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.

Dylan Diamond | Digital Artist, Electronic Music Producer, Roboticist

My mother is a traditional visual artist and my father is a musician so it is no coincidence I share a passion for many different forms of creative work. However, despite these creative callings I decided to pursue a degree in Applied Physics at Georgia Tech with the hopes of eventually transfering that knowledge to robotics. Read more>>

Robin Henson | People Photographer

Quiet rooms are not for me – a creative environment is where I thrive! Read more>>

Karen Kelley | Opera Singer | Mezzo-Soprano

I love the dynamic nature of a creative career. I’ve always been a person who is okay with change and actually welcomes it. As someone who is naturally more reserved, singing has given me a way to express myself in a variety of facets that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise. I also love the diverse, fantastic group of people it has allowed me both to reach and meet. Read more>>

Macca Malik | BGIRL/Elite Breaking Athlete & Artivist

The reason why I chose to lead with an artistic/creative career for a very long time, ultimately was because I grew up with an extremely artistic and creative mother. However, I’ll be the first to admit, I struggled with this as a child. When I was younger I wanted to experience the “normal” life of having a parent with so called “steady income”, growing up in one place, having enough money to buy clothes, snacks etc like my friends had. Read more>>

Wayne Josh | Musical Artist

My reasoning for pursuing an artistic career stems from creativity! Being an artist has no outline, it’s freedom of expression through personal perception. I’ve always felt that i had something great to offer the world, and music is my avenue to not only express my thoughts, but deliver them in a way that could be more receptive no matter your walk of life. Read more>>

Meaghan Murphy-Alexander | Founder of Home+Order

My love for home design and organization started at a very young age. I recall begging my cousin to declutter and organize her vanity where she held her daughter’s hair supplies. A place she used to avoid and not want to go into before I got to it. It brought me so much joy to brighten her day. Read more>>

Theo Hoebrechts | PR student & amateur photographer

Just out of love for it. There’s no specific reason behind it. I just like it so I do it. Read more>>

Jacey Kemp | Fashion Stylist & Creative Director

Naturally, I have an Artist heart. Since I was a little girl, I always craved creative outlets. I remember having a sketchbook. It was a black and white composition book. It was filled with different sketches of clothing ideas. I was younger at this time. It broke my little heart, when I lost that book. Read more>>

Kerima Richardson | Public figure

I have a deep passion for content creation , dancing, music, acting, and the entire realm of entertainment. I am enamored by the creative process and the hard work that goes into bringing performances to life. Read more>>

El Uno Mas Takuri | El Luchador de Ecuador

As a foreigner from Ecuador who couldn’t speak English, I would skip through channels trying to find something I could understand. Wrestling was the first thing I could understand. I would put on wwf on television. Sometimes my family would join me in watching it. My dad, my mom, my sister eventually my brothers. Read more>>

Sammy Spriggs | Independent Dance Artist & Educator, Non-profit Manager

There has never been another option for me. No matter what professional route I eventually took, I knew that art, dance, and creativity would absolutely be a part of it somehow. My path to where I am now has been circuitous, for sure, but I am working in the fields I love most. Read more>>

Amelia Herb | Craft-cut specialist & salon studio owner

Oof. Yeah, it’s not everyday we get to choose our paths. We think we do, but at the end of the day, the artistic, creative career chooses you. I’ve worked jobs where creative outlets were void. Everyday was dragging along until I could delve into to my real interests- things I could tangibly & spiritually feel balanced, calm, & in alignment with so to speak. Read more>>

ChylMusic | Singer/Songwriter

I’ve always been drawn to the power of music to touch people’s hearts and minds. The ability to create something from scratch, to craft melodies and lyrics that resonate with others, is an incredible feeling. I believe in the magic of music to inspire, heal, and bring people together. Read more>>

Natalie Arrue | Photographer

For as long as I can remember, my hands and eyes have been intertwined. As a little girl, my dream was to become an artist but I didn’t know what kind. I would experiment with all forms of art as time passed such as drawing, painting, writing, ceramics and music. There was always another creative form that would teach me something about myself and the world, that I could not have learned another way. Read more>>

Serrin Joy | Artist & Songwriter

Music has always been a part of my life. Growing up in my house, there were keyboards/ pianos in every room including the kitchen! I naturally have always loved to create. As the oldest of five, I used to direct short films on my laptop and have my younger siblings act in them. As well as, I’ve always attended arts schools and enjoyed writing poetry, journal entries and songs even if they were just jingles that I made for fun. Read more>>

Kendall Jacobsen | Artist & Fashion Designer

I became an artist out of a need to find answers, and I keep going out of a need to uncover questions. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” As a child, this question draws a rush of excitement as there seem to be infinite possibilities unconstrained by our world’s reality. Read more>>