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.

Koray Tokdemir | Artist

Given the profound questions that permeate our existence—questions about the nature of reality, consciousness, and the meaning of it all—I felt compelled to pursue an artistic and creative career as a means of exploring and engaging with these fundamental inquiries.  Read more>>

Arian T. Moore | Professor & Author

By day I am a college professor. By night, when the house is all quiet, I write. I remember when my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Fisher told me I wrote well. I dove into writing poetry and short stories. College, grad school, and then my career in the academic realm have led me to more research-based writing, but there’s such beauty in writing children’s stories, it was only a matter of time before I took on kids’ literature. Read more>>

Xiaoxiao Wu | Artist

Pursuing an artistic career for me was a way to explore and express complex emotions and themes that have shaped my life, particularly around the concepts of home, belonging, and identity. Through art, I found a powerful medium to communicate my personal experiences and connect with others who share similar stories or are moved by the same themes. Read more>>

Myles Lazarou | Screenwriter

I pursued an artistic career for a simple reason: I want to genuinely love what I do. Telling stories has been a passion of mine since I was a child and honestly way before I thought about it as a career. I’ve done the corporate thing before and I just knew it ultimately wasn’t going to make me happy. Read more>>

Jakiera Daniels | The Visual Voice for POC & LGBT

The creative path came naturally to me. As a child it was therapy so once my mom brought my first 110mm film, two eyed Fisher Price camera as an eight year old it became a constant in my life since. She realized my passion for photography and brought my first professional 35mm SLR for my 16th birthday and by 19 I was booking weddings and more.  Read more>>

Nakia Danielle | Writer & Producer

When I think back on why I’ve chosen to pursue film and television, it always begins with my childhood and just knowing – even before I could fully articulate it, that the worlds I saw come alive on stage, screen and through music was exactly where I wanted to be.  Read more>>

Aran Penumbra | Visual Artist

Since I started my artistic journey 4 years ago, the reason why I do the things I do has changed quite a bit. At the beginning of my journey, I was 100% focused on getting better on my craft and exploring different artistic techniques, styles, and genres. That way, I was able to know what I liked, what I disliked, what I was good at, and what I enjoyed doing. Read more>>

Miketa Charnock | Content Creator &Fashion Influencer

I grew up in New Orleans. I was surrounded by artist who used their art as a wonderful outlet to express themselves. I always admired their creativity by not only how they expressed themselves but also by how they evoked emotions in others. It provided a sense of comfort to people when seeing their art, especially for me when it comes to fashion. Read more>> 

Kirkland Armstrong | Professional Caterer and Clinical Research Professional

The thought process behind starting J. Kirklands as a creative career was simple…. as Nike says….JUST DO IT. I have a great love for food and making people feel good. I have worked full time in the healthcare industry for over 10 years which entails helping people improve their quality of life every day. Read more>>

Aaron Jones | Jack Of All Trades

It was a way that I could express myself. I grew up shy and not really confident in myself. Pursuing the path of an artist allowed me to not only express myself more authentically, but personally develop myself and my perspective. Read more>>

Paula Henderson | Visual artist & Educator

There was never any doubt that I would pursue a career as a visual artist. My mother was a fashion illustrator and my father an interior designer. Making with our hands was such a part of my early life from drawing, going to museums and galleries, taking classes, assisting my father on his client visits, sewing from his fabric samples, reading art history.  Read more>>

KELLEY ONEAL | musician

I don’t think I had a choice in my career. I think music chose me & from a very early age I knew it was what I wanted to do. Read more>>

Li-Yu Chen | Lee the Deer – Motion Designer

I’m a motion designer from Taiwan, primarily focusing on design while also doing animation. Since childhood, I’ve had a passion for drawing, knowing that someday I would pursue a career in art, even though I was unsure of the specific field. Read more>>

Michael Toliver | Actor, Writer and Podcaster

Years ago, I watched my first movie, “7” with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, and it sparked a flame in me for acting. I turned to my mom and declared my dream of becoming an actor, but she insisted on the traditional route of schooling and a steady job.  Read more>>

Calvin Wilson | Digital & Traditional Artist and Webcomic Creator

Artists have always been my family. I think that when I was little, my father and sister’s creative talent inspired me to start drawing. Over the years, items I would see at book fairs, comic books, and anime have all influenced me. Those things inspired me, and that encouraged me to keep developing my own style and refining my artwork. Read more>>

Kobe R. Bryant | Actor

To Help create stories and live through true experiences under imaginary circumstances. Read more>>

King Vass | Fashion model/ coach

Growing up i loved fashion i just never really was the average kid trying to fit in, after a while i went from wearing the latests clothing to just wearing whatever i felt looked good to me. From extended Tees, to skinny jeans or even baggy jeans with somthing that made the outfit stand out, so i really just want to stand out from the rest and i believe im getting there! Read more>>