Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Crysta Al-Qallaf | Owner of Aura Brushed

I had a passion for art and being creative early on in life and I am very thankful for this space to allow me to express myself. I quickly decided that for quality of life I wanted to do something that makes my soul happy. I absolutely love being able to create makeup looks and airbrush bodies as well as use my creative eyes for photography. When I create all of this it’s the response from the client that brings true satisfaction! When a client says, ” I could never do this my self” or when the mother of the bride cry’s after seeing their daughter look like a flawless bride, this bring true joy to me. The best response is after we’ve provided a airbrush tan and the client say’s “wow, you made me so comfortable naked!” The best part of Aura Brushed is being able to use our artistic skills to make people look and feel beautiful. Read more>>

Chelsea P. | Creator & Baker

I pursue a creative career one for being a creative person, and for wanting to have creative freedom. Since I’m a creative person, I’m constantly having new ideas, thinking about creating something new, or thinking of ways to put together things that I enjoy doing. Besides baking, I enjoy cooking and drawing. As a result I make my cakes a creative process. On the other hand, I used to have this job, I enjoyed working at. However, I was almost never allowed to give them my ideas or to use my creativity. I decided to make something my own, and use my creative strength to make it grow. Read more>>

Nicole Gearhart | Business Owner: Pet Services

I have prided myself on my creativity for as long as I can remember. I was the oddball with a thirst for knowledge and an open mind- I was different. I always tried new things and danced to the beat of my own drum! I was never really sure where I would head in life because I liked so many different things. I wasn’t one of those kids who chose a path and stuck with it. I was the kid that wanted to discover the world first and choose second. During my grooming years, I thought about doing many other things to see if maybe I would like to change fields. Read more>>

Ruchit Harneja | Executive Pastry Chef at Musaafer Houston; A chef-traveler, lost-cuisine fanatic & a savant of heterodox food pairing.

Pastry arts is a different world in itself. It is all about meticulous art, creatively balancing flavors and skill based techniques. I’ve always had an inclination and hunger to explore the nature of ingredients and cooking styles which made me a pastry chef. Read more>>