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.

Macy Ulbricht | Henna & Multidisciplinary Artist

I first started painting henna body art with people while sitting in the cafeteria in between classes in college 17 years ago. I was completing my prerequisites for the nursing program. It was astonishing to me to witness firsthand how art can serve as a bridge to connect people. Read more>>

Baldie | Entertainer & Professional Blabber Mouth

Oh, girl I couldn’t have stopped this train if I tried. Ever since I was just a little sprout, I was always absolutely ignited by the connection I’d experience making people around me laugh. I’d do just about anything to really capture someone’s attention and get to know them while giving them something to giggle about. As I grew into an adult, I found that I was losing touch with that side of myself. Read more>>

Angela Palmer | Architectural Design Technologist & Artistic Digital Explorer

I always loved making things and I wanted to love what I did for work. I was always fascinated by the idea that I could see a space in my head and then be able to physically stand in it. I remember making collages of roomscapes from home goods magazines with one of best friends and I can’t deny the influence of HGTV. Read more>>

Lovesyncere | Artist

Honestly I don’t see it as career I see music as my own personal therapy session. I tell my brothers all the time if it turns into a career find I just want to create a sound that connect with others and help them through whatever they are going through. Read more>>

Lucy Cullen | Artist

It didn’t really occur to me that it might actually be possible to be a full-time artist until I was in my late 20’s. I had always said I would love to be an artist but in a kind of throw-away wistful sense. However when I wanted to escape from the stresses of my day job I always turned to art. Read more>>

Luke Tanner Raphael Walther | Filmmaker

There is this quote, ‘Do not ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive–then, go and do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.’ Stories–books, movies, stand-up comedy, and good lecture–have always fascinated me. Simultaneously, the alternative–a safe career–seemed like a recipe for no motivation and complete boredom. Read more>>

Camryn Shea | Model, Creator & Singer

I have always known that i’ve had a creative personality and wanted to do something relating to my creativity. I feel like I am able to connect to others and inspire others through my creativity and skills. All of my passions and hobbies have some correlation to being creative. Read more>>

Cecilia Beaven | Visual Artist

It was always clear to me that visual arts had the ability to communicate complex ideas, sincere thoughts, and deep feelings in a way that no other media could do for me. My strongest voice is my visual voice, and I am loud, bold, and bright. I pursued an artistic career because I believe in social changes through art and culture. Read more>>

Gabriel Escobedo | Actor, Artist, Performer & Poet

I never imagined I would find myself living my life in pursuit of the arts. When I first got to college, my plan was to be an engineer. I don’t have any real idea as to why I chose that career path, but it wasn’t who I was meant to be. Looking back, it’s ridiculous to think I didn’t see myself going into a creative career before now. Read more>>

Meet Steve Kesoglides | Artist & Entrepreneur

Growing up I always wanted to be an architect. I always liked art and enjoyed drawing. I wound up attending the High School of Art and Design in New York City. At the same time, my father was a professional photographer so for work I got into photography and pursued that career for awhile. Read more>>

Imma Barrera | Biologist, Award Winning Fine Arts Photographer & Educator

Nature and its beauty have always been a source of fascination to me and therefore, I became a biologist with a passion for discovery and exploration. Photography to me is the perfect way of combining my scientific analytic approach and curiosity to document what is beautiful and inspiring on this planet. Read more>>

Nickyy Danger | Musician, Studio Owner & Cinematographer

The only thing I’ve done that’s felt right for me has been solo artistic & creative endeavors. Nobody except my mother supported my musical pursuit until just recently. It has always just been what fit best and aligned to me. Read more>>

Joy Hanna | Singer-Songwriter

I started writing songs at an early age and fell in love with the creative process of expressing universal truths and emotions that others can relate to through song. Read more>>

Alexander Lesser | Houston Sculpture Artist and High School Teacher

I wouldn’t say I pursued an artistic career, if anything I fell into it. I was always doodling as a kid so I guess I was predisposed to being artistic but it was never a planned outcome. I immigrated from Mexico with my family when I was very young. Being an immigrant, having a career wasn’t an option I grew up thinking I’d be a laborer. Read more>>

Noel Nielsen | Stylist, Aesthetic Curator, Collector & Maker

I don’t know if I could live a life in which I’m not creating something. I think the urge to bring my imagination to life and to push myself to do something better than the time I attempted it before is a very driving force. I’ve never met a creative person who was fully satisfied with their work. Read more>>

Anne Byrd | Artist

I chose art really because nothing else ever satisfied me. I’m not the kind of person that can fake interest or love in something if it’s not there. And believe me I’ve tried, I’ve had all kinds of jobs. And while some of them were interesting or at the very least not terrible, I still just didn’t have my heart in them. Read more>>

Alessandro Carrera | Poe, Writer & Professor

I never decided to become a poet. It just happened that I was eight years old and I had a dream. I dreamed that there was a new girl at school that could sing very well (that was probably related to the birth of my sister), she would put me off my pedestal, and I had to find a way to stay on top. Read more>>

Blanca Cardenas | Illustrator

Like many others in creative fields, the flair for the arts is something that has always called to me, be that in the form of music, dance, or illustrating. Of course, there were other career fields that I entertained and explored, but nothing has quite captured me as the arts have, where I eventually settled on illustration. Read more>>