenz | Artist

It has always been my purpose. It wasn’t until more recently that I found the vigor to fulfill my dream. Any other work avenues I attempted to take always lead me back to creativity. I live by the saying “Carpe Diem” for a reason. After some brushes with death it was time to pursue what was always true in my heart. Read more>>

Juston White | Photographer, Producer, & Brand Owner

I’ve always been a creative. Growing up I knew I didn’t want to work a regular job. My parents used to come home everyday exhausted, they both hated their jobs. I knew then that a regular lifestyle wasn’t for me. I tried sports up until 10th grade, but it ended up not working out for me. When the pandemic started, I started getting into producing and making beats. Everyday I was watching Southside, TM88, and Metro Boomin interviews. Read more>>

Antonio Simon | Pastry Chef/Baker

Before I started my business I would cook out of necessity and general interest in trying to make new foods at home. Baking was a hobby that was reserved for sharing with family and friends, all of whom would really enjoy what I had to share with them. It was that way ever since about 2018 before I graduated from Georgia Southern University. A few years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the infectious disease was literally in the air but what was figuratively in the air was the spirit of entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Villarreal Band | Rock n’ Roll Band

All of the words below are direct transcriptions of the band members of Villarreal. Luke: Funny story actually, I was sitting there minding my own business, and Heidi was plotting to start a cover band. She gets a guitarist and drummer, but the bass player they found has to quit. Kiira goes “How about Luke, Luke would you like to play bass?” I said, “Sure why not!” I had never picked up an instrument before, other than a piano, which is ironic cause you can’t ‘pick up’ a piano. Read more>>

A-Zal | Singer

For me, it was all about realizing that you will get just one life to make just one career. So, its best to make a career in something that you love. It was always clear to me that I want to make a successful career, and not a resume. And, I also knew the thing I do the best is music, not only singing, but every aspect of it whether it is songwriting, production, lyrics, mixing. I loved every aspect of it and mastered every skill to make sure I have a successful career. Now when I look back, it was the best decision I ever took. Read more>>

Dewayne Chestnut | Artist & Aspiring Entreprenuer

I became a makeup artist not for the notoriety but to learn more about who I was as a person. The decision was bigger than money, and more valuable than any job I could have obtained. The decision was a liberating one and bestowed upon me the confidence I never knew I possessed. I was in control of my destiny. I called the shots, created the rules, and went forth with a certain type of hunger that led me to beautiful places amongst beautiful people. Read more>>

Hannah Patterson | Independent Filmmaker and musician

The world moved too fast for me growing up. I found the way people explained things to me didn’t resonate- like I was always coming into a conversation halfway finished. I thought deeply and felt things deeply but there was hardly time to parse through the tangled mess; my limited vocabulary and lack of bodily awareness made it hard to share what was on my mind or what to call these Big Feelings I couldn’t seem to shake. Read more>>

Floyd Grant | R&B/Pop Multi Music Awarded Vocalist

Growing up in church and seeing how God moved through me. I knew that I had a bigger calling and decided to use my gift as an R&B recording artist. It was filled with Passion and Drive to make people aware of my gift. Read more>>

Katy Weaver | Recipe & Content Creator

I have always had a passion for cooking and in the early years would always photograph my food (poorly to say the least). I was mostly motivated by my friends and family who always requested recipes I made and would share images on social media. When I finally took the jump (it took me so long for fear of judgement of others or failure – not cool!) I had no idea what I was getting into, it was solely for the purpose of having a place to house and share realistic recipes for people who are busy but appreciate delicious meals. Read more>>

Natsuko Darrell | Artist

I’ve always been a creative and an artistic person since I was a child. It has been a great way for me to free my mind and be at peace even if it’s just for a moment. Art also helps me grow in different areas of my life like patience, attention to details, and motivation. So when you find something you love to do and helps you grow…. It’s a win. It’s important to pursue what makes you happy, and for me, this is it. Read more>>

Shunta` Willis-Johnson | Event & Balloon Stylist

I don’t know if I pursued it or it pursued me, honestly. I am naturally creative and artistic…most people are naturally “something” and I discovered creativity and expressed my artistic side very early in life…it literally is who I am. I cannot remember a season in my life that did not contain some kind of creative expression…whether it was designing my childhood room to reflect a butterfly garden with crafted paper butterflies hanging from my ceiling in elementary school, drawing on my pants and customizing my own outfits in middle school, styling my friends for special events in highschool or planning and decorating my friends’ birthday celebrations in college… Read more>>

Daniel Winkle MD | Creative Writer

I began to embrace a creative approach to healing and the art of medicine as I began to understand the power of storytelling. The stories that we tell us ourselves and our own perceptions have immense influence on our personal health and fictional stories are one of the most powerful portals to self-discovery. I began to use these stories to understand how my own mind worked. As my skills with writing increased, I found I could share these stories with others to help them come to their own understandings. Read more>>

Seth Witcher | Music Artist

I decided to pursue music because music makes me feel emotion. It’s such a release for me. Read more>>

Jacqueline Parsons | Fashion & Runway Model

From a little girl; at a very young age I was very artistic. I possessed creative abilities that kept me quite entertained being that I was raised as an only child. Anything of the arts always caught my attention more than anything else. In elementary school I recall at Library class I would check out the books that taught me how to draw while my classmates were checking out actual books to read. I loved performing as well. I had a wild imagination where I would play a lot of make-believing. This took me down an avenue of wanting to be an actress, model, and/or a dancer. Read more>>