We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Bethany McGrath | Owner/Creator of Monark Baby

I started my creative business because I was struggling to find something that filled me up. I was taking care of our two boys all day & just felt empty at the end of each day. This has fulfilled parts of me that I didn’t know I needed. Read more>>

Ben Kesington | Licensed Arizona Realtor

The Reason why I chose Real Estate was because of the freedom. Working a 9 to 5 job was limiting my time with my family and also limiting my time to be creative. I felt locked down working 8 hours of the day for someone else when I knew I could be working with no limits doing what I love on a day to day basis as a passion. I had a lengthy career in Mortgage banking and sales before I took the path of Entrepreneurship by obtaining my Real Estate License and started my own Real Estate Business as I now help serve the public in purchasing, selling and investing in real estate. Read more>>

Adanna Murrell | CEO & Founder of AfroZen

While naturally drawn to movement and action, I feel equally compelled by the beauty of stillness. In my artwork, I capture these paradoxical elements that sometimes seem at odds with each other, blending them together in my paintings to create a new kind of statement. I love to disrupt the pattern with my creative work. Read more>>

Blake Yard | Photographer

Photography has always been something that has just made sense. It’s always given me joy to document a situation or a moment for others to look back on years down the road. Read more>>