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.

Trenton Kirksey | Recording Artist, Conductor & Producer

Music chose me. Since before I can remember, I’ve been writing, arranging & conducting music. As soon as I joined a choir, I learned that I could sing and soon after began to compete, successfully. I joined the band my sixth grade year and would remain musically active, even until today. It’s part of my being, the necessity to start, continue, complete the next music project. Even when I wake up in the morning, I sing. Once I hear the product I love, it’s like having a child. You are proud & sensitive. But it feels great, it feels right. So, I guess that’s why I do this, it feels right. Read more>>

Jalaiya Bartley | Model, Actress, & Content Creator

From an extremely young age I always knew I wouldn’t have a normal 9-5. If you could ask anyone in my family, I have always told them, literally since a kid, that when I grow up I wasn’t going to live a normal life. At the time, I didn’t know exactly what that would look like in the future, but I knew it would be something I enjoyed and something creative, where I could express myself. I also knew from a young age, something else I’ve been telling my family since being a little girl, Read more>>

Chanel St Sin | Published Model & Award Winning Burlesque Performer

When I started out in modeling I was young and I was constantly told that I had to lose weight, that they weren’t gonna want me unless I was a certain size. I worked so hard to stay a small size, & that’s all I thought about. I developed an eating disorder as a teenager and then when I gained weight I quit modeling because I wasn’t the size as when I started. I thought I wasn’t the size I was supposed to be so they weren’t going to want me. I got into burlesque much later in life, & there is such a diverse look, Read more>>

Brittany Fahres | Ceramicist and Graphic Designer

Pursuing an artistic career was originally fueled by my artistic and supportive mother; along with my desire to create tangible, dimensional works of art. The physicality ceramics requires has always drawn me in; from the muculent clay, to the ‘push and pull’ energy of the form on the wheel. I value each opportunity I have gained through pursuing an artistic pathway, having started in Art Education, branching out to graphic design, and eventually growing a ceramic studio of my own. It is my belief that art forms tend to meld into one another, and that an eye for design can be used in many creative careers – my journey is just one example. Read more>>

Edgar Guajardo | Lighting, Scenic, Sound designer and Theatrical Production Manager

When I was 10 years old I went to see a play at the local highschool in my home town of Pharr Texas. It was Alladin and my older brother was working as a technician on it. I walked in to the theater with my 5th grade class and felt like I was in a whole other world. The stage was so big! The red curtain was SO RED!!
I was just in awe! My older brother was working spot light and saw me walk in and turned the spot light on me and waved at me. All of my friends where jealous and I was thrilled. I loved that day and the feeling the theater brought me, transporting me to a whole new world for an hr. Its that memory that has ultimately guided me to becoming a theatrical artisan, no matter how much I resisted at first, Theatre found me and I fell in love with it. Read more>>

Belinda Hernandez | Professional Photographer and Photo Booth Owner

It’s always been a hobby to capture special moments of life and people’s facial expressions, Never thought I would be “a photographer”. 10 years ago I invested in my first DSLR camera kit, I became involved in photo groups and photography organizations and learned the dslr camera. I connected with professional photographers, attended photography workshops and learned as much as I could with free and paid online support. Read more>>