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.

Nacho Thorne | Photographer & Videographer

I pursued an artistic career because I wanted to show people about the type of art and entertainment that I am into and to make my own type of art with my creativity. For me photography was a way that I can be creative and to show my creativity through the pictures that I take. Overall I felt that an artistic career was a way for me to get creative and that it would be best for me. Read more>>

Bree Marin | Live Painting Artist & Creative

I chose to pursue an artistic career path because its what I passionately love to do. It’s not an easy path to take, but no matter what you choose to do in life, there will always be struggles. There will always be a give and take. Creating everyday brings joy to my life in ways that a normal 9-5 never did. Choosing to take the extra struggle to continue to do what I love and bring art to those around me matters more then the ease of a comfortable life a secure job might have given me. Read more>>

Susan Shivers | Fine Art Artist & Owner

Throughout my life I have been drawn to sketching or creating in various artistic areas. Including working with clay, throwing pottery, macramé, sand art, decoupage, sewing, glass fusion, beading, watercolor, acrylics, glass on glass resin pours on a 100-year-old window, sandstone art, and making mosaic stepping stones. Read more>>

Lena Marie | Intuitive Medicine

It actually just fell into my lap as people started asking to purchase art or medicine from me; things I created out of a personal need. The art I create is purely intuitive and expressive, my own personal therapy. My love for plants and passion for naturopathy lead me into taking charge of my own health by researching my local flora and fauna and their medicinal uses, then teaching myself how to utilize them. As my personal apothecary grew, I crossed paths with many people who would be in need of something I carried. Read more>>

Mandy Love | Model, Actress, & Film Producer

My pursuit into my creative career path in entertainment is based was based off of my “instinct” to perform and entertain others since I was young. I’ve always liked to express myself creatively and felt a need to perfect my craft in order to pursue entertainment full time. Read more>>