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.

Uriel Carrillo | Photographer

I really like to think that I can create some kind of art or produce some feeling in the people that see my images. Because what I´m trying to do with all this photographies it´s to capture some significant moments and the people that I think that could be important in my simple life. Read more>>

Chris Avetta | Artist, Musician, Human.

I am currently sitting in a diner in Encinitas, one that has been here for almost as long as I have been alive – I promise this is relevant… I asked the waitress to tell me the story of how it came to be and she said the previous company that occupied this space was called The Coffee Mill, they abruptly closed in the late 80s. One of the waitresses that worked at the mill back then was lent the money to open this diner by a regular customer. Read more>>

Alexis Harris | Makeup Artist

I’ve always been a creative person. I still have my little fur covered notebook with my list of careers on them. Now as I got older the list changed. And got, what I thought was a bit more realistic. Read more>>

Jelani Larkins-Amador | DJ/ Music archivist

To be honest I feel like having artistic or creative career choose me. Art and creativity has always played role in my family, whether it’s literature or physical mediums that in turn display or at least provide a means to send a message. And I feel that musically ultimately provides the best means to send my message or at least give some insight to how I feel or what is going on currently around me Read more>>

Suchita Rathi Jhawar | Artist

From an early age I loved drawing!! There was not a surface that I would spare, be it my text books, the blackboard at school, the mirrors at home and even my Dad’s office documents,.! The smiles that I was greeted with, made my day! Right after High School I went to a specialized Art School to further develop my techniques. After marriage , life happened-family, business, and kids took over and my art career took a backseat. Read more>>

Moustapha Berjaoui | Mentalist & Filmmaker

To be come a great magician you need to have the creative side in your career, I always loved DIY and creating magical effects so doing something that I Enjoy for a career is amazing! Read more>>

Shannon Rona | Costume & Content Creator

From a very young age, I knew I had an artistic side. While growing up, I would often spend summers with my grandparents, where my grandmother would teach me different creative processes, like making place cards, folding napkins, or sewing small quilts or doll outfits. Read more>>