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.

Greg Owen | Visual Artist

As a child growing up , I was the only one in my family who was drawn to the creative side of life. With every blank piece of water or card board I would pick up a pencil, pen or anything that would leave a mark on the surface. As time went by I realized that creating art was more than a hobby; art is my passion, it was my calling in life. I would say the creative life choose me as I choose it. Read more>>

Jonothon Lyons | Writer/Performer/Content Creator known as Buddy the Rat” “

I was very fortunate to be born into a family where artistic pursuits and creative expression were encouraged and supported. My father was not so lucky and had to fight his whole life against conventional pressure to find more stable work than that of an independent artist. He and my mother made it clear to my siblings and me when we were very young that we were free to choose the life we wanted to live come what may. I took a very strong liking to theater and live performance around age 9 and basically decided then that was what I would spend my life doing. Read more>>

Malachi Fenn | Archaeologist, Educator, Writer, Illustrator, Designer & Documentarian

I didn’t! Although I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil, and attended one of Miami’s art magnet high schools (Design and Architecture Senior High), my plan was to study anthropology in college and apply to law schools afterward. What ended up happening was that I went on a class trip to Parque La Venta in Tabasco, Mexico, in my first year of undergrad, and when my digital camera broke, I started drawing the artifacts we were looking at. Read more>>

Michael Delvalle | Home improvement specialist/installer

I have always had a passion for art rather it was music, arts and crafts ,dancing I always knew that I would end up doing something different setting a trend a lifestyle. that’s when I really knew I had gift when I felt passion for things that I did to have an artistic approach to have a statement a message behind whatever I did . Read more>>

TrenchBaby Rich | Musical Artist

I chose an artistic career of music because music is a great way to express your creativity and thoughts and feelings. You can apply any emotion or mood into music and turn pain into joy. It’s a no judge zone and being creative means being you. I love music and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Read more>>

Joy Strempack | DJ, graphic designer, artist, educator

I grew up in Taipei, Taiwan till I graduated from Taiwan University with a Chinese literature degree. I moved to US to acquire a master degree in language education and linguistics. Since I was a child, I always had passion in music, art, dance and writing. Throughout my childhood and young adult age, I was a trained dancer, a painter, a graphic designer, a singer, a calligraphic artist, a piano player, a linguist and other artistic interests. I am entering a phase in my life at this moment with the opportunities of playing music for an audience. I just started the career of a professional DJ concentrating on electronic music and also music across genres and decades. Read more>>

Jennifer Robin | Special fx makeup artist and Hairstylist

For as long as I can remember, being a creative and artistic person has always played a huge role in my life. I knew I was never going to be satisfied with an office job or anything unrelated to a creative field. If I couldn’t create something on a daily basis Id go crazy lol. Plus I get to have fun hair colors without a boss telling me I can’t! Read more>>