Deciding to pursue an artistic or creative career path isn’t for the faint of heart. Challenges will abound, but so many of the artists we speak with couldn’t be happier with their choice. So, we asked them about how they made the decision in the first place.

Savannah | Singer-Songwriter

Creativity and artistry is just naturally who I am, so it never felt like I had to choose. It’s a lifestyle, and I found myself so preoccupied with my creative passions (music) , training my voice and body, singing for 5, 6, sometimes 7 hours a day, and staying up all night learning production and songwriting until the sun came up, that being a music artist definitely chose me. Read more>>

K. Brat | Female Rap Artist

I’ve always enjoyed music at a very young age. I began writing music when I was about 7 years old because I always wanted to be a R&B singer. My mom and uncle were very interested in the arts in high school and even college. Over time my uncle started his own music career and became my vocal coach at the age of 5 years old. Read more>>

Michael Newman | Professional Photographer/Videographer and Information Security Lottery Architect

One of my long standing stories I’ve shared about how I got into photography/videography is from when was as a child, I loved working with my hands and one area was in drawing and was able to look at a photograph and recreate it using paper and pencil but knew I wasn’t passionate enough in the art Read more>>

Eddie Cortez | Social Media Influencer & Entrepeneur

I decided to go down the creative road in regard to my career, because I’ve just always been a creative person, so I finally just decided to monetize from it. Even as a kid I loved to draw, paint, and even try to come up with crazy inventions. Read more>>

Iva Red | Photographer

I believe everyone can pursue and achieve true happiness in life doing what they truly love. My creative journey started when I was child and lasts as long as I can remember. As a kid I was mesmerized by photographs and paintings. I was into drawing and painting at first, before getting my 1st camera. I found bigger artistic freedom with creating photographs. My passion became my profession and photography is my calling. Read more>>

Keenan Rogers | Actor

I learned at a young age that if you make a person laugh then the chances of them liking you as a person are higher. It seems that my decision to pursue an artistic career stems from a constant need to be liked, however it morphed into something much greater than that. Read more>>

Baker (BK Willy) Wiles | DJ, Retailer, Producer, Actor

My father was an actor, and my mother is an artist of many varieties, so it’s in my blood. I’ve been a performer since I was a child. I started in theater and eventually made my way into music, singing in the choir and with bands through high school and college. Read more>>

Isabel Aviles | Yoga Teacher & Educator

I grew up surrounded by art. My dad was an artist. Musician, historian, music and theater producer, writer, you name it! And thanks to him, my childhood was between theater dressing rooms, ballet halls, music and books. From a very young age I learned to appreciate art and to understand that there is art in much more than we think. It’s in fact everywhere. Read more>>

Jordan Turner | Artist

I actually started started getting involved with music in the 8th grade. There’s a lot of things that fall into why I chose to pursue a rap career, but there’s one specific story as to why I started rapping. I had made the basketball team in 8th grade and that was like my first accomplishment in life to be honest. Read more>>

Morgan Ausborn | Polymer Clay Artist & Founder of Evil Twin Clay Co

I always knew from a very young age that no matter what, I had to be an artist! Growing up I dabbled in varies mediums of art such as drawing, pastels, painting, watercolors, and color pencils. It wasn’t until I became much older that I discovered how to create polymer clay earrings. Read more>>

Tandra Smith | Journalist, Blogger & Content Creator

I have always been a creative, just ask my parents! I was constantly drawing on doors and walls, writing stories and poems for my friends and family and all sorts of other things when I was younger. Becoming a creative/creator was just the next step. I knew I always wanted to write in some capacity though. Read more>>

Kiyonte Carter | Model, Dancer, Actress

I pursued an artistic/creative career because I love expressing myself in many different ways, whether it’s beauty shoots with glam makeup, to strutting down the runway rocking amazing designs. Read more>>

Christopher Rivera | Painting Instructor and Painter

Engaging the world through visual language is something that has always been second nature for me. I was the only child of a single mother so I attribute much of my interest in visual arts to childhood attempts at keeping myself occupied. Read more>>

Lori Lejeune | Visual Artist & Creative Entrepreneur

I’m an Atlanta area creative entrepreneur and visual artist. To me, creativity is turning ideas and dreams into reality. My belief is that the ability to be creative is accessible to all of us, whether we express ourselves through dance, music, words, paint, pottery, pixels, or through the numerous other ways that are possible. Read more>>

Kirk P. Mitchell | Architect

I am the child of two artists. Every since I can remember, I’ve been in love with expressing myself artistically. Growing up in a household where were creative expression was encouraged, I’ve always been given the support necessary to explore new ways to show creativity through numerous mediums of art. Read more>>

Lia Liao | Illustrator

I would say the unreliability of languages and words lead me to art where I can communicate silently without misunderstandings. Text can be interpreted into different meanings in different contexts for different people. In my work, I want to deliver my sincerest feelings which I tend not to share with people in real life. Read more>>

Monroe Baker | Artist & Creator

The sole absolute reason I decided to pursue an artistic creative career is because I know all to well how many people don’t have a healthy outlet. I have been through so much from toxic abusive relationships, to cheating, death, and mental health issues. Read more>>

Deora Clairé | Bilingual R&B Singer-songwriter

One of the gifts God has given me is the ability to write and sing songs. Creating a melody and telling a story or simply expressing my feelings through music has been a passion of mine since elementary. Aside from enjoying writing and performing, artists like Whitney Houston, Mahalia Jackson, Alicia Keys, and Beyoncé, inspired me to pursue a music career of becoming a Singer-songwriter. Read more>>

Seven Nance | Hustle By All Means Entertainment Inc Ceo

Because I feel the world is black and white for most so those of us with a color mind has to help other find there’s without creators people don’t know the things in there mind they see can be manifested Read more>>

John Johnson | DJ & Youth Programs Coordinator

What made me pursue an artistic/creative career honestly boils down to me not knowing if I will ever be able to sit behind a desk in a cubicle for the rest of my life after college. Ever since I was a young kid growing up my older brother would always tell me “you’re not supposed to have 9-5, I do not see you ever working the regular 9-5 life”. Read more>>