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.

Loretta Moore | writer/playwright/author/com

I would say that I pursue an artistic, creative career because it was assigned me-as a child I felt it calling me. I feel that I’ve been given the gift to channel the universe, the dark depths circling life, love, reality, everyone and everything. In other words, those who are creative/artistic are to describe the subtle, silent places, the stored away magic and mystery calling him or her to empty into the dark, forlorn forest…the space of the heart and mind, the life capsule. Read more>>

Nina Hogan | Abstract Artist, Photographer, Podcast Host

Number 1 was to help people, mostly mentally. Read more>>

Rachel Spiro | Bodybuilding Competition Suit Designer

Honestly, this career found me! When I was a kid, I wanted to be a wedding dress designer. I would literally carry around a sketchbook and sketch wedding dresses, I would look at bridal magazines and be amazed at the detail that went in to these dresses. Read more>>

Samantha Gundling | Cosplayer & Model (Misty Hearts Cosplay)

The reason that I pursued a creative career and brand for myself is because I want to be able to go out and beyond my own creative limits. As someone who is a plus size cosplayer, I do have to deal with the challenge of not being conventionally attractive, and be aware of not only my limitations, but of my own strengths. In the 7+ years I have been in the cosplay community, I have found that my creativity has certainly expanded, and I have become a lot more confident in myself. Especially given the background of a very abusive relationship when I was a teenager. I also really wanted to take the time to inspire people who are just like me to challenge themselves. The plus community is easily monthly communities that are most targeted based on their appearance alone. And I know that we are worthy of a lot more than the negative treatment that we get in today society just because we are bigger than the people that you would normally see in your everyday media. We are able to do the same things as are more conventionally attractive peers, so why is society think it’s okay to exclude us from doing the same thing as our loved ones? We want to be able to have fun and express our creative range as well. Read more>>

Justin “Twntybeatz” Valentine | Record Producer

I feel like I’ve always had the desire to create. As a kid growing up, I used to draw, make animations, film YouTube videos, anything that I could do to express myself. Once I got to high school, I started to really focus in on making music. I’d have local artists come every day to record songs in the makeshift studio I made in my room & by the time I graduated, I had started to see a decent amount of traction start to build on the songs that I would produce. Once I saw that I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do full time. Read more>>

sintia magana | Paramedical Tattoo Artist

As I delved deeper into the world of cosmetic tattooing, I stumbled upon the transformative power of scalp micropigmentation. Recognizing the profound need for this service in addressing issues like hair loss and alopecia, a newfound sense of purpose enveloped me. The ability to help individuals overcome their struggles and enhance their self-esteem through scar camouflage and other techniques fueled my passion. It became clear that my career was not merely a job but a calling—one that brought joy not only to me but to those whose lives I touched. Read more>>

Catt Grimsley | Artist/Owner @ CattGStudio43, and LMSW & Therapist in Behavioral Health

I’ve loved art since I was probably 5 or 6 years old, and spent a lot of my childhood drawing with colored pencils, gel pens, and markers. As I grew older, I began to take interest in visual and fine arts. I would create a lot of my own home decor or take like a silk tree and paint the leaves to match the room theme colors of the room that I was going to place it in. My love for art, colors, and self-expression grew even as my faith in God grew, as I began to embrace the gifts He blessed me with. The beginning of selling my art actually started with a gift. An ex of mine asked me to make his boss one of the vases I had made for my bedroom in his boss’s wife’s favorite colors. After she received the gift she showed it to a friend who asked if they could pay me to make them one in teal, gold and black. I decided to start at Etsy shop and also sell them locally, and from there my custom vase business expanded into exploring then selling resin art. It’s not just a business or a side hustle to me, art is an intricate part of me and also very therapeutic. My sister, Anna, was another great inspiration in my life. She was also a passionate artist ad created some really beautiful works of art, particularly paintings, and after she passed away in 2020, she became the inspirations for a few of my art pieces that I named after her. One vase in particular called Anna’s Legacy is one I created with colors that remind me of her. Read more>>

Alexander Miller | Landscape Photographer/Videographer & Content Creator

I chose to pursue a creative career because of the enjoyment and freedom that I find in being able to express myself creatively. Having a creative career has allowed me the opportunity to create and think outside the box when processing different ideas. Being able to create something has been rewarding because at the end of the day I know that the work I have done is mine and not someone else’s. Doing my own work allows me to be proud of myself and the things that I am capable of when I put my mind to it. Read more>>