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.

Jozefius Aka Joe Waters

I’ve been creating things since I was a little boy, so it really kind of chose me. It’s always just been my impulse to create my own things and do things my own way. When I was about five, I remember taking apart my pedal tractor toy, because I wanted it to be a spaceship and try to rebuild it into that.. I was a spaceship designer when I was five: Using available materials. I was trying to figure out how I could be an astronaut. Read More>>

Danielle Spencer

My artistic and creative career was not something I initially set out to pursue—it was a path I felt compelled to take. With a background in STEM, including degrees in the medical and IT fields, I have spent nearly 25 years working in IT. However, in 2022, I encountered two alarming incidents involving fabricated documents—a falsified traffic ticket and a title report containing false information. Concerned that more fraudulent documents could surface, I decided to document my whistleblower experience through writing.  Read More>>

Alexa Penberthy

Purely by chance! When my (now) husband Matt gave me a ‘project’ to take the camera, go out and capture ‘life’ around our neighbourhood while he was on a trip. At this point it became more than just a project, it grew into something new and exiting for me. Read More>>

Melissa Grano

I think I pursued a creative career for the sheer desire to grow as a person. Art to me was always a form of expression, an opportunity to go beyond my own reality and a way to connect with my community. Where words lacked creativity made up for it. It brought me purpose to keep helping others who want to be creative and understand themselves. Read More>>

Tameka Tate

I pursued a creative career because I love making things. I love to think about creations in my head and then just making them happen. It’s actually funny how I started my small business . I was gifted some shea butter and tried making body butter and fell in love with it. I truly enjoy when my customers tell me how people complement them on their skin and ask them what scent they have on. Read More>>

Lila Zeichner

I was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and I have always had trouble sitting still, especially in the classroom. Sewing was something that allowed me to connect to my body and focus on something that felt bigger than myself. I always loved clothing but the things I found in stores never really satisfied my need to wear things that are beautiful and comfortable. More than anything I am almost addicted to seeing my designs come to life. There really is nothing like watching something go from just an idea to a functional object in the real world. Read More>>

Ruby G

I wasn’t always on the path toward a creative career. Even though I’ve always been good at singing, performing in front of others terrified me, so I didn’t focus much on music for a long time. For my career, I knew I wanted to help people, so I moved to New York in 2014 to work in special education while pursuing music on the side. I was fortunate enough to partake in an artist development program with like-minded performers, where I started performing more and writing my own songs.  Read More>>