Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Kaisha Sanders

Honestly, I pursued an artistic and creative career because it has always been a part of me. I didn’t wake up one day and decide to do this–it was something I was born with. I was created and equipped with talents and after exploring my many gifts, I found that music resonated with me most. It feels natural and fulfilling, making it easier to make sacrifices for something I’m truly passionate about. Read More>>

Andrea Dodg

I have been an empathetic person from a very young age. Because of this, I was immediately drawn to the arts. Whether it was music, dance, or film, the arts have always played an intricate part in the person I am. They help me process and work through my emotions, which is what I hope to help others do through my art. Read More>>

Pierre Cerrato

My parents called me Pierre, so I had no choice in the matter! Haha!I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. I wanted to make skateboard and t-shirts graphics for a living but ended up going into the animation industry and make cartoons for a living. Creative career or not, my brain would still find a way to flex that muscle. Also, its fun to draw for no good reason. Read More>>

Keyshawn Chism

Growing up (and still to this day), I watched a lot of YouTubers who did gaming and skits like “DashieXP”, “Smosh”, and gaming teams like “FaZe Clan” and .OpTic Gaming”. These were my inspirations to create YouTube videos and really tap into my creative side that I didn’t know really existed. Fast forward to high school, I took an Audio/Video Class, and while I wasn’t too familiar with camera equipment like I am today, my creative level and thinking was sky high during the time.. and it still is. Since then, I began watching a lot of movies and really started getting in tune of what it means to make a movie, and fell in love with the concept of cinematography and camera operating. Read More>>

Ivy Beam

An artistic career has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I always had a feeling a desk job wasn’t going to work for me, and that proved true as I found myself increasingly unhappy and struggling with my mental well-being in corporate roles. As soon as I felt like I had grown my side business enough to cover my living expenses, I quit my corporate job (on my 26th birthday, for the theatrics). It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Read More>>

Michelle Hutley

I have always been a creative person – I love building and designing, problem solving, and getting my hands dirty. My hobbies for my entire life have been discovering new passions and new ways to create, and that is when I’m most happy. So when I finally took some time to sit down and think about what I want in a career, it was natural that I turned to those hobbies and take a hard look at whether or not I could make something of them. It’s important to know that not all your hobbies have to benefit you financially, but it’s also important to know when you CAN take something and make more out of it. Read More>>

Kalee Salcedo

When I was younger, I was always drawn to art. I can’t remember a time I wasn’t trying to make something. I’ve had a hundred different hobbies in my short lifetime, and I continue to learn new artistic skills. I have grown up hearing horror stories of people who hate their jobs or how they skipped out on their dreams for something else. I want to spend the one life I have doing something I love for work. Read More>>