Deciding to pursue an artistic or creative career path isn’t for the faint of heart. Challenges will abound, but so many of the artists we speak with couldn’t be happier with their choice. So, we asked them about how they made the decision in the first place.

Fernanda Froes

Since I was young, I’ve been deeply curious about the layers behind historical and scientific facts—what stories, relationships, and absences lie beneath the surface. Art became the language through which I could explore those questions more intuitively and expansively. Over time, I became especially drawn to how places marked by history and transformation become landscapes, carriers of memory, resilience, and ecological tension. Read More>>

Melina Deya

I didn’t really choose it in a conscious way. From an early age, I was drawn to visuals, to mood, to atmosphere. My curiosity for being creative started through wanting to learn music and then inherently moved into photography. Growing up in Puerto Rico, I was surrounded by raw beauty and layered emotion, and that naturally became the lens through which I saw the world. Read More>>

Silvana Borges

From a very young age, I was captivated by the rich textures, colors, and rhythms of Brazilian culture. These early influences shaped the way I see beauty in the world and gave me a deep appreciation for color, form, and emotion. Pursuing a creative career wasn’t a decision I made consciously—it was something that naturally unfolded as part of who I am. Read More>>

Rachel Hough

Honestly? I was the kid who couldn’t draw a stick figure to save her life. My art class projects looked like a cry for help. But while I didn’t think of myself as “creative,” I was the one obsessing over color theory, mood boards, and why that one painting in art history made me feel something I couldn’t explain. Read More>>

Mariam Albornoz Biscardi

I’ve known for as long as I can remember that this was the path I wanted to follow. I was deeply influenced by my mom, who is an architect. When I was little, I would spend hours next to her at her drafting table. She used to give me sheets of paper and some of her templates, and I’d spend the entire day drawing floor plans and building them out of Legos. Read More>>

Lisaura Montilla

As an architect, creativity has always been part of my life, it’s how I see the world. I’ve always loved design, storytelling, and imagining how spaces can shape the way we live and connect. Over time, I found a way to combine my professional background with my passion for exploring Florida with my family and discovering new places. Read More>>

Paola Diaz

That’s such a thoughtful question, and honestly, it’s a story I love to tell because it feels so uniquely me.

You know, ever since I was a little kid, I basically lived and breathed fashion. I was always sketching, dreaming up clothes, and then, at 14, I actually got to step into that world as a model. So, in a way, the creative industry always felt like home, a place where I truly belonged and could express myself. Read More>>