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.

Da Truth Da Poet | Poet & Entrepreneur

I have been passionate about poetry and performing on stages since the age of 5. The love I have for them both was the driving force that inspired me to pursue an artistic career and start my production company, Raw Poetry Productions. By doing this, I was able to become a humanitarian in my community. I have been helping people with their own artistic journeys, whether writing or performing, by creating a safe therapeutic environment needed for expression. Read more>>

Michael Pineda | Student Life & Operations Coordinator and Musician

I’ve always admired the ability to express oneself and interpret humanity in the things that we do on the day-to-day. There are a lot of reasons why I need to be creative in my work, but I have chosen to pursue a more “creative” career primarily because I feel like it is what I genuinely do best. Whether it is literally improvising on my horn, to writing music, to creating spaces for music, to creating experiences for students, to creating sustainable sources of capital, to dreaming and brainstorming the next big idea, etc. Read more>>

Dontrel Hinkins | Artist / Beethaartist

My whole life art has been running though my veins. My family is full of Artist. As a child, I grew up living with my grandfather. One day he brought this piece of wood in. Everyone was thinking why is he putting that piece of wood in the house. He said ‘this is art, art is your vision of art, if you say it’s art it’s art.” I really took that in. So, we I create I create what makes me feel good. Read more>>

Yilin Li | Artist & Illustrator

I decided to be an illustrator because of the interest, love, and sense of accomplishment that comes from creating new works. In the process of painting, I can feel happy and joyful. Of course, painting is also a process for me to pursue and find myself, and I think this process is very important. Read more>>

Hannah McClain | Freelance Graphic Designer

To me, pursuing a creative career meant being able to create content or pieces that were true to myself but also allowed others to enjoy. Pursuing a creative career is by no means easy. I think it is that challenge that makes career choices like this so much more fascinating! Furthermore, being a freelance graphic designer means that I can take someone’s ideas and bring them to life. Read more>>

Carlos R Diazmuñoz AMC | Director of Photography/Cinematographer

I actually started in aeronautical engineering. My artistic parents and family never pushed me to pursue being in the film industry at all even though I did work in advertising as a very young kid but I did it for fun only but it was hard since grade school kids made fun of me for being in commercials in national television in Mexico. I was called a showoff and was bullied a bit about it. Read more>>