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.

LaMar Williams III | Actor & Producer

I believe I’ve always pursued an artistic or creative career because of always had an artistic outlook on life as a whole. I’ve always had creative perspectives on how to approach obstacles that I deal with on the daily. Not to mention I’ve always been active in many artistic platforms since I was a child. Read more>>

Jaqueline Monasterio | Jaq of all trades (model, fashion designer, creative director and more)

I pursed a creative career because it just felt like what God was calling me to do and what felt natural to me. I‘ve always had a huge love and passion for what I do. I use modeling, fashion design, creative direction and so much more to truly express who I am to people and it’s been an outlet for me as well. Read more>>

Lauren Munar Burdeshaw | AKA Wahine | DJ & Event Producer

I spent most of my life in artist-adjacent positions, but had never dared to claim that life for myself, despite being a highly creative individual who is able to make real the vast majority of things that I envision. Read more>>

Jasmine Young | Comedian & Entrepreneur

For starters the main reason I chose an artistic and creative career path is because that’s what flows through my veins. It’s who I am and what I enjoy doing. I love creating my feelings through my creative work. I like to reciprocate things through the form of art because people can grabs that better anyway. I love bring joy to people with laughter or poetry. Read more>>

Stephanie Martinez | Makeup Artist/ Esthetician/ Artist

I pursued an artistic career because Art has always been my first true passion.
Growing up my mother was really into art and we would always have arts and crafts nights. This has always inspired me to naturally fall in love with art. Read more>>

William Jefferson Jr | Award Winning Filmmaker, Actor, Mentor, Coach, Entrepenuer & Teacher

I choose an artistic creative career because it is something that brings me joy each and every day. It doesnt feel like work. I felt as if I was born to story tell and create. I remember going to college thinking that this isn’t a “real career” I need to focus on STEAM or work a corporate job. Read more>>

Queen Left | Music Artist

I decided to pursue an artistic career because that’s what makes me feel most alive. I’m allowed to be authenticity me with no boundaries, anything holding me back or anyone supervising me. I love the ability to express my rawest, realest emotions; the ability to transmute pain into power through music is a passion & purpose. Read more>>

Blkdragon Productions | Film Production

We pursued a creative career because we have a deep passion for storytelling and visual expression. Filmmaking allows us to explore diverse narratives, emotions, and perspectives, We was drawn to the idea to inspire. Read more>>

Crystal Lo | Actor

Thank you so much for including me on your roster of Atlanta’s inspiring creatives! Since I was a kid, I often daydreamed about being in the entertainment industry – whether it was being a cartoonist for Cartoon Network, backup singer for Bette Midler, or kick butt like Michelle Yeoh. Read more>>

Kendra Golden | Wedding Content Creator

Creativity has always been in my DNA. From the moment I was 5, I was drawing up mockups for dream houses with crayons and markers, laminating them with tape (lol)! I even won a few coloring contests as a kid. Read more>>

Dasher Exclusive | Artist

What led To me pursing a creative path is that growing up I always loved music my sister used to sing & make music and it had an influence on me growing up I used to always be an artistic kid I could draw & dance & was energetic my sisters ex made me a song to rap one day. Read more>>

Nancy Elle | Painter & Photographer

After years of being extremely academic-focused, on the pathway of majoring in something within STEM, I took a screeching turn into pursuing fine arts when college appeared on the horizon. One question was relentlessly repeating in my head, over and over again: What am I uniquely capable of adding to the world? Read more>>

Courtney “Coco” Walls | Writer & Director

From childhood, I have always wanted to be in the business of making movies, or more specifically, storytelling. Movies were one of the ways my family all sat down and connected with each other, taking turns picking what we would watch that night. We all have different tastes, so it was always something different, from animation to action to adventure. Read more>> 

Quentin Sims | Music Producer, Songwriter and Community Activist

As a teenager I was able to witness firsthand the world renowned Organized Noize Productions put together these legendary groups like OutKast and Goodie Mob and make these dope records and I knew that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. Read more>>

Mpoyi Mpoyi | Model, Creative Director, & Stylist

I’ve always been a fan of all art or just anything in the creative world. I enjoy seeing things in full color and feel as if I am too innovative to just sit back and not indulge in creative work. I’ve always had plans to change the world positively and inspire as much as I can and as I grew older I began to see that it is possible through my career. Read more>>

Rell Knowledge | Poet & Music Artist

I have always had a passion for creating. And at a young age I had a knack for making people feel my words and be immersed into the way I articulate myself. My grandmother always told me I have a “hypnotic vocabulary “, since my grade school days I have always wanted to make a change in the world. Read more>>

Kaeden Beliveau | Aspiring Director

I wanted to pursue an artistic and creative career path so I could make people feel a type of way after watching the films I made with my team. I grew up loving movies that made me feel happy, sad, annoyed, angry. Read more>>