We asked some of the most creative folks we know to open up to us about why they chose a creative career path. Check out their responses below.

Guardian Demon

We pursue the artistic and creative path because the things we’re passionate about are engrained in us. Communal expression is a foundational element in being human; thus it is necessary to express ourselves and due to the snowflake like nature of every person each expression is unique to the individual Read More>>

Jenna Elie

I did not intentionally pursue an artistic or creative career, as I never saw myself quite in that light, but over the years it has morphed into some elements of that. When I first began my career, it was a hobby that was fueled by pure curiosity, and that still rings true today. Read More>>

Riah Moore

I’ve always had an eye for things. When I was younger I would experiment with photography, videography, and video editing all from my bedroom. At the time, it was just something I did for fun studying different angles, editing styles, and capturing moments as I saw them. It wasn’t something I ever thought would turn into a career, but as I continued to grow, I realized how much passion I had for the final product. Read More>>

David Easton

From an early age, music and the arts have profoundly shaped my life. Learning various instruments and participating in musical theater during high school allowed me to express myself authentically. Being on stage or engaging in creative activities has always felt natural to me. Read More>>

Keondre Diggs

Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?

Combination of things. I been writing music since I was 4 years old

After I got Molested & Kidnapped. My family been at war my whole life. We got a lot dead members. I inherited PTSD & Pain. Writing poetry & music is my safe place. Read More>>

Ashleyyy

Music & dance are always on my mind. I have been in LOVE with singing & dancing since I was a child. That desire to create, to teach, and to be on stage, have never gone away! I feel alive when I am walking in my gifts, and because God gave them to me, I believe they will make room for me. It has to work! Read More>>

3lcaro

I’ve had a passion for music since childhood. I can still remember beating on pots and pans before I even knew what a rhythm was. As I got older, I started DJing and producing my own beats in 2013, which deepened my connection to music. In high school, I also joined the marching and concert band, and that experience further cemented my love for the art form. Read More>>

Tywayne Wheatt

The initial inspiration that propelled me to be the actor I am today started with my overworked father taking me to see $5 movies in Manhattan. Movies like “ET,” “Do The Right Thing,” and “Rambo,” etc., spoke to me deeply about life and helped me embrace new ways of thinking. I was inspired to give an audience that feeling of escape and understanding of life just like I did. Read More>>

Jae Gilyard

On a personal level, I pursued a creative career because I can’t not create. It’s how I process the world. I see the artistry in everything—from sound design to fashion, from the texture of a shot to the cadence of dialogue. I venerate stories the way I venerate my ancestors. Read More>>

Madisen Martinez

The doors that have remained open in my life led to my ongoing pursuit of a career as a creative. I grew up loving art projects and experimenting with my mom’s camera, but it wasn’t until college that I began to comprehend how beauty can change the world and have a desire to pursue this path. Read More>>

Estephania Barona

I don’t think creativity was ever a decision I made—it’s simply embedded in me, a fundamental part of who I am. It began as a way to express what often gets lost in voice—the nuanced, in-between-the-lines exposition of stories. Read More>>

Christopher “coop” Cooper

For me, it’s really no one way to answer this question. I kind of feel like I was chosen to be a tattoo artist. Growing up I never thought about being or thought that I would become an artist. Since a kid, I’ve always drawn fun; as a hobby of some sort, but never took it serious.  Read More>>

Richard Barman

I decided to follow a creative career because it lets me turn ideas into real, meaningful results while staying connected to my love for telling stories that matter. Creativity has always been a big part of how I see and interact with the world, and photography became the perfect way to capture and save moments that feel important and special. Read More>>