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.

John Vazquez | Freelance Illustrator

Like most kids growing up, I would wake up early to catch the Saturday morning cartoons; 2D and 3D animation alike, it got me interested in visual storytelling. Eventually I would discover the comic book section at my local library and my interest in drawing grew even more; the idea of someone coming up with such colorful characters and panels made me marvel at the idea that someday I could do the same. Since then, making art has been an important part of my identity. As I got older, it was clear that the only decision I could make regarding my professional future was to invest my time and efforts into being an artist. Now, we all must start somewhere, and for a while drawing was all about immersing myself into learning through books, online tutorials and eventually art school. Read more>>

Tarek Elbanna | Founder

As the founder of my own company, i had a vision of creating something that can accurately represent my Palestinian identity while bringing people together. The purpose of founding Pistachè was instilling the flavors of my people into all my pastries and creating a unique experience for my customers while staying true to the grand vision of representation. The purpose behind my career path is the desire to be remembered as a creator rather than a name on an employer’s payroll and leaving a legacy of success and innovation. Read more>>

Bryan Caviness | Musician, full-time parent, & full-time worker

I pursued being an singer song writer Because I felt like the truth was
Being held back from the public
So i decided to start writing and then one day it hit me I should start vocalizing the way I see the world Read more>>