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.

Charles Humes Jr. | Visual Artist, Printmaker, Muralist, and CEO of Creative Visuals, INC.

I have alway’s known that art and a art career was my preferred choice as a career for as a young man growing up in the south I became aware that there was not a resource of visual artist role models who looked like me. Wanting to address this shortage of Black Artists in the South Florida and my inherent artistic skills and love of art made my choice and determination to succeed as an artist an easy one. Read more>>

Jackie Dalius | Founder & CEO, MuzicSwipe

I pursued a creative career as the Founder & CEO of MuzicSwipe, because I have been obsessed with the music industry since I was a little girl. I grew up listening to a variety of music from Backstreet Boys to Prince to High School Musical soundtrack to Miley Cyrus to Van Halen to just name a few. Read more>>

Blake Warman | CEO & Founder | The Blakery

From the day I started college, I knew I didn’t want to work a typical 9-5 desk job, and I wanted to be my own boss. I always found myself to be a creative individual that could contribute to the world in unique ways. Launching a cookie company was not my intention when I realized that a desk job wasn’t for me, but it fell into my lap and I ran with it; I never looked back. Read more>>

Mia Dre | Singer – Songwriter @mia.dre.musicinsta

It might sound weird for the people who are not in the creative industry, but it’s like it’s choosing you, not you choosing to be creative. It all goes down to waking up every day and being excited about creating a music video, or when you are sad at night, instead of watching Netflix, you feel like writing a song. The other factor is the people who you look up to. Read more>>

Jeremiah Brown | Musical Artist, Creative Director, Graphic Designer, Fashion Designer, and Dreamer

For me I believe I chose to pursue my creative passions because it was impossible to deny. I always found it weird how my perspective of life would differ from the next person and how hard it was for people to grasp my concepts. Read more>>

Warlok | Artist & Musician

Because I love it, It’s just as simple as that. I’ve always been a creator since I was a little kid whether it was music, painting art, or photography. I’ve always had a passion for it since I was a kid and still do to this day I continue as an adult to create and master my artistic side. Read more>>

Kayla Locarno | Licensed Esthetician/Skin Care Therapist

I decided to pursue an artistic/creative career because I learned in life that you did not necessarily need to obtain a degree to make more money or be more successful. For instance, I went to get my degree as an Elementary Educator because teaching kids is what I have always loved. Read more>>

Liz Scott | SFX makeup artist

I realized early on I had a creative mind and always leaned more towards the arts. At a young age scary movies would scare me till I realized it was just makeup. I literally ran out of the movie theater while watching nightmare on elm street. I then watched the making of Freddy Kruegers makeup. Read more>>

Donte Palmer | Playwright, Author, Poet

The reason I decided to pursue a career in the creative career was due to mental health. I felt like I wasn’t being heard and a lot of times I would respond in anger. Writing, filming and directing gave me the tools to express in a creative way. Being a playwright I can see all my thoughts on stage and it gives me a peace of mind knowing the viewer understand what I’m trying to convey. Read more>>