Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Lauren Ward | Face & body painter

All my life I have created art whether it was making clay figures, painting with acrylics, and even constructing objects out of cardboard. Deciding to pursue an artistic career was always in the cards for me as I knew it was the one thing that truly made me happy. Read more>>

Rose Waldrup | Professional Traveling Elopement + Wedding Photographer

I pursued a creative career because art has always been where I am able to best express myself and tell a story without words. My great grandpa always said, “find a job you enjoy, and you will never work a day in your life,” and I can 100% say being a professional photographer is the best career path I could ever choose. Read more>>

Kenji Lancaster | Drummer

I don’t think I made a conscious decision about pursuing an artistic/creative career over something that isn’t, but I made deliberate choices to further a career in this field. I have always liked music and the drums so I think it was a natural progression into being a musician. Read more>>

Zachary Rippy | Grammy Nominated Mixer & Engineer, Producer

Music was always the biggest thing to me. An absolute obsession. At the age of 4, my cousin showed me how to work a tape player and it was game over. All through the 90’s I was making my own mixtapes of songs from the radio. Read more>>

Jude Wallace | Rockstar & Singer Songwriter

I pursue an artistic and creative career because it’s what brings my life purpose. I feel lost without creating. It’s what my mind, body, and spirit is meant to do. For me, there really is nothing like writing and performing music. The energy and connection is irreplicable. It makes my heart flutter and makes me want to jump with excitement at the same time. The rush is pure happiness. Read more>>

Wallace Book | Native Artist & Musician

I was inspired by my father Wallace Begay, he was an amazing visual artist and taught me alot of the basics of painting and sketching when I was really young. After he had passed, I felt compelled to take all the lessons he taught me and make something I could leave, a small impression on the world. Read more>>

Janelle Anakotta | Artist

I’ve always loved art, and going from hobby to sharing it with others is defiantly a dream come true. Read more>>

Leobardo Reynaga Jr. | Derezzed From Time

I have always loved creating whether it’s by music, drawing or writing. I always thought it was amazing when an artist took an empty canvas and painted with intense emotion and depth, just a screenshot from another world that can tell an entire story. Read more>>