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.

Hailey Sullivan | Equine Artist

I’ve always known that drawing or anything with the creative was my safe space. Later down the road after hustling through different jobs, I realized there are an abundance of people who do work for themselves and make art for their living. I thought to myself well why can’t I? If it makes me happy as well as others, and support my financial needs, I should be hopping on this. Read more>>

Wulfnight | Suspension Mechanic & Artist

Art has always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up creating mostly graphite drawings, and writing. My teachers always believed a creative career would and should be for me. My peers always told me I should be a tattoo artist, but I was mostly very shy and secretive when it came to my work. Other kids mostly caught a glimpse of what I was drawing over my shoulder, in my binder, or under the schoolwork I should have been working on in class. From probably age 17 through age 27 I barely touched art. After some drastic changes in my life I found art again and I started drawing, and began painting for the first time. I had been working full time as a suspension mechanic for 7 years and loved it but I felt like something was missing, and once art became a part of my life again I knew it was THAT something and that I could never again let it go. I wanted something more for my art than it just being a hobby for me. Read more>>

Jorge Gutierrez García | Painter/Visual Artist

Ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a painter, my father painted in oils as a hobby when I was young and seeing him made me want to try it. But oil paints are toxic so I wasn’t allowed to go near them, so instead I grabbed a pencil and started drawing, and drew untill my senior year in high school. Once I was an adult, around 20, I remember working in a factory where we made all types of tactical gear for the military, it was very mundane and unfulfilling. I asked myself if this was what I wanted to do for the forseeable future and the answer was absolutely not, a regular 9 to 5 was never an option in the long run for me since then. So I enrolled myself in verious art classes at the local Community College. Once there I saw others live the art lifestyle like showing artwork in local art shows and galleries, having art discussions and traveling. I was enamored with the thought that I myself could one day become an artist and fulfill my long time dream, and from there on I never looked back. Read more>>