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.

Swagga D | Music Artist

It started when I was about nineteen years old in college and saw a flyer for a talent contest. I talked to a friend who was also into rapping and we decided to perform in the show. We got together and wrote some lyrics over a beat. Read more>>

Lucio Carlos Gil | Author

Art was always my main way to express myself. Above all, arts convey messages through feelings and this is the most effective way to spread them. I recently found some notebooks from middle school and I noticed that I used to draw characters from my imagination, as well as my teacher’s and classmate’s faces in most of the pages. Read more>>

QingRey | Artist

What a lot of people don’t know is I actually have cyclothymic disorder which is kind of like the pre-stages to bipolar and music helps a lot when it comes to expressing myself, so that’s kind of why I picked a creative career. I want to help individuals with disorders as well as individuals that have a hard time expressing themselves. Read more>>

Jaylen Murchinson | Artist

As a kid I always liked to draw or make things out of nothing. Like for insist making a building made of paper and some random things laying around the floor, or trying to replicate an object that was sitting in front of me, stuff like that and it was just so fun to me. Read more>>

Jana’ Byrd | Fashion Designer & Business Owner

As a fashion designer, I have always been drawn to the world of fashion and the endless possibilities it holds for self-expression and creativity. From a young age, I was captivated by the intricate designs and bold colors of the clothing and accessories that surrounded me. Read more>>

Danielle Vaughn | R&b/soul artist – Danni.Vee

I’m my best self when I’m locked into the music, it’s all I have to give. It’s self expression. Every emotion I feel is in what I create. Every thought that wouldn’t necessarily speak.. It’s all in the lyrics. Read more>>

Karizmah Wall | Performing Artist

Since I was 7 my life was all about the arts. Ive always known that I was going to be an entertainer.. I am passionate about it and it lights me up and others around me. After high school despite my family’s plan for me to go to college, I wanted to be a professional dancer. Unfortunately, I didnt have much control over my life then. Read more>>

Yining Li | Illustrator&Motion Designer

My name is Yi Ning. I come from China and am currently studying Illustration and Motion Media Design at Savannah College of Art and Design. Art has been my best friend since childhood. I spent a lot of time drawing and making doodles for my friends as gifts. It was also my first step to building a bridge with the outside world. Read more>> 

Raven Byrd | Life Coach, Aromatherapist and Spiritual Advisor

Art for me has always been an avenue of therapy. It has always been healing for me to create and let go of rapid thoughts and emotions, that may flood my mind. My choice to do something artistic was without thought. I wanted to do something that makes me happy, and creating with my hands does that. Read more>>

Tucorey Wright | Hairstylist

I venture into the hair industry as a side hustle. I’d never thought I would’ve grown a passion for making wigs & doing hair. I enjoy doing hair because I get to make people feel beautiful my own unique way, and not only do I get to come up with my own master pieces but have clients that bring me creative ideas as well. Read more>>

lysę Nicholę | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter

I had always been an artsy kid. I love to entertain by whatever means necessary. I dabbled in all the artsy and performance activities like sculpting, painting, sports, acting, musicals. It was just something about expressing my myself and emotions without talking about it. Read more>>

ROMAN “TRAP CEO” ALEXANDER | Entrepreneur, Artist, & Visionary

I’ve always been an artist since a child. Growing up in a single parent household, I was raised by my mother who was a teacher. She taught me so much and one of the keys to life she told me to have was an imagination. I loved to draw as growing up, which only lead me to be able to draw out the envisions of my future… and the story is still being written. Read more>>