Artists and creatives face innumerable challenges given that their career path often doesn’t come with a playbook, a steady paycheck or any form of safety net. It’s definitely not easy and so we asked a few of the artists and creatives we admire to talk to us about why they chose to pursue an artistic or creative career.

Zach Harper | Everyday Carry enthusiast and Photographer

I started this not as a career, but really something for me to enjoy. It started, simply put, as something for me. I wasn’t pursuing money or a big following, I just wanted a collection of something n that represented me, Read more>>

Uniss Bundu | Model and Actor

Since I was a kid I’ve always been interested in the world of creative arts. As a child I was super into drawing, painting and origami. Then later on in my early teen years I got into graphic design and was really committed to that for years. Read more>>

Gina B | Model and Photographer

I’ve always had a very large creative spark since my childhood. I originally started out writing stories based off of shows or games that I liked. As I got older and my time commitments changed, I fell off the writing bandwagon. It was in high school that I picked up a camera for the first time — a friend’s simple point-and-shooter — and fell in love with taking photos. Read more>> 

Xplicit Life | Rapper, Singer & Songwriter

I chose to pursue a career as a creative because I’ve always been innovative and imaginative. I’m naturally drawn to art of all sorts. I fell in love with music early on in life and it’s been a part of me since I could remember. As an artist, I’ve embraced being different. Read more>>

Alejandra Trujillo | Artist/Muralist

I like to think that art chose me instead of me being the one who chose to be an artist. I come from a family of artists and have always had a natural inclination for art. One of my earliest memories is hanging out at my family’s (Curios) curiosity shop in Mexico, where my family made most of the art they sold. There was always someone willing to let me “help” and experiment with all sorts of mediums. Read more>>

Saffatt Al-Mansoor | Choreographer, Dance Educator and Electrical Engineer

I grew up in Qatar in the late ’90s. From the start, anybody who was not a local was made to feel like an outsider. The locals had special identity cards, did not need a permit to leave the country or have their passports taken away from them with what they called a “sponsor” or “kafeel”. Read more>>

Dulcey Lima | Fine Art Nature Photographer

I’ve had multiple careers during my work life–all of them involving what would be considered a traditional art form like photography, or applied medical arts like orthotic intervention or occupational therapy. Each profession requires a creative approach to a subject to enhance or expose its form, improve function, or promote well being. Read more>>

Bijou D’Arpa | Collage and Mixed Media Artist

I have an MA in Italian language and culture, and I worked as an adjunct instructor teaching Italian for 30 years. The reality behind the college walls was very different from what I had dreamed of as a post graduate student. I realized I needed a clean break with my academic background, Read more>>

Jamie Maslyn Larson FASLA | Executive Director and Landscape Architect

I grew up in Litchfield Park- a small planned community on the west side of Phoenix. Everything in Litchfield was designed: red-tinted concrete bike paths were woven throughout, streets were lined with shade trees, and small parks were within a five minute walk to every neighborhood. Read more>>

Damon Baker | Automotive Content Creator

One of the key reason I’m pursuing a creative career is because I like to inspire others with my work. I believe that we all have creativity locked inside us and one of my goals is to unlock that spark. I love seeing what other individuals can do, be it music, videography, painting, writing, or anything involving creativity. Read more>>