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.

Taline Gevorkian

My path has been a bit of a winding road, to be honest. I started out by finishing my bachelor’s degree in communications, thinking I’d get a job in marketing or organizational training. I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of communicating in a way that’s intentional, effective, and intuitive, and I felt like I could apply that to pretty much anything. When I finished college, that broad mindset ended up being more of a roadblock because I couldn’t settle on just one thing—I thought I could do it all. So, I decided to switch gears and try law, thinking it would give me the chance to channel those communication skills in a more structured and impactful way. Read more>>

Trayesse | Artist & Entertainer

I just sort of stumbled into it after becoming disabled and no longer able to practice as a psychologist. Like many people who suffer from debilitating conditions, art and other creative endeavors not only became a cathartic outlet for me but also the only way I could afford to decorate my apartment. After sharing projects on social media, I started networking and linking up with other creatives in the arts and entertainment industry and things just sort of started taking off from there. Read more>>

Gregory Moss | Cybersecurity and YouTube creator

Growing up, I faced many hardships and lived in fear. At 18, I decided I wanted a better life. I started working at a maximum-security prison, seeking a stable career and a future for my kids. After nine years, I resigned, paid off my house, and enrolled in college for cybersecurity. Around that time, I discovered magnet fishing on YouTube. I started a channel to relieve stress and try it out. From my first toss into the river, I was hooked, pulling out everything from box cutters to gun barrels. Read more>>

Kevin Wilkerso | Lifestyle blogger for PubClub.com

I have long felt that keeping a good work/life balance is very important in order to maintain one’s happiness both at and away from your job. If you have too much a focus on work, then you can’t fully enjoy life and if you have too much of a focus on life, it’s hard to focus on work. Read more>>

Nancy Halladay | Interior Designer & Stylist

Trying to create a healthy work life balance can be overwhelming when starting a new business. You want to succeed, to spend funds wisely and to do as much as you can to get your business out there and attract clients. At the same time, everyday life continues: the house still needs to be cleaned and managed, kids need time and love, dinners need to be made. The list goes on and on. Read more>>

Daniel Moody | Songwriter, Photographer & Coach

I’ve drifted deeply into work at times until burn out forces a full stop, followed by a healing period. This seems to be a common pattern for creatives. Essentially, my aim at this stage of my development, is how do I create a life I don’t need to escape from? So that whatever I’m doing, I can be sure I’m not just trying to chase a deadline, or fulfill everyone’s needs but my own. Rather I try to find how do I want my day to flow in order to feel joy in what I’m doing. Read more>>