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.

Mandy Arcane | Singer/ Songwriter/ Vocal Coach

Ever since I was a little girl, Art has always called me. I never felt drawn to things like math or science, nor was I any good at it. But there was one thing that I always enjoyed and knew I would succeed at. And that was anything that had to do with art. I loved to write, paint, draw, play music, and sing. I wrote my first book when I was only 10 years old. When I turned 11, my parents enrolled me in a performing arts school. There, I learned so much about music, and it confirmed what I had known all along. I was born to create music. I had found my purpose. Read more>>

Tyler Germaine | Photographer, Visual Artist

Creativity has always been in me. My mom had me reading before I was in school. Because of that, I fell deeply in love with stories and characters, fantasy and the like. That little seed gave me the curiosity and imagination to explore as many forms of creation as I could find. Read more>>

Gabby McNeill | Illustrator & Multimedia Artist

Pursuing an artistic career has always always always felt like the path I was meant to follow. It is a path that I can confidently follow without an ounce of regret, even with all of it’s hills and valleys. As a small kiddo my parents had a hard time pulling me away from the television and VCR because I would constantly be hyper fixated on animated movies and cartoons. I had very little interest in live action media, Totally Spies, Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, Sailor Moon, Codename Kids Next Door, Inuyasha, etc etc etc. As I got a bit older, the public library really opened to door to my interest in art and storytelling. I fell down the rabbit hole of reading graphic novels and manga. My lil brain was blown away that I could read “picture books” but they are like… not in the children’s section?? Nooo waaayyyyyy! I would doodle constantly in school and at home! Drawing up my favorite cartoon characters, making comics, and creating my own original characters became an escape and safe haven. “Smile” by Raina Telgmeier and “Blankets” by Craig Thompson are two graphic novels that really inspired me to pursue a degree in art. Now I have a Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studio Practice and continue to draw every single day. Read more>>

Lauren Wethington | Makeup Artist

Well I’ve always have been interested in the more creative aspect of life but what really peaked my interest was watching Star Wars growing up and seeing all of the different kinds of makeup and effects. I’ve always had an interest in makeup but never really knew I could do it as a career but when I found out I could I really wanted to pursue it. Read more>>

Cole Horchler | Commercial Photographer

The motivation for my career really comes from my perspective on freedom of the human spirit. I felt the need to take on the challenges I was uniquely suited for, I had to find what I was best at so my contribution to society was maximized. Creativity comes from exercising our agency, and we do that in an intentional manner by knowing ourselves. Creativity is a result of our proclivities and preferences that make us each unique. This is why honest creativity is instantly recognizable, it can only come from being in touch with oneself. If it’s motivated by any other goal it’s inherently tainted. The universe runs on entropy and exploration, by knowing ourselves and bringing forth creativity from consciousness we’re fulfilling our end of the bargain. Read more>>