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.

Marquise Wells | Photographer

A creative career just seems so fulfilling to me. You’re still using your brain but in a way that you’re always doing something new. I have always wanted to do something that involved creativity in some way and It’s why I use Creative in my business name because I didn’t want to be limited to just one thing. Your thoughts can be all over the place, one minute you can be capturing moments on camera and then you can sit down and write a story, and then you can craft something out of stuff you find around the house. Nothing is off-limits. Read more>>

Karen Offutt | Fine Artist & Art Instructor

I have always felt the need to draw and paint. As a child, I would watch my father draw and be amazed at how he could make something look real on a piece of paper. In my formative years, I excelled in art because it was the one thing I knew I was pretty good at and through many years of practice and education, I was able to find my path into the art world. I had many art related jobs, but it was not the direction I wanted to go. In 2002, I got my first shot at being represented by a gallery in Houston, Texas, and from there, my career path was realized. My style of painting is falls into the contemporary realism category. I am more focused on painting people either via portrait and or figure. There is always a personal element or narrative that comes through in my work. Being an artist is something I cannot turn off. I am always thinking about the next painting. And that is very grounding. Read more>>

Broderick Perkins | Music Artist

Choosing a music career and starting my own entertainment company gives me the opportunity to impact the lives around me. Music is just a platform and vehicle to express my faith. I have a unique opportunity to reach people who are struggling to find their identity, value, and meaning in life through art. I chose this path simply because I love it! I love songwriting and I have been producing since I was 14 years old. I’m so glad I have found my own sound: Alternative Hip-Hop, R&B, & Soul Music. I see that many artists seek popularity, fame, status, temporary gains, buying instagram followers, views, etc but I want to make “Purpose” revelant and popular. I want to change the music game and how it’s played. Read more>>

Hannah Fraser | Illustrator & Watercolor Painter

When I moved to Dallas, it felt like I was starting a journey of self discovery. I had never lived outside of my home state of California, and it felt like I was finally turning a page in a long chapter in my life. Art, specifically illustration, was something I had wanted to pursue. I challenged myself that October to draw everyday for 31 days straight. It felt like I had switched on a lightbulb in my head. The feeling is hard to explain, but I suppose to put it simply, it made me happy to draw. I wasn’t the best at it in the beginning, and now that I look back, I guess I pursued an artistic career to get better at art! I wanted to share this journey of unashamed self discovery through illustration with others. I hope by doing that, other people can see the value and beauty art brings to the world, and how it brings people that share a common together. I just think that’s the most beautiful thing. Read more>>