We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Sarah Amrou | CEO & Owner

Pursuing an artistic or creative career was almost like following a call that was too loud to ignore. Ever since I was young, I found myself deeply drawn to the world of creativity—be it art, music, or the captivating stories behind brands. There was this undeniable pull towards creating, towards making something beautiful out of nothing, and the joy of sharing that creation with the world. Read more>>

Banu Bektas | Interior Designer

I didn’t actually pursue an artistic career. Artistry has been walking with me my whole life and I realized it. Life offers things that will be good for you, sometimes it does it secretly, we just need to open ourselves and feel it. This is often not the easy path and good things don’t happen overnight. We just have to realize and strive for the desire within us that walks with us. Read more>>

Raja Mohan | Plastic Surgeon

As a child, I was interested in many careers but became fond of medicine because of my father. He taught me facts about the human body and anatomy at the age of 4 and by age 6, I remember learning the names of all the bones in the body. Quickly, I became very fascinated with each of the human organ systems. I used to go on rounds with my father in the hospital and observe what he would do from a very young age as well. He would treat patients with colorectal cancer, and I recall many of them telling me that my father saved their life by identifying cancerous lesions during their colonoscopy. My father was a hero when I heard these stories. He inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. Then I happened to meet a plastic surgeon in college named Dr. Gregory Antoine. He was the chief of plastic surgery at Boston University. He introduced me to the world of plastic surgery and I was fascinated by the specialty because it was the perfect blend of art and science. The beauty of our specialty is there is no right answer or approach to every problem we address. We have to think on our feet and come up with creative solutions to aesthetic and reconstructive problems. Read more>>

 Caitlin Love-Robinson | Professional Makeup Artist

Growing up my greatest outlets were ones of artistic freedom and expression. It always felt good to my mental, spiritual and emotional growth and wellbeing. After college and starting life in the work force I still felt suppressed and unfulfilled. I always would limit my possibilities in artistry as a career because I had been convinced that it was not a “real career” until I stepped outside of the confides of those expectations and decided to live life on my own terms and in my personal truth to who I was. Once I knew I was an artist, I had no choice but to create and bless and enhance others with my gifts and crafts. Stepping out on faith has blessed myself and my clientele beyond measure. It is still one of the best decisions that I’ve made. Read more>>

Jim Foronda | Voice Actor & Maybe Sometimes Ad Copywriter/ACD

It wasn’t a conscious decision, really. I think we all move toward what we think, we *hope*, we’ll enjoy, although my brain would always throw a practical “will I be able to make a living?” wrench into the works. Read more>>

Tsun-yuet Emmanuel Kwok | Concert Cellist, Music Arranger, Educator

Thank you for the interview opportunity! Talking about why and how I started my journey – it’s this cool mix of inspiration and destiny. Half of it was my call, and the other half felt like fate pulling me in. Read more>>

Michael E. Johnson | Painter, Illustrator & Graphic Designer

That’s a great question! I chose a creative career because I grew up interested in sports, the arts, and video games in the 80’s, as the world of mass marketing and hyper consumption was really beginning to take off. As a kid, I always gravitated to things that I felt required a level of skill and unique ability to accomplish. Something about the competitive nature of trying to develop mastery in a particular area of gifting or interest fueled my creative mind to want to produce. I found that if I enjoyed doing something, I could do it over and over repetitively without getting tired of it. Later, I found that this act of repetition and focus in any area of interest was my key to success. Read more>>

Brianne Moore | Artist & Loctician

From as far back as I can remember I’ve always been a creative. I still have my childhood doodles, school projects and poems. I’ve come to believe the saying “If you do what you love, it’s not work .” If I can continue to create beautiful art that makes people feel something, anything, I mean why not? Read more>>

Nicholas Gully | “THE CAPTAIN”

I chose to pursue this artistic career because not only is it most fulfilling path, I believe I’ve been called to do so. Dedicating my time and focus has provided a level of understanding in my crafts, practices and experiences. Read more>>

Alice Payen | Illustrator

I’ve always felt a need to record what was going on around me! I can remember one of my earliest drawings: a portrait of my mother, bitten by mosquitos ( I must have been around three years old! ). I draw all the time: be it on the metro, in class, during dinner… I don’t think I ever truly considered another career. Yes, I wondered if I could be a ballerina, and I had a gemologist phase- but art was always at the back of my mind! I’ve always been the ‘art kid’: my classmates would ask me to draw them and their crushes in exchange for snacks. Read more>>