Artists and creatives face innumerable challenges given that their career path often doesn’t come with a playbook, a steady paycheck or any form of safety net.  It’s definitely not easy and so we asked a few of the artists and creatives we admire to talk to us about why they chose to pursue an artistic or creative career.

Whitney Lanier | 2D & 3D Artist

I chose to pursue a creative career because, honestly, I really can’t imagine myself doing anything else! I have loved art since I was very little. I grew up hearing Mark Twain’s quote “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” So I found the animation and game industry. Early in high school I discovered concept art books made from my favorite games and films. I realized then that I wanted to be a part of creating things people can love and enjoy. Read more>>

Lunar Liv | Artist & Reiki Practitioner

Although I have been an artist my entire life, my current creative expression began six years ago in the face of chronic illness. Feeling trapped in a sick body attracted me to the freedom of fluid acrylics, so I began to paint. The process of creating a beautiful, messy, and free flowing canvas helped me to heal. As I poured pain into passion, my business began organically. Today I actively pursue my artistic career in hopes to share the healing energy that my artwork brought to me. It can be hard to manage the desire to create and the logistics of running a business, but doing so has allowed me to live a life that I love. As much as I adore the process of creation, now it brings me even more joy to see a person connect with something that I have made. Read more>>

Stephanie M Wilkinson | Actor & Fitness Instructor

I have been storytelling in one form or another since I was a small child. I began with classical piano training, and I was drawn to the ways in which music could express so many feelings that couldn’t be spoken. In college, I added voice lessons and dance and creative movement classes. The added elements of using my voice and body as storytelling vehicles made me long for further training. As a young adult, I began performing in live theatre. Some of my most rewarding creative experiences have been working with a team of innovative artists, including the design teams and crew, to create something special and tell a story on stage. Live theatre can take an audience on a journey, a shared experience with the actors. My pursuit of other storytelling mediums led me to explore working through a camera lens, connecting with an audience on screens, both large and small. Read more>>

DaeQuan Hargraves | Music

Everything around us is music. From the sound you hear when we walk, to the voice we speak with and even down to the sounds you hear in quiet nature. I’ve always been fascinated with rhythm and basslines. So as a kid I would write poetry to beats that I heard in my head. Trying to mock them banging on countertops.(annoying my mom lol) We were always a musical family so I guess it’s just in my blood. Read more>>