We asked some of the most creative folks we know to open up to us about why they chose a creative career path. Check out their responses below.

Roanna Seekings | Artist

I’m not sure it was a fully conscious pursuit to be honest 🙂 It’s maybe more of a compulsion. You just have to get it out of you otherwise it stews around in your head, ideas I mean. They’re just there, thoughts as images and then you’re like I need to make this, this would be sick, and then you make it and its either the best thing since sliced bread or this shittest thing you’ve ever expelled making you question your entire artistic existence, but at least its out and you can move on to the next idea! Then before you know it, you’re making a bit of a living out of it, it’s mental! Haha but I love it. Read more>>

Patrick Sampson | Singer-Songwriter & Guitarist

I suppose I’ve always been fascinated with words. The structure and delivery, the phrasing and cadence used to make them useful in some way. Now of course after applying that fascination to my passion for creating music, I found that the two go hand in hand as a part of the craft itself. There’s a certain freedom to creating and giving that art to the listener to take it however they naturally do so. It’s a very true and organic connection. Read more>>

Eric D. Moore, Brent Bosley, and Richard ‘Max’s Maxwell | Details of Eating

Certainly we have our day jobs and careers (Max is lucky that his day job is actually in music), but the pursuit of a life filled with music is less about a specific choice to be made and more about a feeling that must be explored. There seems to be a compulsion to relate to a specific instrument that is virtually impossible to ignore. It is a relationship that never seems to dull and only deepens. Read more>>

Dylan Bannister | Visual Artist & Printmaker

Support. The support of countless loved ones, teachers, and mentors I’ve had throughout my life have enabled me to dream into each and every aspect of my life through the lens of an artist. I consider myself so incredibly fortunate to have had this experience, as it is unfortunately all too common for creatives to face criticism from the people in their lives whose feedback means the most to them. It is a spectacular blessing to have had parents who have, from my earliest days, encouraged me to continue drawing, inventing stories, and utilizing my imagination as a superpower. Read more>>

Ilse Abril | Artist & Small Business Owner

Growing up I was influenced by my mother and teachers. I remember one day specifically when my teachers were selecting kids for the school choir. They had us sing and one of the teachers separated me from the kids because she wanted to hear me sing by myself. She complimented me on my tone and introduced me to the music teacher. That moment sparked my confidence in my talent at a young age. Later in my teenage years, I was hired to sing at different events and continued doing that until I was 28. During this time I performed in the “Buenos Aires Celebra Mexico” festival in Argentina and I had the opportunity of opening for huge Mexican artists like Natalia Lafourcade and Fernando Delgadillo. Read more>>

Jeff Egan | Handmade custom furniture maker

I spent 10+ years on the road working for a Zipline construction company, eventually designing, building and running a one of a kind Zipline in Old Tucson. In 2020 COVID-19 caused Old Tucson to close indefinitely, leading to the closure of Outlaw Zipline. After relocating the Zipline to Tombstone and handing over ownership I was left with a hole. I began working with a good friend,Manuel Parra, and soon discovered we had a very similar passion to create. This led to the start of Terrazas Tables. From a young age we both enjoyed creating. With the explosion of diy videos on YouTube it was easier than ever before to learn how to do any number of things. Read more>>

Candace Claiborn | Podcaster, Speaker, & Model

There is so much beauty to be seen and experienced in the world, and I believe art and creativity is one of the most profound ways to connect people to deeper meaning and freedom. Art and creativity come most naturally to me and I feel super fulfilled when I am working this industry. Read more>>