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.

April Nicole | Musician / Photographer / Videographer

Dismissing art and ignoring my creativity has never been an option for me. I’m driven by a desire to create beautiful things, to collaborate with other people, to share experiences, to activate spaces, and to inspire. I’ve never been good with numbers, mathematics, sciences, or remembering dates. I dread the idea of having a strict routine, or spending too much time sitting isolated in front of a computer. I’m a social person with lots of energy! Art is simply in my nature. And, though it did take me some time to get in proper alignment with it, I feel good building a career that is aligned with my natural passions and skills. Read more>>

RP Big Wes | Music artist

Growing up I was all about Football, my father played at the University of Alabama so football was always deeply rooted in me. My dream was always to play in the NFL but when I was in high school multiple injuries including knee surgery lead to me finding a passion in fashion & music. Artistic people ran in my family, my dad was actual a great artist and my older sister is an amazing artist. Read more>>

Taca Gamboa | Publicist & Skinaholic

Creating content is a great hobby that I enjoy and makes me very happy. This is my story: As a publicist, I have always been involved in the digital world and social networks. I admired people who became public figures and shared through their channels what they were so passionate about. This was something that I had always dreamed of doing but for some time my fears and insecurities prevented me from starting my dream. Read more>>

Ashanté Nicole | Founder & Creative Director

I have always been drawn to fashion. From the time I was little, and collected over 200 Barbie’s that I had to dress to my liking every day, all the way up until I enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It took me a while to find my way to the swimwear design world, but I always knew I’d work in interior design, store visual merchandising, or fashion in some capacity. Read more>>

Dayra Fyah | rapper, self-defense instructor and cultural manager

It was something unconscious, I didn’t think about doing it, I needed to express what I felt and it was through hip hop that I achieved it, with painting, writing and the use of my voice in rap. Read more>>

Dan Bassett | Artistic Director/Conductor of the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble & Head of Middle School for Saint Mark’s Episcopal School

I was extremely lucky to grow up in a small town in Upstate New York (Malone) that had an amazing music program. In fact, it was one of the best in the state. From an early age I knew that making music would be part of my life and career. There was nothing I loved more in my teens than playing my trumpet. After playing in concert band and jazz band in high school, I pursued a degree in Trumpet Performance and Music Education at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. It wasn’t long before I was playing trumpet professionally and began my teaching career. Read more>>