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.

Otto Norvio | Music Producer & DJ

I want my life to be meaningful. I want to use it to make an impact. Every night when I go to bed I feel peace thinking that maybe my music made someone smile today. I chose an artistic career to connect with people on a deeper level and share the positive energy which is much needed in today’s world. Most of us are too busy to enjoy the miracle of life. I hope my music brings the listener to this moment away from the stress even for a brief moment. Read more>>

Rachael Beck | Musician

My good friend and frequent collaborator, Joey Gutos, and I recently had a conversation about what makes any artistic endeavor a worthy pursuit. Especially in a day in age where the world is ya know, burning. I don’t know if I’ve ever solved the puzzle as far as IF it is but I have gained some insight threading through the “why” I chose it in the first place. I know I’ve struggled in the past with purpose, as I’m sure every existentially doomed millennial has, but looking back, my biggest impact to those around me has come from following my passions. Read more>>

Heather Leigh | Makeup Artist

Hey there! I was born in MN and grew up with the arts. I played the piano and flute and even thought about majoring in art. I took many art histories, drawing, paintings and pottery classes in high school and college and loved recreating art and 3-dimensional space. I then decided to go on to nursing school, as I felt the need to serve the community and help people. I finished with my RN degree and worked for several years at the University of Utah hospital on Neurology floor, a step down to the Neuro critical care unit. I learned so much and gained a love for helping people and their families. I took a break, still keeping my nursing license active, to raise kids and have loved being at home with them. Read more>>

Olivier Dubois-Cherrier | Visual Artist and founder of The Island In Tucson

My parents were not artists, but my paternal grandfather was a painter an my maternal grandmother was a sculptor. When I was a teenager I had a lot of admiration for those two grandparents and that is probably the reason why I knew how to draw naturally. I stopped drawing when becoming a young adult, but I started working in my father’s screen printing factory where beside commercial works we also printed fine art in limited editions for artists, art publishers and museum shops. At the age of 43, I stopped working on a daily basis in the printing company I created myself 13 years earlier and decided to become a full time artist. Read more>>

Hayley Kanbara | Graphic Designer and Digital Artist

I’ve always been the creative one in my family. I began teaching myself to draw when I was twelve years old by drawing my own silly (and unoriginal) stories with crudely drawn characters. As I entered high school, I began wondering what I could with my creative skills. I was writing my own stories and considered becoming a fictional writer, but a part of me was tugging me back towards art, particularly digital art. I’m a huge Disney and Pixar fan and always loved looking forward to the next film to see all the creative ideas that the artist and animators come up with. That part of me began to become interested in character and concept art. Read more>>